Hong Kong Squash Open: Egypt stars Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal crowned champions
El Sherbini beats Olivia Weaver for second Hong Kong crown, fellow Egyptian Asal completes hat-trick of titles with win over Youssef Ibrahim.
Nour El Sherbini toasted a “perfect end to my year” after the eight-time world champion beat Olivia Weaver 3-0 to claim her first Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open title since 2017.
Egyptian El Sherbini was joined in the winner’s stable by compatriot Mostafa Asal, who delivered an outstanding display to see off the challenge of Youssef Ibrahim for a 3-0 victory in the men’s final and his third Hong Kong title.
The 30-year-old El Sherbini moved from 2-0 down to 10-3 ahead in the opening game, before she wrapped it up 11-5 on her third game ball. She won the next 11-5, too, before taking nine of the closing 10 points in the third to deny Weaver in her first platinum tournament final.
Runner-up in 2022 and 2024, El Sherbini said: “I’m so happy I finally won in Hong Kong again … it’s the perfect ending to my year.
“I still get the same excitement from winning titles. You play for this moment, and when it comes it’s worth every sacrifice you make. We play the sport because we love this feeling.”
Confronted with a 6-2 deficit in the third game, El Sherbini said she “focused on every point and tried to avoid any mistakes”.
“I knew if I lost it then Olivia was physically good and would come back strongly, she has the capacity to beat any player,” El Sherbini said.
El Sherbini, who said she would “finally have happy thoughts about Hong Kong,” following eight years of frustration, has begun to pick and choose her tournaments.