The women’s final will see World No.1 Nour El Sherbini and defending champion Nouran Gohar go head-to-head in a final for the fourth time this season, with their last meeting coming just last month in Chicago at the PSA World Championships
25-year-old El Sherbini, who won the British Open title in both 2016 and 2018, did not let the heavy strapping on her thigh affect her as she overcame USA’s World No.5 Amanda Sobhy in four games to reach her fourth final at the event.
“It never gets easier and every match is more tough than the one before,” said El Sherbini. “She’s on top form this season, we’ve played a lot of tough matches. I’m just trying to get myself to the end of the game and respond when she got the second game, kept the momentum I’m playing with and when I started the third game, I wanted to keep going and get a good start. I think that helped me a lot.”
Meanwhile, Gohar put Manchester Open champion Hania El Hammamy to the sword, despite a resilient effort from the 20-year-old, as she came out on top 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 in 49 minutes.
The 23-year-old will be targeting her second British Open title to add to her 2019 victory when she defeated France’s Camille Serme.
“If I’m not playing my best squash here, where should I play it?” Said Gohar afterwards. “It’s the most prestigious tournament and I always love to come back.
“Against someone of Hania’s calibre you have to play your best just to win and to win in three you have to play extra special as well. I’m just happy with the way I played.
“It’s no pressure at all [to be defending champion], I’m the No.2 seed, she’s the No.1. I won it last year, I have it already and it will always be there. I’m just enjoying it. Actually it’s a repeat of the 2016 final, which was five years ago. I’m just happy to be able to play against Sherbini in another final and hopefully it’s going to be another good one and the crowd will enjoy it.”
The finals of the British Open will take place tomorrow (August 22) and play starts at 15:00 (GMT+1). Action from the Allam Sport Centre will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV, the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (Indian subcontinent only) and multiple broadcasters around the world.
Results – Semi-Finals: Women’s 2021 Allam British Open
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (37m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (49m)
Draw – Women’s Final: To Be Played August 22nd
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
