The semi-final line-up of the Macau Open was resolved only after a succession of marathon quarter-final encounters in the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event today at the Centro de Bowling do Complexo Desportivo Internacional de COTAI in Macau, China.
The only upset saw Egypt's Hisham Mohamed Ashour recover from 2/1 down against Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar to beat the fourth seed - ranked just a single place higher in the PSA world rankings - 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4 in just over an hour.
The 29-year-old from Cairo will now face French veteran Thierry Lincou. After coming through a tight five-game first round battle, second seed Lincou held off the challenge of Spanish qualifier Borja Golan - beating the former world No10 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 in 56 minutes.
But the day's longest-drawn-out affair featured the top seed Mohamed El Shorbagy. The world No8 from Alexandria survived the longest match of his professional career - and three games which went to tie-breaks - to beat Malaysian qualifier Ong Beng Hee 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 15-17, 11-9 in 113 minutes.
The favourite will now meet Finland's Olli Tuominen for a place in the final. The unseeded 32-year-old from Helsinki - who ousted third seed Daryl Selby in the opening round - maintained his Macau momentum to overcome US number one Julian Illingworth 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 in 48 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA International 50 Macau Open, Macau, China
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 15-17, 11-9 (113m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 (48m)
Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY) bt [4] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4 (61m)
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 (56m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY)
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