[11] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (64m)
An incredible tension on the court today. Despite the lack of supporters or spectators, it had a feel on ‘passage du témoin’. Change of guard.
Fayrouz is leaner, fitter, mentally calmer than I’ve ever seen her – and I’ve been follwing her since she is 8 years old… Strangely enough, the two girls followed the same fitness path. From early grown up girls with a bit too much ‘forms’ on (Sorry, not politically correct, sue me) to superb athletes, I saw their body changing completely.
“Sorry, I’m very emotional” commented a tearful Diane Karim, fitness coach to the likes of Fayrouz and Karim Abdel Gawad. “Nour has always been Fayrouz’ idol. She has so much respect and love for her; so playing with her, and beating her.. it’s a dream”.
It might be a dream for Fayrouz, it’s a bit of a nightmare for Nour, who, on this event, was not as comfortable as she can be on an indoor court – Nour always stated she doesn’t enjoy playing on outdoor court, although she won the Gouna Worlds Champs.
An excellent start for the Challenger, 3/0. She will be a couple of points ahead the rest of the game, 4/4, 6/4, 7/5, 7/7, and closes the game 11/8., 12m hard work, wind troubling the game a bit.
4 tins from Nour, only 2 from Fayrouz.
Same good start for the youngster in the second, 3/0, and same progression, a couple of points ahead up to 7/7. But contrarily to the previous game, Nour takes the lead and will close the game quickly, 9m, 11/8.
Only 1 error from Nour, 3 for Fayrouz.
The third is strange, Fayrouz seems to dominate,7/3, but Nour reacts so well, managing to clinch point after point. Great rallies, so much running and so much pace. Mixing the shots, Nour levels 8/8, 9/9.
A stroke after an unfortunate clip of the side wall and a winner, it’s 11/9 to Nour, 14m game
One error each.
The fourth is strange. If the girls have only made 2 errors average per game, they just tin the ball again and again at the start of the game. Especially Nour. 4/1 Fayrouz, who, like in the previous game, will lead 7/3.
But this time, she doesn’t let her opponent coming back in the game and quickly closes it down, 11/8. A lot of hard work done by Nour in that one, to retrieve all the counterdrops/counterattacks Fayrouz through at her.
The last game is painful to watch if you are a Nour fan, as she doesn’t seem to be able to react to the exhuberance of the Youth…. 8/2 Fayrouz, 9/4, 11/5 in 11m.
Nour, 5 errors on the last game. None from Fayrouz.
𝘼 𝙃𝙐𝙂𝙀 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠 🤯@fayrouzaboelkh1 delivers a career-best performance to topple defending champion Nour El Sherbini in a thrilling five-game encounter and reach the Egyptian Open semi-finals 🔥
What a win for the 19-year-old 👏#egyptianopen pic.twitter.com/CfIbIZQufL
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) September 17, 2025
Fayrouz
“I mean, I’m just very happy. I’m literally over the moon. I don’t think it has hit me as much as it should right now. Nour has been my idol my role model for years, so to be on court with her already was a huge thing for me.
“Winning that one is just so special to me. It’s going to be the closest one to my heart. I’m going to have to take it all out very quickly though as I have a match again tomorrow night.
“Bring here, I had a lot of emotions going on over the last two days, but earlier today I had my mental coach with me and that really helped. I think the lack of a crowd today was also in my advantage and was on my side.”
