Squash · International
El Hammamy saves opening game balls before reaching Optasia final
Satomi Watanabe lost in straight games after a competitive first game.
Source publication date:
Hania El Hammamy defeated Satomi Watanabe 3–0 in the Optasia Championships semifinal. The top seed won 12–10, 11–7, 11–4 in forty-four minutes, recovering from two game balls against her in the opening game before taking control of the contest.
Watanabe’s accurate straight hitting brought a 10–8 lead, but El Hammamy took four consecutive points. The opening-game escape lifted the Egyptian’s confidence, and she moved ahead 7–3 in the second before maintaining the advantage through the remainder of that game.
The third finished quickly as El Hammamy secured another title-match appearance in her defence of the Wimbledon championship. She described improving her length to limit Watanabe’s attacking opportunities and welcomed coach Laura Massaro’s presence, with the pair planning to analyse the match before the final.
Sources
Check the original record.
Open the governing body or organiser’s publication for the underlying result, decision or tournament update.