Three nations represented as finals loom at British Junior Open

The only final not to feature an Egyptian will be in the GU19 event, which will see a meeting of the top two seeds, India’s Anahat Singh and Lauren Baltayan of France.

Singh took care of Egypt’s Malika El Karaksy 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 while European junior champion Baltayan reached her first BJO final at the seventh attempt by defeating [3/4] Sohayla Hazem Farouk of Egypt 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

The Frenchwoman said: “It would be a dream to win tomorrow, but I’m not going to focus on the outcome, just play my best squash and let the result take care of itself.” 

BU19 top seed Adam Hawal got through in straight games against USA’s [3/4] Christian Capella and next plays close friend [2] Seif Refaay, who was an exemplary straight-games winner over France’s 3/4 seed Amir Khaled-Jousselin. It will be a repeat of last year’s BU17 final between the Egyptian pair. 

Having lost two finals in a row at the BJO, Hawal said: “I have unfinished business here. For me, the British Junior Open is so prestigious, the same level as the World Juniors, so it would mean the world to me to win tomorrow.” 

In the GU17, England’s sole semi-finalist [5/8] Mariam Eissa was well positioned at 8-4 up in the third against top seed Habia Rizk, with the first two games shared. However, the Egyptian clawed her way back, helped in part by a crucial overturned stroke decision. 

Rizk, who is only 15 and has BJO titles under her belt already at U13 and U15 level, completed 11-7, 4-11, 13-11, 11-4 victory to set up a final against compatriot [3/4] Mariam El Mattet, who overcame USA’s second seed Isabella Tang in three. 

“I’m really happy I won that third game because it was really intense,” said Rizk. “She had a really big lead and I caught up. The referee gave a stroke and I asked for a review. They gave a no let and I was really thankful.” 

BU17 top seed Farouk Mohamed was extended to four games by USA’s [3/4] Brendan Tagliarini while his Egyptian compatriot [3/4] Philopater Saleh came through in three against Indian second seed Aryaveer Dewan. 

Top seed Hassan Abdelgalil cruised into a BU15 final against second-seeded compatriot Aly Abdel-Fattah by virtue of an 11-2, 14-12, 16-14 triumph over [3/4] Baraa Abdelkarim. Abdel-Fattah’s win in the other semi was a classic – 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 4-11, 14-12 against [5/8] Aly Teleb. 

Title favourite Layan Moustafa and 3/4 seed Reem Elmaghraby will contest the GU15 final after the Egyptian pair defeated [5/8] Sandy Hassan in three and USA’s [2] Vivienne Sze in four respectively. 

The all-Egyptian BU13 semis saw the top two seeds Yahia Waleed Rayan and Adam Ragab win through; Rayan in three over [3/4] Tameem Mostafa Fahmy and Ragab in four tight games against [3/4] Hussein Ghoneim. 

The GU13 semis were also an Egyptian lockout in which both top seeds made the final; Serein Mohamed breezing past [5/8] Laila Mohamed Mohsen and [2] Nabila Elnahas battling back to seize a 10-12, 3-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-7 victory over [3/4] Fayrouz Elsayad. 

Egyptian twin sisters Alia and Karma Elnazer met in the semi-finals of the GU11 with second-seeded Alia coming out on top by a marathon 11-9, 8-11, 2-11, 11-9, 13-11 scoreline. The other semi, also an all-Egyptian affair, also went the distance with [5/8] Malika Ghonim toppling top seed Talia Eslam 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 14-12, 13-11. 

Hong Kong will have the chance to win only their second ever title at the BJO (the last by Annie Au in the U15 in 2004) after [5/8] Ngo San Peung stunned top seed Azlan Khan of the USA in the opening BU11 semi 11-3, 11-9, 11-7. Ngo will play [2] Hazem Mahmoud El Fadly of Egypt in Tuesday’s final. 

Watch all the live finals on the all-glass courts at the University of Birmingham from 10:20am on Tuesday 6 January at: britishjunioropen.com