Howard Harding Chicago Women's Semis Report March 4, 2015
- The world's top two squash players will contest the women's final of
the Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life
Insurance Company after Malaysia's world number one Nicol David and
Egypt's Raneem El Welily, the world No.2, prevailed in contrasting
semi-finals of the WSA World Series event at the University Club of
Chicago in Chicago, USA.
After her shock quarter-final exit at the Tournament of Champions in
New York in January, David has been in scintillating form. The
31-year-old from Penang swept through the field of the WSA
International Cleveland Classic in Ohio last month to win the title
without dropping a game - and extended this straight games run in
Chicago with an 11-9, 13-11, 12-10 semi-final victory over Egypt's
eighth seed Nour El Tayeb.
The win takes David into the 99th WSA World Tour final of her career - one step away from her 80th title triumph!
"I tried hard to stick to my game plan tonight and to keep my focus and
I really fought hard and dug deep in each of those games to make sure
she did not take them," explained the Malaysian who has topped the
women's world rankings unopposed since August 2006.
"It's exciting to be here in Chicago playing this tournament and it's
fantastic for women's squash that there is equal prize money for the
women - and to be in with a chance of winning the title makes it extra
special.
"I'm very pleased to be in the final and I'm going to prepare for the final tomorrow to make sure I am ready."
El Welily, winner of the 2015 Tournament of Champions title, is
unbeaten by any player on the WSA Tour - except for David - since
October last year.
But the 26-year-old from Cairo was taken the full distance before
surviving her Chicago semi-final against France's Camille Serme.
The pair have been rivals throughout their careers - and contested both
the World Junior Championship and British Junior U19 Open finals in
2007.
Sixth seed Serme opened up a 2/1 lead in their latest encounter, but El
Welily regained control in the fourth before closing out the match
11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3 in 58 minutes to extend her Tour
head-to-head record over the world No.6 from Creteil to 6/2.
David and El Welily will be celebrating their 21st Tour meeting since
July 2006 - and their 11th in a final. The Malaysian currently leads
the head-to-head 17/3.
RESULTS: Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, Chicago, USA
