SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open: ElSherbini Beats Weaver to Reach Fifth Final this Season

Nour ElSherbini reached her fifth final of the season, seeing off the USA’s Olivia Weaver in the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open semi-finals. 

Weaver was the last remaining American player in the competition, but was unable to get past the World No.1, going down 3-0 in 38 minutes. 

The 3-0 scoreline perhaps does a disservice to No.4 seed, who pushed ElSherbini hard in both games one and three, but was unable to get over the line on either occasion. 

Game one in particular may feel like a missed opportunity for Weaver, as she made the better start and held a 6-3 lead, only to allow ElSherbini back into the contest, with the top seed closing out the game with a trademark backhand drop from deep in the court. 

Weaver gave ElSherbini a taste of her own medicine with the same shot midway through the second, but that was the highlight in an otherwise one-sided game, which the Egyptian took 11-6. 

Game three followed a similar pattern to the first, with little to separate the two players throughout the early rallies, and Weaver even finding herself on top at 7-6 up. 

As she so often does, though, ElSherbini won the defining points towards the end of the game, wrapping up victory on a forehand drop after a lengthy rally. 

“I’m very pleased today with my performance,” she said after her win. 

“I thought I was playing really well today, and my targets were all in. Olivia’s an amazing player so I’m definitely happy to win in three. 

“Being in the final without losing a game is good for me. It means my body is fresh, I’ll be ready mentally and physically, and it’s the first tournament of the year, so I’m happy to be in another final and hopefully I’ll play even better tomorrow.” 

Result: [1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [4] Olivia Weaver (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (38m)