CIB Egyptian Open SF: El Sherbini Comes From Behind in Epic v El Hammamy

World No.1 Nour El Sherbini came from behind in a brilliant performance against reigning champion Hania El Hammamy to reach the final of the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open in a thrilling match.

Against famously slow starter El Sherbini, the reigning champion took the initiative in game one, retrieving well against a too-passive El Sherbini to take the opener 11-6.

The expected response from the ‘Warrior Princess’ was brutal in game two, with the 28-year-old more assertive on court as she took the second 11-5.

In a brilliantly entertaining third game, briefly halted by a moth landing on El Sherbini during play to the amusement of the Club O West crowd, El Sherbini moved into the lead for the first time, playing the ball hard down the centre intelligently as she converted her third game ball to take the game 12-10.

El Sherbini’s accuracy dropped at the beginning of the fourth game, with El Hammamy taking advantage as she opened up an 8-5 lead.

El Sherbini’s accuracy and deceptive touches returned as she took the scores to 8-8, before El Hammamy won two critical points in succession to earn two game balls, converting her second with a ripping cross court to take the match into a fifth game.

The decisive clash was equally competitive, with both players giving everything in a bid to become the first ever player to reach a Diamond-level final on the PSA Squash Tour.

Eventually, though, after 86 minutes of pulsating action, it was the World No.1 who was able to provide the telling contribution, firing in several perfect winners as she pulled away to clinch an epic victory with an 11-7 win.

Afterwards, El Sherbini said: “Well, it’s very tough of course. Hania is always a very tough opponent and it’s good to see her playing well again this season, I know she was struggling in the last phase of last season but I knew she was going to come in strong and I wasn’t looking forward to it!

“It’s an achievement for me to reach the final and I’m happy to win this, it was more [of a mental battle] for me. I’m happy I kept my focus to win at the end.

“It’s a plan for any opponent, I love the backhand side and always want to control it more!

“I tried to be more aggressive.

“I’m just happy to be in the final, one more match let’s see how it goes!”

Results: 2024 CIB Egyptian Open Women’s Semi-Final

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-2: 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7 (86m)

The finals of the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open take place tomorrow, Friday 06 September, from 19:00 (GMT+3) at Club O West, Cairo.

Watch the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open live on SQUASHTV and on the channels of the PSA Squash Tour’s broadcast partners. For more information on the CIB Egyptian Open 2024, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.