Putrajaya Squash Club

Kompleks Kejiranan Presint 16, Putrajaya, Malaysia

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Nicol pays tribute to conqueror Nour

WHEN Nour El Sherbini arrived in Penang last week, she was not even expecting to win her first round match let alone play in today's final of the Penang-CIMB Women's World Championship in Bayan Baru.

Yet the 18-year-old Egyptian, a three-time world junior champion, will be doing just that after providing the biggest shock of the tournament with an 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 2-11, 11-9 win over seven-time world champion Nicol David in yesterday's semi-finals at the Spice Arena.

The win not only made Nour the youngest World Championship finalist but also gave her a first win over Nicol in four meetings to set up a final showdown with England's Laura Massaro.

Nour had not even won a game against Nicol previously which made any expectation of success for the Egyptian non-existent and worked to her advantage.

"I was not thinking anything," said Nour, who will hope to go one better than the first Egyptian to reach the final, Omneya Abdel Kawy in 2010.

"I lost the first game so easily and I thought match over, 3-0 again.

"I don't know what changed. I just tried to play and it worked. I think I'm just playing without any pressure, with nothing to lose.

"I think Nicol was under a lot of pressure, she is a seven-time champion and the best in squash so maybe she had a lot to think (about).

"I'm so happy to be in the final and whatever records there are, I think I've broken them."

After failing to reach the final for the first time since 2007, Nicol admitted Nour had played better and deserved to be in the final.

"I think my focus was up and down. She had nothing to lose and was on a roll from the beginning," said Nicol, whose 42-match unbeaten run was snapped.

"Everyone plays their best squash against me and she did that and managed to win it.

"I was not sharp enough and she took her chances. I did the best I could. It was not my day today and she deserved to win."

Despite being hammered in the first game, Nour bounced back to take a 2-1 lead with some impressive placements.

Nicol took the fourth at a canter but once Nour edged ahead 6-5 in the fifth, Nicol had few answers to Nour's dominating display and risk-taking.

"It was not me who was slipping," said Nicol. "She was more assertive in attacking and did not make mistakes.

"It is harder for me to play my game when my opponent is playing good squash."

Laura prevented an all Egyptian final when she defeated Raneem El Weleily 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6.

Nour and Laura met once before with the latter winning that time at the 2012 CIMB Malaysian Open quarter-finals.

RESULTS -- S-finals: Nour El Sherbini (Egy) bt Nicol David (Mas) 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 2-11, 11-9; Laura Massaro (Eng) bt Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6.