Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy upset a world No. 1-ranked player, Nour El Sherbini, for the first time in her professional career to reach her second career World Series final at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open.
El Sherbini earned an early 5-0 lead in the first game, but Sobhy came back to fight off four game balls and win the first game 12-10.
The American world No. 8 continued to press her advantage winning the second game 11-5, and closing out the match 11-6 in thirty minutes.
“It took a little bit to get used to her pace at the start—she’s not World No.1 for nothing, ” Sobhy said.
“At the start, I felt that I was just running and trying to retrieve, so I told myself to get into it, try and get the ball to the back and I’m very pleased with how I was able to come back.
“I think the first game was extremely important, given the fact I was 10-5 down. If she had won that game, it would have given her a lot of momentum, so the fact that I was able to win that, I think that the momentum shifted and I was able to build on a lot of confidence.”
The victory marks Sobhy’s second career World Series final appearance after losing against El Sherbini in the 2016 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions final, and first victory over El Sherbini since January 2015.
Sobhy’s final opponent is Egypt’s world No. 5 and world junior champion Nouran Gohar, who upset four seed Nicol David in the semifinals.
“I’m very excited, it’s amazing to be in my second World Series final and my first in Hong Kong. I absolutely love Hong Kong and I usually do very well here, so I hope to keep the momentum going tomorrow and maybe do one better.”
Watch the final live on SquashTV Sunday at 3:30pm local time, 3:30am ET.