(6.12.2013) Home favourite Annie Au goes one step closer to the Champion after beating the world number 2, British Open winner Laura Massaro 11-6, 11-5, 9-11 and 11-9. “I was happy that I won yesterday but it is a double happiness for me to win today as Laura is the world number 2 and she is in top form recently,” said Annie with great delight, “it is one of my best games. It says a lot about my ability to compete in the highest level.” “I will enjoy the match against Raneem tomorrow and I will show my best to the home crowd.”
Annie will meet the Egyptian Raneem El Weleily at the semis at 6pm tomorrow on the harbourfront at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. Raneem beats her compatriot Omneya Abdel Kawy in a straight 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 within 30 minutes.
The other women’s semis will be the eighth-time Hong Kong Open Champion Nicol David against the Englishwoman Alison Waters which will be held at 6:45pm at the four-sided glass court.
For the men’s quarter-finals, last year’s runner-up James Willstrop and Mohamed Elshorbagy give the longest match (122 minutes – as long as a movie) of the event so far. In the packed centre court, James fight back from 2-0 down before beating his opponent 20-18 in the fifth.
The second men’s quarter-final saw the match between the defending Champion Ramy Ashour and Spainiard Borja Golan. Leading 11-5 and 11-5, Ramy couldn't manage to hold back his injury in the third game when he lost 1-11 to Borja. In the forth, he was even forced to retire when he was 0-7 down. He will meet James Willstrop in the semis tomorrow at 7:30pm at the glass court at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
The other men’s semis will be the repeat of World Men’s Open Final. Gregory Gaultier who beats Tarek Momen in five will meet Nick Matthew who beats Amr Shabana 3-1.
The semis and finals of Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2013 will be moved to the glass court at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. The matches will start from 6pm onwards. All the tickets have been sold out. If you would like to watch your favourites play in front of the Victoria Harbour on spot, come and sit on the staircase outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for free!
Please click here for the updated results and draw!
