Pittsburgh Open 2023 Semi-Finals: Player Reaction

We’ve reached the semi-finals of the Pittsburgh Open, with two epic battles in store at the Rivers Club.

Mohamed Abouelghar will be hoping to extend his impressive streak in Pittsburgh, with the No.2 seed Diego Elias standing in his way, who will rise to World No.2 if he wins the tournament.

Egyptian duo Youssef Soliman and Marwan ElShorbagy then go head-to-head in the second semi-final, with the pair entering the last four off the back of five-game matches yesterday.

Play starts at 14:00 (GMT-5) and you can watch both matches live on the PSA World Tour website and SQUASHTV. Keep up with the live scores here.

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Order of Play

Elias Moves Closer To World No.2 With Final Spot Secured

Diego Elias moved a step closer to becoming World No.2 after he defeated Mohamed Abouelghar to reach the final in Pittsburgh. 

Elias, who will rise to second in the World Rankings if he wins the Pittsburgh Open, saw off Abouelghar in straight games to confirm his place in tomorrow’s decider. 

It was the sixth time the pair had met on the PSA World Tour, with Abouelghar winning four of the previous five meetings. 

Abouelghar, who took down Tarek Momen and Joel Makin in the previous rounds, kept in touching distance of Elias in the first game with the two playing some excellent, free-flowing squash. 

However Elias, who’s been in scintillating form of late, was able to gain some valuable breathing space before he won the first 11-9. 

Elias, who’s lifted the Tournament of Champions title and the Sturbridge Capital Motor City Open crown already this year, made a solid start to the second as he went 7-3 up. 

Abouelghar dug deep to produce the fighting spirit that’s been on display throughout the tournament so far to claw his way back into the game, but Elias was able to fend him off again and go 2-0 up.

The Peruvian Puma got daylight in the third game which resulted in a comfortable victory for Elias, winning 11-4, and reaching tomorrow’s final. 

“I’m happy with my performance. Mohamed (Abouelghar) was playing some great squash, but I’m really happy with the result,” said Elias afterwards.

“It was a really good match, I felt I played really well. Now I have to recover and get ready for tomorrow.

“It’s always very enjoyable playing him. He’s such a great and fair player and it’s always great fun playing against him.”

Result

[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (39m)

ElShorbagy Overcomes Soliman To Set Up ToC Final Rematch

Marwan ElShorbagy is through to his sixth final this season and will meet Diego Elias in the decider as he overcame Youssef Soliman 3-1 in the last four. 

It will be a repeat of the recent Tournament of Champions decider, where Elias took the title with a 3-0 triumph over ElShorbagy. 

ElShorbagy and Soliman, who have met on four occasions before today, both came through five-game matches yesterday, defeated Mazen Hesham and Ali Farag, respectively.

An error from ElShorbagy in the first game at 9-9 presented Soliman the opportunity to take the first game, which he claimed 11-9. 

Only two minutes were gone on the clock in the second when play was halted for a lengthy period of time due to a blood injury sustained by Soliman. After the long stoppage, ElShorbagy went on to level the match with an 11-5 victory.

The Jackal was in the groove as he stormed into a 7-0 lead at the start of the third. Soliman chipped away at the deficit to claw some points back, but ElShorbagy was able to hold him off and go 2-1 ahead. 

ElShorbagy looked to be on course to sealing his spot in the final comfortably when he had five match balls, but Soliman saved all five superbly to send the game into a tiebreaker. ElShorbagy eventually pulled clear to secure a final berth. 

ElShorbagy said afterwards: “I’m happy to win today in four games. It was a tough match, and the first game was tough, but I’m really happy that I played well after that injury break (in the second game).

“I calmed down a bit and after the second game I felt a bit more comfortable with the game, so I’m really happy to focus on my game from the second game and I did quite well from there.

“The fourth game, I was 10-6 up and it’s another lesson to learn after yesterday but I’m glad to be learning those lessons while winning the matches.”

Result

[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [7] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11 (83m)