Malaysian meets top seed Camille Serme in Shanghai final
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
French favourite Camille Serme and third-seeded Malaysian Low Wee Wern will contest the final of the Women’s China Open – Squash Stars On The Bund after ending the impressive runs of Egyptian teenagers Nouran Gohar and Salma Hany Ibrahim, respectively, in the semi-finals of the WSA Gold 50 event in China’s largest city Shanghai.
The final stages of this breakthrough squash event in China are taking place on an all-glass showcourt on the 11th floor of The Peninsula Hotel overlooking the spectacular Shanghai skyline on the city’s famous Bund waterfront.
“The supremely-gifted Gohar (right) made world No5 Serme fight every inch of the way for her place in the final,” reported respected English coach Malcolm Willstrop.
“When Gohar led 1-0 and 6-3, another shock result looked on the cards. But the French girl is resolute and recovered to level at one all. She ran away with the third to lead 2-1.
“Gohar wasn’t finished with and led again in the fourth before Serme’s experience told,” added Willstrop. “Serme was very happy to make the final and Gohar’s future looks assured.”
The 11-13, 11-8, 11-1, 11-7 victory in 60 minute takes the 25-year-old from Creteil into the 15th WSA World Tour final of her career, and her first this year.
Wee Wern clearly feels at home in Shanghai, and made it a hat-trick of China Open finals since 2011 when she defeated 18-year-old Ibrahim 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 in 35 minutes.
The triumph puts the 24-year-old world No7 from Penang into her second Tour final of the year and the 17th of her career. Wee Wern will be looking for her first title since winning the second of her China Open trophies two years ago.
The Tour head-to-head record between the two finalists is finely poised on four wins apiece over eight meetings since August 2009, with Wee Wern the straight games winner in their most recent encounter in the USA in the Greenwich Open semi-finals in January 2013.
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Picture by Steve Cubbins (SquashSite)