RESULTS: North American Open Squash Championship, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Semi-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3] Amr Shabana (EGY) 12-14, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (76m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 (62m)
Ramy Ashour and Nick Matthew, the world's top two players, will contest - for the second successive year - the final of the $93,750 North American Open in Richmond after prevailing in contrasting semi-finals of the second PSA Super Series 2010 squash event of the year at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
World number one Ashour closed in on the head-to-head record against his illustrious Egyptian compatriot Amr Shabana by beating the reigning and four-time World Open champion in a 76-minute marathon in which he twice had to come from behind.
Shabana started the match in control, playing crisp length and carving in deadly volley drops at will. Ashour's astonishing speed allowed him to retrieve and win the scrappy rallies, which is all that he had at the beginning of the match. The nucleus of Ashour's armoury, the backhand crosscourt volley drop, was not firing as well is it had been all week.
Shabana, the 30-year-old third seed, led in the first three games, though the 22-year-old top seed pegged it back each time, firing in some incredible power forehand crosscourt nicks.
The former world number one looked to have it sewn up after he breezed through the third game, though let Ashour back in the fourth. It was not until the decider game that both players played at their full potential.
It was Ashour that received the momentum at the end of the game - though it could so easily have been a different outcome – as the event favourite secured the 12-14, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 victory which takes Ashour into his 24th PSA Tour final in just over five years.
"It's just amazing, the way Shabana plays," said Ashour later. Every time I go on court with him, I think it's going to be easier – but it never happens!
"I had such a tough match – it's never easy to play him. He's one of the smartest players ever.
"It was more of a mental game today, than physical. I'm really glad I'm in the final," added Ashour.
In the other all-English semi, world number two Matthew faced seventh seed James Willstrop, his Yorkshire rival against whom he boasted a 12-8 head-to-head advantage.
Willstrop, winner of the last Super Series event at the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York, never really looked comfortable for the whole of the match. The 26-year-old from Leeds did take a lead in the first two games, though he was half the player of the previous round.
Matthew was hitting a more precise length and bringing the ball short enough on the volley drop to make Willstrop lunge, intercepting the next ball to end the rally at the back of the court.
It was a pattern that was repeated through the match. Willstrop briefly looked in control in the third game, though Matthew levelled the score and went on to win 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 after 62 minutes.
"I'm delighted with the way I played tonight," said the 29-year-old from Sheffield, now in his 32nd Tour final.
Matthew praised the help he and Willstrop had been getting from England Squash coach David Campion: "We've done a lot of work on my short game this week, so it's nice to see it finally coming off.
"I'm just delighted to get it off 3/0 – which gives me the chance against Ramy when I'll be relatively fresh," concluded the Englishman.
The winner of the Richmond final will top the PSA Super Series 2010 rankings – but, if it were Matthew, he would share the lead with fellow countryman James Willstrop.
Official event website: www.naosquash.com
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