Semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-10 (3-1), 11-8, 11-4 (54m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-8 (68m)
Top-seeded Egyptians Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour will contest the final of the Saudi International after coming through contrasting semi-finals in the PSA Super Series Platinum squash event in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Shabana, the world No1 from Cairo who hasn't reached a PSA Tour final since March, faced Australia's world champion David Palmer.
For two and a half games, it couldn't have been closer, as the pair went point for point as they strove to reach the final. Palmer took at 3-1 lead in the first, but in a relatively cagey opening game the score went 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 ... all the way to 9-9 when the Australian earned game ball with a deep volley. Shabana saved that with a tight dropshot, but faced another as Palmer powered another volley deep into the back.
Defending champion Shabana saved that too and went on to take the lead after 23 minutes to Palmer's visible disappointment.
The second presented a similar tale, not a point to separate them up to seven-all. Three consecutive returns of serve into the nick and Shabana led 9-8, then he sent his opponent on courts sprints to reach game ball and closed it out with a drop that was just too tight.
Both were still playing measured squash, generally content to wait for opportunities to present themselves rather than forcing the issue, but from four-all in the third Shabana made a break for home, firing in a series of spectacular winners that left Palmer dead and buried. The pick of the bunch was a deft crosscourt flick to reach 9-4, quickly followed by a volley kill and a wrong-footing boast to wrap up the 8-minute game.
"It's always a great performance to beat David, he's a big guy, very strong and very hard to beat," Shabana told the official website www.atcosquash.com after his 11-10 (3-1), 11-8, 11-4 victory in 54 minutes.
"There was nothing in it for the first two games, I managed to save a couple of game balls in the first which was very important.
"My shots were very crisp, I had a good hit this morning when I felt good and it paid off tonight, my shots were working well. When I got a couple of points ahead in the third I knew it was time to push for a 3/0 win, and I had the confidence to go for my shots and thank God they came off," added Shabana, now in his 24th PSA Tour final.
"It will be fun playing Ramy in the final. He's just like a kid, out there having fun - it should be a good match."
In the second semi, second seed Ashour took on Gregory Gaultier, the fourth seed who last month became France's first ever British Open champion.
The first game bore a remarkable resemblance to the opening game of the previous match - scorewise, at least. Point-for-point to eight-all, one player edging ahead to 10-8 only to be overtaken.
The similarity ended there, however. The crowd was treated to a feast of flicks, lobs, drops, drives and boasts as two of the most talented racket players on earth pitted their skills against each other. Fast and furious, tense and exciting.
Gregory Gaultier took the first, then, as yesterday, succumbed 11-2 in the second as Ramy Ashour's shot-making came to the fore.
The Frenchman was much more comfortable in the third, easing ahead from the mid-point, moving easily and getting the crowd worried as he reclaimed the lead.
Then Gaultier lost 11-2 again, contributing to his own downfall with early errors.
The fifth game decider was 15 minutes of talent and tension. Ramy led 4-1, Greg recovered to 6-all, then 8-all. Greg lunged after the ball into the back corner and was left sprawling as Ramy put away an
easy winner to lead 9-8, then Greg hit his return of serve out to gift Ramy two match balls.
The 20-year-old Egyptian only needed one. A tin on his second shot spelled the end for Gaultier, and sparked the celebrations of the crowd.
"I felt that we were both playing in patches, we were both up and down. I had the lead 10-8 in the first and if I'd taken that it would have helped my confidence," said Ashour after the 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-8 win in 68 minutes which takes him into the 11th Tour final of his career, but his sixth this year.
"I would have stepped the pace up. But I had to play safe for a while after that, get the feel of my shots, then, when I could, I pushed as hard as I could.
"I played perfect squash in parts, but he had a very clever game plan and made it difficult for me. Hisham (his brother) told me in between games what he was doing, what was working on court and what wasn't, he really helped me.
"When I was on top I knew I needed to push, push, and I'm so happy to be in the final, so happy!"
Official website: www.atcosquash.com