David Holds Off El Weleily, Au Shuts Down El Sherbini Run To Set KL Final
by Matt Wagg
photos courtesy Squashsite365
March 30, 2012 - Annie Au will make her first ever appearance in a WSA World Series final tomorrow after ending the run of fellow giant-killer, teenager Nour El Sherbini in the CIMB Nicol David KL Open 2012.
Sherbini had surprised onlookers by dispatching two experienced seeds on her way to the semifinals of the $60K World Series Gold event. But the 16-year-old qualifier from Egypt could not make it past Au, who herself has beaten two seeded opponents to make it this far.
The Egyptian’s form had looked likely to continue as the teenager took the first game from the Hong Kong national champion. But Au, ranked 10 in the world, dug in to win the next three games and book her place in the final.
Facing Au in the final will be Malaysia’s seven-time KL Open winner and world No1 Nicol David, who dismissed a spirited challenge from another young Egyptian, Raneem El Weleily.
El Weleily, currently enjoying her highest ever WSA world ranking of 5, lost the first game on the tie-break before forcing another in the following game, which she won to level the score at 1-1.
The experience of the six-time World Champion shone through in the following games however, as David rebuffed the Egyptian’s efforts and confirmed her place in her 76th WSA final.
Semi final results:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 15-13, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 (49m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (43m)
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) vs Annie Au (HKG)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (25m)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 13-11, 11-6, 11-2 (31m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 (76m)
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 (41m)
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-1, 1-11, 12-10 (53m)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [7] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6 (55m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (31m)
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 (88m)
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 (48m)