Egyptian number sixth seed Nour El Sherbini (right) is ecstatic after coming through an epic five-game-thriller to beat defending champion Nicol David in the semi-final of the Qatar Classic.

By Satya Rath/Doha
 

One has been the reigning queen on the senior circuit for close to a decade now; the other, after making waves on the junior circle, is already being touted as the next big thing in the women’s game. And if the pupil’s win over the legend in yesterday’s Qatar Classic semi-finals is any indication, she’s definitely on her way to scale the peak, sooner than later.
Nicol David and 20-year-old Nour El Sherbini had met five times before since yesterday’s clash, dating back to 2011 World Championships, and barring that close and one-off defeat in the 2014 Worlds semis, the 32-year-old David has always held sway over her much younger opponent from Egypt.
The Malaysian had been particularly invincible in Doha, having won the Qatar Classic as many as five times, including three in a row from 2006-08, besides three semi-final appearances, including this year. Yesterday, at the Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex, before a largely partisan crowd, El Sherbini ended defending champion David’s reign in five pulsating games to make her first final here, where she will face English veteran and world No. 3 Laura Massaro in today’s grand finale.
The attractive Egyptian was the first out of the blocks, mixing up some fine length with well-crafted drops to take the opening game 11-6 in just seven minutes. David, who seemed to have lost some of her rhythm by the relentless pace of El Sherbini, used all her experience to fight back and take the next two games 10-12, 11-5. But it was the reigning world junior champion all the way after that as she took the next two 11-4, 11-9 to pump her fists in joy as the crowd roared in unison.
While both the players had their share of winners, it was the large volume of David’s unforced errors that had a big say in the match’s outcome. “I still can’t believe I won,” said a gasping El Sherbini, who collapsed on the floor after the energy-sapping 60-minute clash. “She is a legend, she’s one of my idols. There will never be someone like her again. I kept telling myself to keep pushing and keep attacking until the end and to just give everything today. It’s amazing to be in the final, I’m really happy and hopefully it will be a good match against Laura tomorrow.”
The 20-year-old also credited the mostly pro-Egyptian crowd in the stands who kept cheering her throughout. “It felt like I’m playing in Egypt, not Qatar. That support really egged me on. But it’s not over yet, I have anoter big match coming up, but this win definitely has boosted my confidence.
A gracious David was all praise for the rising star. “I had my chances but I think she played too well. I made some errors at crucial moments and she took full advantage of those mistakes. It’s nice to see so many young talents coming up and it augurs well for the game,” said the Malaysian. The other women’s semi-final played earlier was an anti-climax, as England’s Massaro needed just 20 minutes to dismiss Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt to make what will be her second World Series final on the trot after last month’s US Open in Philadelphia where she won the title.
“Yeah, it was too short, as I was expecting to be on court for at least 40-50 minutes. Perhaps she was a little tired after that five-gamer against Joshna yesterday as she made a lot of unforced errors and wasn’t at her best,” said the World No. 3, who could top the world rankings if she wins the title here.
Kawy, while praising her opponent, said it was one of the worst semi-finals she had ever played. “If there’s has to be a worse match I have ever played, this has to be the one. She played great, all credit to her, but I don’t what happened to my game today. It happens sometimes... It was her day today. Good luck to her,” the 30-year-old Egyptian, who ended the challenge of India’s Joshna Chinappa in the quarter-finals, said.
It will be a repeat of last month’s US Open semi-final in what promises to be an enticing men’s title duel, where defending champion Mohamed Elshorbagy will meet 2011 champion Gregory Gaultier. The in-form Frenchman won that match and Elshorbagy will surely be looking for revenge.
Gaultier came through 3-1 in an entertaining and hard-hitting 59-minute clash against Mazen Hesham, another rising youngster from Egypt, fighting back admirably after losing the opening game. This is after his epic five-game escape, after being two games down, in Wednesday night’s quarter-final against another talented youngster from Egypt, Karim Abdel Gawad.
Elshorbagy earlier continued his love affair with Doha by making his fourth straight final in Qatar since 2012. The world No. 1 from Egypt had too many tricks up his sleeves for Australian qualifier Ryan Cuskelly, who finally saw his giant-killing run end in a 7-11, 4-11, 9-11 defeat that lasted just 35 minutes.
The Aussie held his own, albeit briefly, at the start of the match, but once Shorbagy got into his groove it was virtually one-way traffic. Cuskelly staged a late comeback in the third, but it was too little too late by then.
“It’s great for me to get to final without dropping a game,” said the 24-year-old Elshorbagy. “I will be fresh for tomorrow. It’s the fourth year in a row that I’ve made it to the final here on my favourite court and I can’t wait to play the title clash tomorrow.”
Results (All Semi-finals)
Women: 4-Laura Massaro (ENG) bt 5-Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-6); 6-Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt 2-Nicol David (MAS) 3-2
(11-6, 10-12, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9)
Men: 1-Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Q-Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-9); 2-Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY)
3-1 (4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12)   
Finals (6pm today)
4-Laura Massaro (ENG) vs 6-Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Followed By: 1-Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) vs 2-Gregory Gaultier (FRA)