World No.1 Nour El Sherbini is one win away from matching the legendary Nicol David’s record haul of eight PSA World Championship titles after she twice came back from a game down to overcome United States No.1 Olivia Fiechter at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo, Egypt.
El Sherbini, 28, has won the previous five World Championship titles in a row and has now recorded 35 straight victories at the sport’s biggest tournament following an 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 win over World No.7 Weaver.
The Egyptian had to dig in mentally and physically though over the course of a 71-minute battle. Weaver came out of the blocks firing, showing no sign of nerves in her first appearance in a World Championship semi-final.
The American played extremely positively, going short with aplomb whenever the opportunity arose, duly taking a one-game lead. Weaver dropped off in the second as El Sherbini came back to draw level, but was back on the offensive in the third, playing at a high tempo and volleying often as she went 2-1 up against one of the best players ever to pick up a squash racket.
El Sherbini was forced to play her best squash as she picked up her accuracy to take the fourth, and a superb start to the decider saw her run away with things to seal her spot in her 10th World Championships final.
The seven-time World Champion will take on either World No.2 Nouran Gohar or World No.3 Hania El Hammamy in tomorrow’s final.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy match,” said El Sherbini.
“I couldn’t lose in front of this amazing crowd, with every point they were cheering me and hyping me up. After being 2-1 down I said there’s no way I can leave this court by losing. I just want to keep going and I’m really happy I’m through.
“She played amazingly, but I felt as though I wasn’t finding my targets and I wasn’t consistent as well. It wasn’t my best but all respect to her, she played one of her best matches and this is going to make me focus more on what’s coming and get me ready for the next meeting against her. For her to get to World No.4 [in next week’s PSA World Rankings] is amazing, but I’m happy to be through.
“It’s was very bouncy on court and Olivia is one of the fittest players, so it’s very hard to win a point against her. That made it difficult at the beginning. It wasn’t the best from me, but I kept going and pushing until the end and the main thing is that I won. I will be prepared better for tomorrow.”
Result
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [8] Olivia Weaver (USA) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (71m)
