Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Watanabe summons grit to shock teenager Orfi
Satomi Watanabe withstands Amina Orfi fightback to reach her first platinum semi-final, while ruthless Paul Coll is into men’s last four
Fourteen years after she left her family in Japan aged 12 to pursue her squash dreams, Satomi Watanabe stunned Amina Orfi on Friday to reach her first platinum tournament semi-final at the Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open.
Watanabe, the world No 7, raced into a 2-0 lead, but she appeared destined for disappointment after Egyptian rising star Orfi rattled off the next two games. The 26-year-old, who recently began working with a sports psychologist, gathered herself and overcame a final-game warning for dissent to clinch it 11-4 and prevail 3-2.
Only the second player, after Hania El Hammamy, to beat Orfi, the world No 3, this season, Watanabe gleefully tossed her racquet skywards and released a jubilant roar.
The 26-year-old will play Olivia Weaver in Saturday’s semi-finals, after the American overcame Tinne Gilis of Belgium 3-0.
“I tried to forget the fourth game and focus on my target, which helped me recover my concentration,” Watanabe said.