Ramy, Shabana fall in World Open Squash

RAMY ASHOUR, the number two seed and number five seed AMR SHABANA finally made their exit in the Men's World Open Squash Championship at Rotterdam, the Netherlands on Friday. Moving into the semi finals were top seed Nick Matthew, number 3 Karim Darwish, number 4 James Willstrop and number 6 Gregory Gaultier. Among the women's, top seed Nicol David was joined by number 2 Jenny Duncalf, number 11 Natalie Grinham and number 15 Samantha Teran in the semis. At the New Luxor Theatre all glass court, the number two seed Ramy Ashour surrendered the match being retired hurt having lost the first two games 8-11,1-11 against Frenchman Gregory Gaultier who led 1-0 in the third game when Ramy conceded the match. Certainly a disappointment for the crowd as well as his opponent. On the other hand Shabana lost to number 4 James Willstrop in four games lasting nearly an hour. After willstrop had won the first two games 11-8.11-2, the former world champion gave his best in the third to stay afoot winning 13-11. But in the fourth, the Englander just dictated the terms and Shabana soon running out of fuel as Willstrop moved into the semis winning the game and the match conceding just 1 point. However, Egyptian hopes were still alive when defending champion Karim Darwish took little over 40 minutes to crush former world champion and number 8 seed Australian in straight games to book his place in the last four 4. Darwish won 11-9,11-7,11-1. In first semi finals it would be top seed Nick Matthew taking on Karim Darwish while in the second it would be James Willstrop against Gregory Gaultier. Among the women's Nicol faces Natalie in the first semis while in the second it would be number 2 Jenny against number 15 Samantha .