El Gouna International Day Six: Nele Gilis Reaches Maiden Platinum Semi Final

Belgium’s Nele Gilis tore up the form book to beat Egypt’s Salma Hany and reach a maiden Platinum-level semi final, where she will take on World No.1 Nour El Sherbini.

Despite having never beaten Hany in six previous attempts, and taking a total of just two games across those defeats, it was Gilis who looked the more confident player early on.

In an opening game duel that pitted Gilis’ length play with Hany’s short game, Gilis drew the first blood, edging the 19-minute first game 11-9.

The expected Hany response came in the second, with the World No.12 firing in winners as she struck back with an 11-3 win.

Despite the scoreline in the second game, Gilis had been able to put a good amount of work into Hany’s legs, which appeared to pay dividends in the third as she beat the marooned Egyptian time and again with powerful crosscourts to storm back into the lead with a dominant 11-3 victory of her own.

In a nail-biting fourth game, both players threw everything at each other.

At 9-6 up, Hany had a great opportunity to force a fifth game, but could not press home her advantage as Gilis dragged her back to 9-9. Hany regrouped and had game ball at 10-9, but could not convert as Gilis – after a lengthy video review on a ‘yes let’ decision that was overturned – took the game to a tie break.

In a punishing tie break, it was Gilis who struck first to earn match ball at 11-10. In a brutal final rally in which both players gained and lost the upper hand, the Belgian finally broke Hany’s resistance to earn a shot at the World No.1 for a place in the final.

“It’s tough conditions out there and my mouth’s very dry!” Gilis said afterwards.

“I’m a bit speechless and a bit emotional. It’s my first time reaching a semi final and I’ve looked up to Salma, we’ve played all through juniors together; we’ve played seven times on the PSA World Tour but it must be about fifty in juniors and she chopped me every time!

“So, to finally get a win over her on a stage like this and in a venue like this feels a bit surreal right now!

“It feels amazing. I feel like it’s been years of chipping away and getting more experiences in places like this. I just felt like it’s been coming for a while.

“I quite like this glass court, it’s probably the best match I’ve ever played on an outdoor glass court. I feel good and confident going into the next match [against El Sherbini] and I’ve got nothing to lose. She’s the biggest legend in women’s squash probably and I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m going to give it my absolute all!”

Result
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 3-11, 11-3, 12-10 (75m)

Watch the other quarter finals live on SQUASHTV or follow the scores on the PSA Live Scores page.