David to face Massaro in British Open squash final

KINGSTON UPON HULL, United Kingdom: Nicol David and Laura Massaro gave the British Open squash the dream final widely hoped for when the legendary Malaysian and the surprising Englishwoman survived minor scares in their respective semifinals on Saturday.
Malaysia’s top-seeded David, who has been world No.1for almost eight years, overcame Alison Waters, the British national champion, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2, after recovering from a edgy start to score points with an increasing and pleasing variety.
Second-seeded Massaro, who has succeeded David as World and British Open champion, had a difficult beginning too, but found ways to slow down the hustling creativity of Raneem El Weleily, the third-seeded Egyptian, in an 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 victory.
For Massaro, this was repeating much of what she had done in the previous five encounters against a hugely talented opponent who sometimes lapses when denied openings or tested with changes of pace.
For David it was different. Her start was care-worn, shackled, and worrying.
But her game blossomed luxuriantly after she had worked her way back into it in the second game with a steady and determined second effort.
That built a crucial platform for what followed — a relaxing of the tension, an increase in the sidewall angles, which took Waters forward before pinning her to the back with immaculate lengths, and eventually a transforming of the psychology of the match.
In the men’s section, Ramy Ashour trampled his way into the semi-finals like a man determined to give cheer to his troubled nation.
Only briefly was Ashour slowed during his advance to a 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 victory over James Willstrop, the former world No.1 from England.
The other men’s semifinal will be between Nick Matthew, the top-seeded world champion, and Mohamed El Shorbagy, the 23-year-old Egyptian who has beaten the Englishman in their last two meetings, and whom some believe is about to make a breakthrough.
Shorbagy had to play well to halt the in-form Frenchman, Mathieu Castagnet, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, but Matthew needed to be close to his absolute best to deny the remarkable Fares Dessouki, a 19-year-old Egyptian who scraped into the tournament via the qualifying competition only after a late withdrawal.
Matthew’s 11-4, 12-10, 11-9 victory required him to save a game point at 9-10 in the second game against an opponent whose talents were threatening to blossom luxuriantly and whose future looks exceptional Earlier the prospect of a final between Nicol David, the Malaysian who has been world number one for almost eight years, and Laura Massaro, the Englishwoman who has succeeded her as World and British Open champion, came tantalisingly closer.
The top-seeded David grew in authority as she overcame Omneya Abdel Kawy, the brilliantly skilful Egyptian, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4 in a repeat of the 2010 world final. The favorite’s superior mobility and patience always gave her the edge.