NTA Classic SF: Unseeded Hussein and Bushma Into Finals

The unseeded duo of Egypt’s Aly Hussein and Ukraine’s Alina Bushma have both made it through to their respective finals at the NTA Squash Classic, with the latter taking out the top seed in Boston, Massachusetts.

Bushma, who also got the better of the tournament’s No.6 seed Alicia Mead in the opening round, took on top seed Menna Hamed in the semi-finals at Cross Court Squash and Fitness on Friday evening, and she came through her match in straight games, beating the Egyptian 11-8, 11-3, 14-12 in 46 minutes to advance to her first final on Tour.

She will take on England’s Lucy Beecroft, the No.2 seed, in the final on Saturday in Boston, after the Englishwoman got the better of compatriot and No.5 seed Grace Gear, also in straight games. Beecroft needed just 36 minutes to get the job done, winning in three to make the final.

The men’s final will also see two surprise participants, as Egypt’s Aly Hussein and England’s Curtis Malik both got the better of higher-ranked players to make it through. The Egyptian, who like Bushma is unseeded for the tournament, came from behind to defeat Englishman Nick Wall in four. He lost the first game 11-9, but battled back to win 3-1 in just over an hour to reach the final.

His opponent in Saturday’s final will be another Englishman, in Curtis Malik, after the men’s No.8 seed defeated compatriot Sam Todd, the No.3 seed, in straight games. The pair were on court for 44 minutes, with Malik taking a crucial second game 11-9, and carrying that momentum through the third.

The finals of the NTA Squash Classic will take place on Saturday, May 21, with the final four participants doing battle for the Challenger 10 level titles in Boston, Massachusetts.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: NTA Squash Classic
Aly Hussein (EGY) bt [4] Nick Wall (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (67m)
[8] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [3] Sam Todd (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 (44m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, May 21
Aly Hussein (EGY) v [8] Curtis Malik (ENG)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: NTA Squash Classic
Alina Bushma (UKR) bt [1] Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 14-12 (46m)
[2] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt [5] Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (36m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, May 21
Alina Bushma (UKR) v [2] Lucy Beecroft (ENG)