World No.1 Hania El Hammamy staved off a superb resurgence from fellow Egyptian Fayrouz Aboelkheir to book her spot in the semi finals of the Quilter Cheviot British Open 2026 at the Rep Theatre in Birmingham.
El Hammamy, who won the event in 2022, charged into a 2-0 lead against the 20-year-old and looked on course to comfortably earning her place in the last four.
Aboelkheir, who had never beaten El Hammamy on the PSA Squash Tour, surged back with her crisp attacking helping her restore parity. But the momentum swung back in El Hammamy’s favour in the fifth, though, as the tournament’s top seed held off Aboelkheir by a 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4 scoreline.
“I was a bit in and out with my focus and I think I am proud of how I mentally was able to get my focus back in the fifth,” she said.
“I am proud of how I was able to stick mentally to the game plan and I think that the fifth was the best game I have played – it was a positive way to finish the match and hopefully build up for the semi finals.
“The season is not over yet, and I think it would be good to finish to get a step closer to the final and my second title here. It’s such a big achievement and it was one of the goals to finish the season as World No.1 – I have other goals but I am proud and that is for my team and family who support me.”
El Hammamy and Amina Orfi will reignite their rivalry when they go head-to-head for a place in the final on Saturday in what will be their sixth meeting this season.
Recently-crowned World Champion Orfi, who defeated El Hammamy on the way to her historic World Championships triumph, downed U.S. No.2 Amanda Sobhy 3-0 to make it back-to-back appearances in the British Open semi finals.
Orfi, who’s the youngest women’s World Champion in history, battled back from 7-2 down in the first and remained in control from then to win 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.
“Amanda’s a great player and it’s our third time playing this year,” she said.
“I think we’re used to each other’s games – I think she played really well today and this tournament in general.
“Coming back from one of the worst injuries for any athlete is incredible and performing here in the quarter finals of the British Open is something to look up to.”
In the men’s event, reigning champion Diego Elias came through a stern test with Mohamad Zakaria to move a step closer to retaining his title.
Elias, who became the second South American to lift the British Open last year, defeated the World Junior champion 3-1 for his place in the last four.
Having lost the first, Zakaria deservedly equalised after digging deep against the former World Champion, but Elias kept his cool to win the third and fourth games, sealing a 11-9, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5 triumph.
“He’s only 18 but he keeps getting better and better every week. I’m not looking forward to the future!” he said afterwards.
“I had short matches in the last two rounds so it’s good to have a match like this.
“I have a day off tomorrow, lots of time to recover and I’ve got a big match in the semis in two days.”
Elias faces Mostafa Asal in a rematch of last year’s final after the World No.1 and World Champion swept aside Victor Crouin.
Asal, who last won the British Open in 2024, was dominant throughout his 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 win against the Frenchmen, maintaining his impressive run at this event having not dropped a game.
“Victor is an awesome player, he is playing so well and I remember watching him in the juniors,” he said.
“He is someone who entertains the crowd a lot, and the battle was good today. I was really sharp from the beginning but it was a good match.
“I have won the British Open already, so it is a big thing, a big title and a big stage, so I couldn’t be more proud of playing in front of this amazing crowd.”
The quarter finals of the Quilter Cheviot British Open 2026 continue tomorrow (Friday June 5) with the bottom half of the draw. Play begins at 17:30 (GMT+1) with all the action available to watch live on SQUASHTV and via the PSA’s broadcast partners.
Results – Men’s Quarter Finals (top half):
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [6] Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (43m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [7] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5 (70m)
Results – Women’s Quarter Finals (top half):
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4 (65m)
[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (41m)
Draw – Men’s Quarter Finals (bottom half): To Be Played June 5
[4] Karim Gawad (EGY) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v [2] Paul Coll (NZL)
Draw – Women’s Quarter Finals (bottom half): To Be Played June 5
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) v [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) v [2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY)
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