Laura Massaro, England’s last hope of home glory in the women’s Allam British Open Championship, staged a magnificent fightback to down world no.1 Nicol David in a dramatic semi-final in Hull today.
David, the defending and world champion, looked on course for a fourth successive final appearance in the $115,000 event when she took a 2/0 lead and held a match ball in the fourth game, but the third seed from Lancashire hit back superbly to triumph 3/2 in 78 minutes and book her third consecutive British Open final.
The long-reigning world no.1 from Malaysia had made a storming start by winning the first game 11-5 in 10 minutes and the second 11-9 in 15.
However, the 2013 champion from Preston then launched her comeback by claiming the third game 11-9 in 14 minutes after trailing 5-0.
Massaro followed up by storming into a 5-1 lead in the fourth game, only for the top seed to rally to hold a match ball at 10-9.
However, the 31-year-old world no.4 saved that and went on to win the game 12-10 in 14 minutes.
Massaro now had the momentum and she was never behind in the decider, which she claimed 11-8 in 13 minutes after David had saved two match balls.
A delighted Massaro said afterwards: “I just thought at two games down and 5-0 down I had nothing to lose. I thought at that point that it might even be a little bit embarrassing.
“I was so disappointed after the Commonwealth Games final and was thinking on the way here that I just didn’t want that to happen again, so I think I just relaxed at that point.
“I was getting a better length and putting her short a little bit more. I wanted to live and die on my own sword. If I’m going down, then I’m going down fighting, being positive and attacking, and then that ended up making the difference.
“I’ve put in a shedload of fitness work. I wasn’t feeling particularly tired, not like I’ve done in the past. It felt like it was whoever held their nerve at the end.
“I’ve got good mental freshness from the break that I’ve had and I always have belief when I play against Nicol.
“It’s huge to be in the British Open final. That’s three finals in three years, so regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’m really proud of that.”
Massaro was cheered on by a capacity crowd at the Airco Arena in Hull and thanked the crowd for their support in her post-match interview.
“It’s so nice for the English players to play in front of a home crowd, especially because it doesn’t happen that often,” she said.
“When I won that fourth game and everyone just roared, it shocked me a bit, so you come on fighting for them and every time you get a roar, it lifts me and it puts her down.
“I know how that feels having been on the reverse of it in Malaysia and Egypt.”
David was gracious in defeat afterwards, saying of Massaro: “She found her composure and didn’t make many mistakes in the last couple of games, kept it really tight and took her opportunities when they were there.
“There’s no fear for her playing me. She has nothing to lose. I have to be the one to step up my game now.”
The Lancastrian now faces sixth seed Camille Serme, who became the first French woman to reach a British Open final when she ended the giant-killing run of Malaysian qualifier Delia Arnold.
The 26-year-old made things incredibly difficult for the world no.29, who never looked like pulling off another upset to match those of the earlier rounds – when she beat world no.3 Alison Waters, world no.11 Annie Au and world no.2 Raneem El Welily – as she went down 11-3, 11-7, 11-6.
Nick Matthew was denied a fifth British Open final in Hull today when world no.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy defeated the Yorkshireman 3/1 in the semi-finals.
The Bristol-based Egyptian qualified for his first appearance in the Allam British Open decider with an 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 victory over the third seed in 54 minutes.
Elshorbagy’s victory ended Matthew’s brave bid for a fourth British Open title after an ankle injury in his El Gouna International semi-final last month against the Egyptian had disrupted his preparations.
Matthew told his Facebook followers: “Disappointing way to end the season but sometimes you have to give both yourself & your opponent credit. Fair play to Mohamed for coming through his own injury problems & executing a very clever game plan today.
“Obviously gutted to lose today & definitely think I could have performed better. Mohamed rushed me today & my lack of movement sharpness to the front was capitalised upon.
“Having said that, semi-final of the British Open is not to be taken for granted, especially after almost not making it to the start line.
“I’ve had a great season & it’s time for a rest for both the body & mind and come back next season with renewed hunger to challenge for more titles.”
Elshorbagy, who was eliminated by Matthew at last year’s semi-final stage, was irrepressible today, moving the world no.2 to all four corners of the court with some well-crafted boasts and expertly-placed lob shots.
However, after taking a 2/0 lead, the 24-year-old had to contend with a resurgent Matthew in the third.
Buoyed by strong support from the crowd, the former world no.1 fought back with a vengeance to get a game back, but Elshorbagy rallied to retake control of the match in the fourth and make it through to the final.
“It was a really, really tough match,” Elshorbagy said afterwards. “I had to play in a very clever way as well. I had to play a completely different tactic the whole time and even Nick wasn’t at 100%. He normally doesn’t go for the kind of shots that he was going for today.
“It was quite interesting I think. Sometimes you have to just try and get the job done. That’s what I tried to do today, but I have so much respect for what he has done this week. He was getting better, but he was still far from his best at the same time today in the match.”
Elshorbagy has lived in England since he was just 15, but the Egyptian believes the British Open is a tournament that everyone aspires to win.
“The British Open is special for everyone,” he said. “You always want to have your name on that prestigious trophy. For me, I want it a bit more because I have Jonah [Barrington] as my coach, who is like my father figure as well who has won it six times.
“I would love to win it at least once before I finish my career. I have always been taken care of in this country really well. I live just 30 seconds away from the squash courts and the physios provide me with everything that I need.
“They are the kind of things that you want to have access to and I will always be thankful to this country for sure.”
Elshorbagy will play defending champion Gregory Gaultier in the final, after the second seed from France defeated fourth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the Colombian’s first British Open semi-final 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 in 57 minutes.