Hong Kong Squash Open: American Sobhy stuns women’s world No 1 El Sherbini to set up title shot
- Amanda Sobhy downs Egyptian Nour El Sherbini in straight games, will face defending champion Hania El Hammamy in final
- In the men’s competition, world No 1 Ali Farag and Paul Coll both won their respective semi-finals
American Amanda Sobhy hailed the atmosphere of the outdoor glass court after stunning women’s world No 1 Nour El Sherbini in straight games at the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Squash Open on Saturday.
The 30-year-old New Yorker was in top form right from the start at the specially constructed venue in Kowloon West, easing past the Egyptian 11–8, 11-4, 11-3 in 30 minutes to win for only the sixth time in 18 career meetings.
Sobhy said that while the Egyptian “made some errors”, she was happy how she had played.
“I think that’s some of my best squash that I’ve played, best movement-wise,” she said. “I really want to challenge the big three. I want to put myself in that category.”
The American also said she had decided to attack her opponent, rather than let El Sherbini dictate play.
“When playing El Sherbini, a lot of people are on the back foot,” she said. “Whereas I was like, maybe I’ll just go on the attack from the start and throw her off.
