Published: April 10, 2026 at 11:03 am
World No.3 Diego Elias produced a sensational display to battle back from 6-1 down in the fifth game and bring Mostafa Asal’s 27-match winning run to an end on a thrilling semifinals night at the El Gouna International Squash Open 2026.
Elias will be joined in the final of the Platinum-level event by 18-year-old Mohamad Zakaria, who became the youngest men’s major finalist of the 21st century after defeating Youssef Ibrahim at the stunning El Gouna Conference and Culture Center.
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A week on from his five-game defeat to Asal in the final of the Optasia Championships, 2024 World Champion Elias reversed the scoreline from that day with a sublime 11-6, 2-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 victory.
The high-quality match saw Elias come from 2-1 down to force a deciding game and later recover from a dead leg early in the fifth, to reel in a five-point deficit and sit at 8-7 down in the fifth game.
A pivotal rally followed in which Asal was penalised for a stroke and an additional conduct stroke for an accumulation of movement offences, which suddenly saw Elias sit 9-8 up, a position which he then converted to the win after 93 minutes of play.
Zakaria becomes youngest finalist
Two-time World Junior Champion Zakaria, meanwhile, became the youngest men’s major finalist since Ramy Ashour at the 2006 Hong Kong Open after claiming his third successive upset at the Platinum-level event.
Zakaria backed up his statement victories over No.5 seed Joel Makin and No.3 seed Karim Gawad, with a mature 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 victory over World No.7 Ibrahim to continue his career-best run by the Red Sea.
Ibrahim and Zakaria both started the match with some impressive quality, with Ibrahim edging into an early 8-6 lead. However, Zakaria began to grow in the ascendancy as the first progressed, clinching five straight points to move 1-0 up.
Zakaria’s tactics continued to be spot on in the second game, with the teenager putting pressure on Ibrahim with low straight and cross-court drives, a ploy which limited the volleying opportunities of his opponent. Zakaria raced into a quick-fire 9-3 lead, and despite Ibrahim limiting the score to 10-7 with some high-tariff winners, he held on to double his advantage after 29 minutes of play.
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After receiving some physio treatment for his ongoing shoulder injury, Ibrahim raised his levels at the start of the third, hitting several unplayable winners and breathing new life into the contest, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
The Ibrahim show continued after a change of ball request from Zakaria, with the former taking a quick-fire 3-0 lead. However, as had been the case in his previous wins over No.5 seed Joel Makin and No.3 seed Karim Gawad, Zakaria showed great maturity to survive this barrage of winners and begin to work his way back into the fourth.
Zakaria clinched 10 of the next 12 points to set up his career-best win, advancing through to the final after 66 minutes of play.
El Hammamy sets up clash against ElSherbini
Meanwhile, in the women’s event, top seed Hania El Hammamy and No.2 seed Nour ElSherbini set up a straight shootout for the World No.1 ranking in Saturday’s final.
World No.1 Hania El Hammamy continued her quest for a second El Gouna International title after delivering a superb performance to defeat World No.3 Amina Orfi in three games. El Hammamy, champion at the Platinum-level event in 2022, advanced to her sixth major final of the season after overcoming the 18-year-old by an 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 scoreline.
Coming into the match, El Hammamy held a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Orfi, with these six meetings averaging a duration of 69 minutes. The top seed had also won all three of their matches this season, coming at the Egyptian Open, Qatar Classic and US Open.
The opening game of the match was a sign of the quality that was to follow, with both El Hammamy and Orfi exchanging in a host of minute-plus rallies. Although Orfi took an early 7-5 lead, El Hammamy remained composed to reel off six of the following seven points and move a game up after 27 minutes of play.
El Hammamy continued to soften her length into the back of the court with medium-paced drives, moving the ball around the court and not playing into the hands of Orfi’s relentless power game.
The Egyptian top seed always held the edge over Orfi in the 19-minute second game, moving away from 8-6 with a trio of quick points to double her advantage and move within a game of the final. Once again, El Hammamy piled on the scoreboard pressure early in the third, taking a 5-2 lead despite fine margins separating the two players. The business end followed a similar suit, with El Hammamy holding off her junior compatriot with a flurry of quick points to reach the final after 66 minutes of play.
The 2022 El Gouna champion advanced to her sixth major final of the season after overcoming the 18-year-old by an 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 scoreline.
Olivia Weaver receives treatment during her semifinal match against Nour ElSherbini. Pics: PSA Squash Tour
Olivia Weaver retires hurt
ElSherbini, meanwhile, advanced to her third El Gouna International final after her opponent, World No.4 Olivia Weaver, was forced to withdraw from their contest mid-way through the second game due to an adductor injury.
World No.4 Weaver had been wearing heavy strapping on her left leg all event long, and looked to be struggling right from the get-go of their contest at the stunning El Gouna Culture and Conference Center.
The eight-time World Champion raced through the opening game 11-2 and looked poised to double her advantage at 7-3 up in the second, when Weaver called for a physio break. Upon returning to court, the US No.1 wasn’t able to continue the match, with ElSherbini moving through to set up a tantalising title decider with top seed Hania El Hammamy.
