World No.1 and reigning champion Nouran Gohar booked her spot in the semi-finals of this season’s PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family following a dominant 3-0 win over Japan’s Satomi Watanabe at Chicago’s Lakeshore Sport & Fitness.
Gohar had won all three of their previous matches on the PSA Squash Tour and made it four in row over the World No.11 courtesy of an 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 victory.
The Egyptian has now won 17 matches in a row – a run which has seen her win the Texas Open, the El Gouna International and the Grasshopper Cup – and she was ruthless as she hit her lines accurately to outplay Watanabe in straight games.
Gohar will now go up against World No.3 Hania El Hammamy or World No.14 Nada Abbas for a place in the last four. It will be her sixth successive semi-final appearance at the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
“I just tried to mix it up a bit,” said Gohar afterwards.
“She’s a very dangerous opponent and we’ve been playing a lot lately. I like to be challenged and I like to have to figure out the puzzle, even if it’s out of my comfort zone, it helps me to improve every time.
“I’m more comfortable on the court and I had a bigger part of my team with me today, also my husband is coming. Having the right people beside me puts me in the right mindset.
“Everyone is here to win, that’s the goal. A week ago it was only winning the first match that was the goal. Now I’m in the semis you look ahead more and you’re more excited for what’s going to happen, but it’s just another match I have to prepare for and I’ll be up for it.”
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Result
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [11] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (43m)
