RESULTS: Saudi Squash International, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Semi-finals:
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-3, 3-11, 11-6, 11-7 (61m)
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] David Palmer (AUS) 11-8, 14-12, 11-3 (38m)
England's Nick Matthew and Egypt's Ramy Ashour will contest a dream final of the $250,000 Saudi International at Sunset Beach in Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia - the champion of the PSA World Tour Super Series squash event not only picking up the $37,400 winner's cheque, but also certain to become number one in the first PSA world rankings of 2010.
Yorkshireman Nick Matthew reached the 30th PSA Tour final of his career when he beat England team-mate Adrian Grant 11-3, 3-11, 11-6, 11-7 in the first semi-final of the day. Despite suffering with food poisoning, left-handed Londoner Grant - competing in his first Super Series semi - extended third seed Matthew for 61 minutes.
"I knew of his condition - but actually, he played so well," Matthew told the official website www.atcosquash.com afterwards. "I know, I had the same feel when I played in the British, I had back problems and couldn’t rely on my physical strength - and my squash got better!
"I think it was the same for Adrian tonight. He had nothing to lose, and he couldn’t rely on what makes his strength normally, so his squash was really outstanding tonight.
"It will be fantastic to play Ramy. Tonight, I had everything to lose, in a way - whereas tomorrow, I won’t, and will enjoy every second of it," added the 29-year-old from Sheffield, the first Englishman to make the Saudi final.
Top seed Ramy Ashour was in sensational form in the second semi, where he fought back from five game balls down in the second game to beat experienced Australian David Palmer 11-8, 14-12, 11-3 in 38 minutes.
Palmer, the 33-year-old fourth seed, was marking his fourth successive appearance in the Saudi semi-finals - and bidding to make the final for the first time.
"I’m very happy with that result, I cannot complain," exclaimed Ashour, now in his 22nd Tour final. "It’s the biggest event, it’s the biggest prize money, it’s the biggest everything!!!
"I don’t want to think about the world number one ranking, but I guess I have to start thinking about it now. Tomorrow will be the most important match of my career, and for Nick too. The only thing I can do it do my best.
"I could see that David got tired at the end of the match, it’s the end of the season. But I made an error, in particular in the second that was an absolutely crucial game. I had in my mind the idea that David was older, and had the experience, and that I was young and probably fitter, and just tried and outrun him.
"Now, I’m going to eat well, rest, and tomorrow, back to basics. I’ll try my best not to think about the match, not to think about the rankings."
The Saudi International is celebrating its fifth year as one of the leading events on the PSA World Tour - and for the fifth time, the winner will go on to top the world rankings.
The final - which will be streamed live and FREE on www.psasquashtv.com - will be Ashour and Matthew's eighth career PSA World Tour clash. It will also be the pair's third final meeting this year, and only eight days after Ashour clinched victory in the climax of the PSA Masters in India.
Ashour currently boasts a 4/3 lead, but it was Matthew who prevailed when they last met in Saudi, in the quarter-finals in December 2008.
For up-to-the-minute information, visit the official website www.atcosquash.com