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Paul McNamara

An uncompromising Nour El Sherbini won a bruising Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open semi-final against world No 1 elect Hania El Hammamy on Saturday, then told her doubters: “I am not done yet.”
Trophyless this season following an uncharacteristically slow start, El Sherbini twice trailed before hitting back to win 3-2 and inflict only El Hammamy’s second defeat of the campaign.
She will meet Olivia Weaver in Sunday’s final, after the American beat Satomi Watanabe of Japan 3-1 to reach the first platinum final of her career.
A player who has spent more than 250 weeks at the global summit, El Sherbini, 30, questioned whether reaching No 1 for the first time was “a bit too much” for her fellow Egyptian, who will take top spot after this tournament.
“It might be playing in her head a bit,” El Sherbini, who has slipped to world No 4, said.
“At this moment, I still have more to give and I’m not done yet. I don’t think much about the ranking, winning today is what matters the most.”

El Hammamy, 25, appeared poised to repeat her straight games victory over El Sherbini from October’s Qatar Classic final when she breezed into a 1-0 lead.
The older player won a nip-and-tuck second 11-9, but her level dropped in a third that El Hammamy claimed 11-5.
“I knew it wasn’t over at 2-1. I didn’t focus on the score and just tried to have a good start and grab the next game,” El Sherbini said.
She led all the way to take the fourth 11-7 and set up a drama-filled decider. El Hammamy, who suffered a number of tumbles, lost her footing during the sixth point and returned from a medical timeout with her left ankle strapped.
At 7-3 down, El Hammamy edged backwards and tripped heavily over a blameless El Sherbini’s outstretched right foot. A hush descended over the intimate Ocean Park entry plaza arena, as El Hammamy’s head thudded the floor.
“It was hard to keep my body active [during the delays], I didn’t know what was happening or how she was feeling,” El Sherbini said. “She could have come back and played hard.”
The courageous El Hammamy fought on, but El Sherbini capitalised on her first match ball to take the final game 11-3.
Last year’s runner-up, El Sherbini’s only Hong Kong triumph came in 2017.
“This is the biggest event in Asia, I’ve been trying to win for years but it didn’t go my way and became a bad habit,” she said. “I’ll put no extra onus on the final, I have the same routine for every match because I always want to win.”
El Sherbini attributed her relatively ponderous early season to a protracted recovery from the shoulder injury she sustained late last term.
“It took me a while to get back to the mood and movement of squash … but I was sure I was going to come back and perform,” she said.
“I just needed time, I wasn’t focusing on what people were saying.”
Defending men’s champion Mostafa Asal allowed Jonah Bryant only nine points in a one-sided 3-0 semi-final victory. Englishman Bryant, 20, was playing at this stage of a platinum tournament for only the second time.
“I could see in Jonah’s eyes the hunger I used to have playing the top guys,” Egyptian Asal, the world No 1, said.
“In the first or second round he’d have brought his A-game, but it was emotional for him. When he gets the experience he’s going to be a nightmare to play.”
Asal will play compatriot Youssef Ibrahim in the final, after the No 8 seed shocked 2023 champion and world No 2 Paul Coll 3-1.


Hong Kong Squash Open: Egypt stars Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal crowned champions

Hong Kong Squash Open: El Sherbini ‘not done yet’ after toppling world’s best El Hammamy

Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Watanabe summons grit to shock teenager Orfi

Hong Kong Squash Open: Mostafa Asal 2 wins from title but misses facing retired Farag

Hong Kong Squash Open

Nour El Sherbini (black top) and Hania El Hammamy in action during the semi-final. Photo: Edmond So

Defending men’s champion Mostafa Asal celebrates after beating Jonah Bryant. Photo: Edmond So

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Gong Jinjie (left) and Zhong Tianshi celebrate Olympic team sprint gold in 2016. Photo: AFP

The National Games’ women’s omnium scratch race at Hong Kong Velodrome last month. Photo: Karma Lo

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Sport

Hong Kong

Eight-time world champion hopes to claim first Hong Kong triumph since 2017 in final against Olivia Weaver on Sunday


Eight-time world champion hopes to claim first Hong Kong triumph since 2017 in final against Olivia Weaver on Sunday.


Hong Kong Squash Open: El Sherbini ‘not done yet’ after toppling world’s best El Hammamy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Eight-time world champion hopes to claim first Hong Kong triumph since 2017 in final against Olivia Weaver on Sunday

Eight-time world champion hopes to claim first Hong Kong triumph since 2017 in final against Olivia Weaver on Sunday