It's Business As Usual As World No.1s Waltz Into Egyptian Open Semis

Egyptian world No.1s Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini sent out statements of intent as they produced much-improved performances to reach the last four of the CIB Egyptian Open on home soil.

Both players, who have dominated the upper echelons of professional squash in recent seasons, had made indifferent starts to the maiden major event of the new PSA Squash Tour season at Club O West in Cairo, with Farag initially sluggish against Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller and El Sherbini coming back from two games down to escape disaster against 17-year-old Amina Orfi in their third round clashes.

During the quarter-finals, though, both players looked much closer to their devastating best to cruise into the semi-finals of the first ever Diamond-level event.

El Sherbini, who last won this title in 2019, looked sharp and confident against Belgian world No.7 Tinne Gilis, with the Egyptian attacking with deadly accuracy from mid-court to overcome Gilis 11-8, 11-1, 11-7.

Farag, meanwhile, got the better of Egyptian compatriot Mazen Hesham. The No.5 seed, who like Gilis appeared to be struggling with an injury at times, could not match Farag's immaculate length hitting, with the top seed easing to an 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 win.

"I've been playing for a long time and everyone knows I'm a slow starter. I took some time at the beginning but that's the type of squash I want to be playing," El Sherbini said.

Farag added: "I'm very, very happy. I think I played every department a lot better than before." He then paid tribute to his wife, former world No.3 Nour El Tayeb, who retired from the Tour ahead of the new season, with the couple announcing they were expecting a second daughter.

Awaiting El Sherbini in the semi-final is defending champion and compatriot Hania El Hammamy, who overcame England's Georgina Kennedy in straight games.

Farag, meanwhile, will go up against reigning world champion Diego Elias of Peru, whose match against Egypt's Tarek Momen was cut short in the second game after Momen suffered an injury.