Egypt’s top-ranked squash player Ramy Ashour remains on course to win his fourth successive Hurghada International title – but the world No2 from Cairo was stretched for 78 minutes before overcoming fellow countryman Omar Mosaad in the quarter-finals of the men’s PSA Tour International 70 event in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
Unseeded Mosaad, the world No16 from Cairo, took full advantage of a series of errors from the top seed and had four game balls to open up a first game lead.
But Ashour held off the challenge, ultimately clinching the opener 17-15 before going on to recover from dropping the third game to win 17-15, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.
Ashour’s next opponent will be career-long French rival Gregory Gaultier, also a former world number one. The third seed from Aix-en-Provence, ranked six in the world, brushed aside Egyptian opponent Mohd Ali Anwar Reda, beating the world No27 11-5, 11-4, 11-1 in 38 minutes.
Raneem El Weleily provided local success in the quarter-finals of the women’s WISPA World Tour Silver 20 event after triumphing in straight games against Dane Line Hansen.
It was nip and tuck in the opening game which reached eight-all before fourth seed El Weleily, the world No12 from Alexandria, moved ahead to take the game.
It took just 25 minutes for the Egyptian to book her place in the semi-finals, winning 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 to set up a clash with three-time former champion Rachael Grinham.
The top-seeded Australian, who was based for many years in Egypt, took on Egyptian rival Engy Kheirallah, the No7 seed from Cairo currently ranked 33 in the world.
Grinham, ranked three in the world, took control of the opening exchanges and soon built up a two-game lead.
“Rachael was controlling the pace and using the forehand boast and volley boast very well,” said respected Egyptian coach Hesham El Attar. “Apart from two errors, she dominated and looked the stronger of the two when attacked.”
But Kheirallah, a former world No11, came back in the third - and finally clinched her fourth game ball to reduce the deficit.
The fourth game was again close – but it was Grinham who ultimately prevailed, winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8 after 43 minutes to earn her eighth appearance in the event’s last four.
RESULTS: Hurghada International, Hurghada, Egypt
Men's quarter-finals (top half of draw):
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 17-15, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (78m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-1 (38m)
Women’s quarter-finals (top half of draw):
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8 (43m)
[4] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [6] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)