US Open Daily Update - September 4, 2009

HURRICANE SQUASH HITS WINDY CITY AS EGYPTIANS RACE TO FINAL

Aon US Open semi-finals, Chicago:

(1) Ramy Ashour (Egypt) beat (3) David Palmer (Aus) 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 (32 minutes)

(2) Amr Shabana (Egypt) beat (7) James Willstrop (Eng) 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (42 minutes)

By ALAN THATCHER in Chicago

Egyptian superstars Ramy Ashour and Amr Shabana blitzed their way into the final of the Aon US Open with straight-game victories over James Willstrop and David Palmer in the semi-finals.

Shabana took 42 minutes to beat Willstrop 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 and Ashour took ten minutes less to overcome Palmer 11-8, 12-10, 11-8.

Those two dazzling performances underlined Egypt's global dominance in the sport and set up a mouthwatering clash between the tournament's top two seeds.

Willstrop, who took 85 minutes to beat England team-mate Peter barker in the quarter-finals the previous evening, started sluggishly and Shabana raced to a 6-0 lead. Once Willstrop settled he threatened to turn the tables and pulled the score back to 6-8 but Shabana quickly closed out the game.

Shabana kept the ball fast, tight and low as he had the 6ft 5in Willstrop at full stretch and the three-time world champion from Cairo raced through the second game 11-4, bringing a huge cheer from another sell-out crowd with an outrageous angled kill shot.

Willstrop battled bravely in the third game but Shabana finished strongly to reach his second final of the season after winning the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur last month.

He will need to be at his brilliant best to stop compatriot Ashour, who is nine years his junior. The reigning World Open champion produced one of his best career performances to overwhelm Palmer with a stunning display of high-speed attacking squash.

Ashour won the opening game in just eight minutes but Palmer responded solidly in the second to reach game ball, only for Ashour to claw back the points to win the tiebreak 12-10.

As well as Palmer played, he was unable to stem the tide as Ashour conjured up more magical shots in the third game.

A smiling Ashour said: "I am so happy to be in the final. Amr and I always have great matches and we are just pleased to be able to entertain such a fantastic audience here in Chicago.

"This has to be one of the best venues for squash anywhere in the world and the crowds have been great all week. That applause helps us to play better."

Shabana was extremely gracious in victory, acknowledging Willstrop's valiant efforts on his return from an ankle injury. He said: "James has come back very quickly after a serious operation and he is always a very difficult opponent.

"It is always a good feeling to be in a final, and I know Ramy is playing brilliantly at the moment. We hope to put on a great final for this wonderful crowd."