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BritOpen Update: El Sherbini fells David to book British Open final berth

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Egyptian World No.5 Nour El Sherbini became the first player to book her place in the final of the 2016 Allam British Open, PSA World Series tournament, courtesy of a superb 3-1 victory over five-time winner Nicol David – extending her unbeaten run over the Malaysian superstar to four games.

El Sherbini took little time in setting the pace with a number of impressive winners seeing her establish a comfortable 7-3 lead in the first. David rallied and took three points on the bounce but El Sherbini was soon back on top and she closed it out 11-6 to a game up.

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A vintage display from David in game two saw the World No.2 storm ahead to level proceedings for the loss of just two points before the momentum shifted in El Sherbini’s favour and she regained her composure in the third to take it by the narrowest of margins.

The 2012 runner-up was dominant from the outset of the fourth and final game as a period of eight straight points left her on the brink of a second British Open final appearance. David gave it everything to get back within touching distance but there was no stopping the supreme confidence of El Sherbini, who closed out an 11-6, 2-11, 11-9, 11-6 win to seal her spot in the showpiece event.

“It means a lot to be in the final,” said El Sherbini.

“The British Open is the biggest tournament on tour, I think, and everyone comes and gives it everything they have. It really means a lot to be in the final again.

“I got some confidence after beating her in the last three matches. Being on court with Nicol gets the best stuff out of me.

“It’s been a long week for me. It’s never easy to beat Nicol and every time I go on court with her and beat her it is a special one for me.”

Even though the loss was tough to take for David, she believes she played a good game and can still take positives from the result.

“She hardly gave me any space in that match and, like she said, she always brings out her best game when she plays me so I knew that I played a good match today in patches,” she said.

“Now it’s just really trying to push through for the next step up I think. That game I played [in the second] is about getting that consistency and staying up with that game. She started playing that sort of style and I just had to be more assertive at certain moments and I didn’t quite stay on that.

“It’s a new challenge for me to build new tools, new things and, although I’m disappointed not to get to the final, there are definitely a lot of positives for me.”

Result – Semi-Final: Women's Allam British Open 2016
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Nicol David (MAS) 3-2: 11-6, 2-11, 11-9, 11-6 (43m)

By James Hall

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