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00:00Tiring at two love down and Joel Makin played again some of the best squash I've seen him play
00:05he deserved to win those world tour finals in Canada and that was setting him up for the new
00:10season and then he got knocked back by these these different things with illness and then injury with
00:14an injury sustained in Hong Kong so he's playing catch-up a bit like Diego Ilias but he looks like
00:21he's pretty strong but his squash has got to be really really positive and more importantly he's
00:26got to be accurate and we've been talking more about who can take that first game against Mustafa
00:31Sal rather than who can beat him Joel Makin could he be the first pardon could he could Joel Makin
00:37be the one that takes the first game I hope so I mean you know I mean Mustafa said it
00:42yesterday
00:43I mean he's just he wants to get results he's not trying to beat everyone three of course he wants
00:47to win three love but see I don't think he's going to put too much pressure on himself about about
00:51that
00:51record he's just got to get results in a win championships actually Mohamed El Shabagi came
00:55quite close to winning that third game yesterday but in the first sorry the third semi-final but
01:01the women's coming up first before that match it is Georgina Kennedy the English number one number
01:07four seed and she is up against the warrior princess here for the first time Norrell Shabini
01:13and it's a very very extensive head-to-head that she faces against Shabini never beaten her before
01:18no she hasn't she had a tremendous battle with her at the British Open three years ago where
01:23she ended up losing in five to Shabini but Shabini's level that she's responding with at the moment is
01:29pretty pretty impressive I mean Shabini's coming off that Windy City Open win where she got through
01:36the battle with El Hamami and also Amina Orfi it's the first Optasia championships for El Shabini and
01:43she's looking to get back the world number one spot for obvious reasons and set herself up for the world
01:48championships which is coming you know she wants to surpass Nicole David's record so she's coming up
01:53against a very informed Norrell Shabini and she's also been going through herself some technical
01:59changes with Rob Martin and that you know that's that's now coming into a game but she's still got
02:04a lot more to do on that so she's still evolving her game so I mean I'll be I'll be
02:09fascinated to see
02:10how those technical changes hold up against the pressure from Norrell Shabini yeah she looks so
02:14rejuvenated like she's enjoying her squash again she's had some health issues over the past seems like
02:19she's in a good place right now Kennedy yeah she is Ben Ford will be here as a mainstay coach
02:23and
02:24has known her since she was a very young girl so she'll have great support she is the English number
02:28one and she's gonna have a real go at Norrell Shabini well she'll have a lot of support Gina
02:33Kennedy taking on the warrior princess let's head down to the MC Tom Bushell
02:40please welcome everybody to the glass courts for our second women's semi-final of this afternoon's
02:48semi-final day at the Optasia championships a 13-time PSA tour champion from England the
02:54whirlwind Gina Kennedy
03:08and ladies and gentlemen now please welcome a 47-time PSA tour champion it's the warrior princess
03:16from Egypt Norrell Shabini
03:36so Georgina Kennedy English number four seed taking on Norrell Shabini the number two seed from Egypt
03:45I'm Vanessa Atkinson and joining me for the second women's semi-final is Paul Johnson good evening
03:51DJ good evening Vanessa cracking afternoon and evening the squash so far I don't think this will disappoint either
04:01so Gina Kennedy there on the right of your screen 28 years old now
04:07and she stormed up the rankings when she first came on to the tour after graduating from Harvard
04:15it's an incredible rise up the rankings got to a height of number five has dropped back slightly since then
04:24has had a few issues last season especially but been looking good so far this week
04:3113 titles to her name it's been a little while since she's won a title but
04:36two finals quite recently she's opted to play some of the slightly smaller events which has certainly given her a
04:43lot of match play
04:43possibly to practice the things that she's been picking up from Rod Martin those technical changes PJ
04:49100% I mean as you see with so many players when they switch allegiances and go and work with
04:54other coaches
04:55it's always an interesting watch for us to see how those things or how long those kind of changes take
05:01to filter into their games
05:02very prominent technical changes with Gina Kennedy you see a much higher hand position on the grip
05:09it's a much kind of firmer more cocked wrist meaning that the angle between the wrist and the racket head
05:15is much more acute
05:16so she's definitely hitting the ball better her ball control has improved the real test here will be
05:23can she read and stem the dominations and the kind of the control of the core of El Shabini
05:31she's tested her in the past she hasn't had much joy on the actual score front
05:36but she's certainly given Shabini a good run for her money
05:40well Noor El Shabini number two seed back at number two in the world
05:47she dropped down further than we would have expected
05:51but back up there and very very close to retaining that world number one spot
05:56a lot of eyes on herself and Hanya El Hamami this week
06:0247 titles out of 76 finals an incredible record 30 years old
06:08so still plenty left for the Warrior Princess
06:11she is an eight time world champion four time British Open winner of course
06:16three titles so far this season which is relatively conservative for the Warrior Princess
06:24certainly is by her standards but she certainly seems to have a bit of a pep in her step
06:29she's had a decent start to the 2026 calendar year and I feel like everything is geared towards this world
06:34champions
06:35coming up in just a few months time so she'll be working closely with Gregory Gautier
06:40and they'll be looking to taper and really kind of peak for you know the world champs and the British
06:46Open
06:46which will be closing our closing our season out this year but as I said it's not been a great
06:53performance
06:54or a great look for the head-to-heads for Kennedy against El Shabini
07:0011 love is the deficit there have been a couple of five setters in there but for the most part
07:05it's a lot of three loves as well
07:07so you'd have to say that going into this match even though physically there's not much between the 57 minutes
07:13Kennedy
07:13and 56 minutes Shabini the odds would probably be quite heavily weighed in that way of Shabini
07:21Kennedy coming through really really well against a tricky opponent in Farida Mohamed in her quarter-final
07:28and a free go really it's been close to a year since they last played each other at that world
07:34championships
07:36in Chicago
07:42so the pressure firmly on the shoulders of the warrior princess
07:47I won't be taking this lightly as you said they've had a few battles in the past
07:56it's trademark solo practice El Shabini before she makes her way off of the court
08:03somebody else that was a massive advocate of the solo practice was the legendary Jonah Barrington
08:07we know that Jonah's tuned in down there in Somerset watching this one
08:12Ashley Smith in charge of this second women's semi-final with Roy Gingell in the VR position
08:23Jonah's made it very public that in his opinion Noral Shabini is the greatest female player of all time
08:30in this year
08:31which is a massive statement for her
08:34It's difficult to dispute really isn't it?
08:37it is difficult to dispute but Jonah obviously a massive fan of the game of the game of the future
08:412026 women's semi-finals match georgina kennedy of england to serve
08:49law el shabini of egypt to receive
08:57best of five games
09:16and we're off certainly be a lot of support in the crowd for kennedy
09:22and that's a little bit of a jammy start but she'll take anything she can get i'm sure
09:40gina kennedy prior to moving across to do some work with rodney martin spent many many years
09:46under the guidance of ben ford former professional player from kent very very talented junior back in
09:52the day and ben who's out of southeast london in the bexley area will be here this week i'm sure
10:00helping gina throughout the week terrific relationship that those two have had over the years
10:06yeah he's been here every match so far be very surprised if he's not here for the big semi-final
10:31the referees will have a lot less to do i think in this encounter than the previous one yeah i
10:36think
10:36the roy jangel can have a bit of a rest hopefully in the as the vr they've just been spotted
10:40out
10:40the vacuum and jason foster roy having a bit of a lay down after that one
11:00lovely
11:03three two there is ben ford next to stewart crawford and basim the tournament sponsor alongside james
11:12robbins another talented junior from england back in the day
11:30so
11:45that's a terrific shot from shabini she actually leaps off of the ground
11:49as she takes in this forehand volley boast
11:53three all check this out here
11:57you could see with gina's movement there it just she's looking to perhaps have to cover that front
12:01right yeah and the roll of the wrist
12:16it's a big challenge for kennedy she's such a good mover three but really struggles to read
12:24little shabini with the hold and that stop start not alone is she she's not alone she's not alone but
12:30but i think when you especially when you take someone's big weapon away kennedy you know she
12:34wants to be moving but she wants to be constantly moving and not stopped yeah absolutely
12:41five three
12:43she likes momentum she likes
12:46a bit of a flow and a rhythm to the movement but if there's anybody that can break a player's
12:51movement up
12:52there's no one else you've been in especially on this backhand side it's just such a lovely early
12:59racket position a lot of hold and time on the ball giving herself options as well
13:03well another winner with the angle there
13:21big split step before she was able to set off there again
13:35i mean it's yeah that throws off the accuracy as well
13:41seven three
13:55down and out
14:01four seven
14:03four seven
14:07five
14:19five
14:27six
14:28that's clever again from shabini could you see the way that she shaped with the body it looked as
14:32so cross-court was the only option and then just the adaptation of the swing
14:37managing to take that down the forehand wall for the winner
14:48oh dear i mean that's just so severe for shabini
15:03oh that's brilliant i mean any questions over the movement of el shabini some may have i mean that was
15:10ridiculous ridiculous
15:11wasn't it the speed would have been really happy with that most i think most people most people would
15:16but it's come back with interest
15:20six game balls for the number two seed
15:28what a start for the warrior princess
15:32what a start for the warrior princess
15:35already created that doubt
15:53well that certainly does send out a message no shabini absolutely flying out of the gate here
15:59six minutes dispatching of jina kennedy in the first the english player didn't play particularly badly
16:06but it was all about shabini dominating the middle of the court
16:10movement is absolutely on point from shabini
16:15firing in winners from all areas of the court making life so difficult for kennedy
16:20great start from the warrior princess
16:30play will resume in 60 seconds
16:39well it would be fascinating to be able to hear the advice there from ben ford
16:58play will resume in 30 seconds
17:02crowd would love kennedy to get into this
17:07it's going to take a big effort from the english player
17:16play will resume in the first game
17:1715 seconds
17:26del shabini leads one game to love
17:32love all
17:40into game two
17:57in the youtube
18:02position
18:07it's the
18:08dual competition
18:09it's the
18:10e
18:10So many options, so many weapons for El Shabini.
18:16It's not just the speed that's taken away.
18:18Obviously, Kennedy, she's incredibly fit,
18:21works very, very hard,
18:22and she can't get any physicality into it.
18:24She can't extend the rallies.
18:26No.
18:27That will be the aim.
18:29Head out.
18:31One-off.
19:03That's a rally here from Kennedy.
19:05Keeping herself in front.
19:09It's done well there.
19:10It's a good spell here from Kennedy.
19:12Two good rallies back to back.
19:14Just increased the pace slightly there,
19:15just making sure that she doesn't get anything loose
19:19around the front.
19:21Trying to deprive El Shabini of time on the ball.
19:24One-off.
19:27One-off.
19:36Out.
19:40Two-off.
19:41All right.
20:13She'd actually wrong-footed El Shabini as she played the backhand post there, Kennedy.
20:17Just clicked in the top of the tin, though.
20:203-2.
20:21Seems to be taking Shabini on at the front of the court a bit more in this second game.
20:483-0.
21:014-3.
21:043-0.
21:343-0.
21:37Trying to take everything as early as possible.
21:53Stroke to Kennedy.
21:55Another point on the board.
21:56Just clipping Shabini in the swing.
21:586-3.
22:09Fantastic response from Kennedy after such a dominant first game.
22:21Much more proactive in the second game here, Gina Kennedy.
22:244-6.
22:26Everything that little bit quicker.
22:28Just upsetting the flow and the rhythm for Shabini now.
22:50Down and out.
22:567-4.
23:00And Shabini just under that little bit more pressure and if she's human, she will make errors.
23:12She will also hit a lot of winners.
23:14She will also hit a lot of winners.
23:15Hit some outrageous ones at that.
23:167-7.
23:197-7.
23:417-7.
23:44It's unbelievable court coverage from Kennedy scurrying around.
23:49Oh, she's earned the point somehow.
23:53Not sure how she's won that, Kennedy.
23:56Scrappy but effective.
23:588-5.
24:00And she won't mind that at all.
24:03And she won't mind that at all.
24:18Down.
24:21And out.
24:226-8.
24:246-8.
24:256-8.
24:276-8.
24:377-8.
24:37Again, it's into the wheelhouse for Shabini.
24:40Loves that backhand volley area.
24:44Mouncing a little bit of a comeback here.
24:47Back to one point adrift.
25:06Oh
25:21Wow Beanie just questioning whether that clipped the 10
25:26Very very close
25:32We can't check like we can't check like course
25:36That is as close as it gets
25:38Very close
25:57Well forced to go the long way around a little bit
25:59Let's just have a look
26:05Is the line taken out slightly by Shabini
26:09Not really
26:10I don't see
26:11Not on purpose but
26:12No it's just a natural move
26:14As she's playing the ball the momentum
26:16And body shift is going forwards
26:19Not sure what else Shabini is supposed to do
26:21There
26:24Yes left decision overruled
26:26Kennedy has two reviews remaining
26:29Nine eight
26:30It was just because of your movement off the ball
26:32You just needed to give access to your opponent
26:35Yes
26:43Nine eight
27:11Oh
27:13Oh wow
27:14A rare loose ball from El Shabini
27:17Very nicely put away
27:19That ball control into the front is massively improved
27:27Two game balls
27:29For Gina Kennedy to draw level
27:31She's done well here
27:33She's hanging tough Kennedy
27:40Oh I just did
27:59It's just stayed short enough
28:01She's played it so many times but
28:04Nine ten
28:05Kind of just can't quite read it in time
28:09Yeah you see the split step
28:11Unable to recover
28:13One game ball remaining
28:14For the English player
28:15One game ball remaining
28:16For the English player
28:23Yeah got the full treatment
28:25She actually read the boast that time
28:27Not taking any chances there
28:28A player must win by two points
28:31A player must win by two points
28:58Well fortune favours the Braves
28:59And she's certainly been brave this game
29:02Third game ball for Kennedy
29:27Unbelievable kick up from Kennedy
29:29Oh she's gone for it
29:36Yeah
29:36Yeah I think she
29:37Another ten
29:39She was kind of through to play it
29:41Game ball
29:41Should have played it was in her interest to go through
29:43And play that straight
29:44He's gonna review it
29:47Shabini just really made an effort to clear
29:50But like by the time Kennedy was ready to play it
29:53He was kind of there to play
29:59Definitely a let but
30:00Possibly a stroke
30:01Kennedy looking for the stroke
30:04Crowd thought it was a stroke
30:05It'll be a big cheer if it is a stroke
30:15Yes lads
30:16Decision upheld
30:17El Shabini has one review remaining
30:2011-10
30:21Game ball
30:51She's done it
30:5212-10
30:53Massive roar from the crowd
30:55Really getting behind Kennedy
31:01Undeservedly so
31:02Fantastic first
31:03Second game there
31:06Really really gutsy effort
31:1013 minute second game
31:11Gina Kennedy
31:12Number four seed
31:13Takes it in the tie break
31:1412-10
31:15And draws level at one all
31:20Well terrific performance from Gina Kennedy
31:23Turning round this
31:24Second women's semi-final
31:26After a pretty much perfect first game from El Shabini
31:30Gina Kennedy just upped her own tempo
31:32She took the game to Shabini
31:33Took her on at the front of the court
31:35And it upset the rhythm and the flow of El Shabini
31:38Some lengthy rallies now
31:40Making the game a little bit more physical
31:41Which would aid and help
31:43Gina Kennedy
31:45One game apiece
31:48Things getting very very spicy out there now
31:57Play will resume in 60 seconds
32:03Well Rally 28
32:04A joint initiative between the PSA, the WSF and the Squash United Foundation
32:12And looking to create a fund
32:16To support grassroots squash in all sorts of ways
32:20Global initiative
32:22If you want to know more you can scan the QR code
32:25Or you can head over to rally28squash.com
32:2930 seconds
32:29Just trying to grow the sport
32:31Grassroots levels
32:32And bring some more participation into the game
32:35Made a voyage into LA 2028
32:38Looking to hopefully make it a mainstay event in the Olympics
32:42Fifteen seconds
32:43Fifteen seconds
32:43It's great to see this initiative taking place
32:53Fifteen seconds
32:56It's great to see this initiative taking place
33:00Love all
33:12So everything to play for PJ
33:17Well there's a bit of a pep in the step now from El Shabini
33:20She's actually injecting a pace of her own
33:23Yeah she won't be happy with losing that second game
33:25After the dominance of the first
33:34She's upping the ante here
33:37Frustration there for Kennedy as well
33:53Just feel that Shabini's going a little bit short quite early on in the rallies here
33:59Not necessarily building
34:00She got so much reward for it didn't she in the first
34:03In the first, yeah
34:03And then Kennedy just starting to read things a little bit better
34:07Slightly higher tee position
34:14She's done it again, she did the same thing in the first game to win the game
34:19She's up there, she's fully stretched, she's into position a lot quicker there Shabini
34:23It's just not a shot that looks on at all from that position
34:28Yeah
34:47Down there
34:50Head out
34:521-3
34:542-2
34:55It's a slightly unusual tactic here from Shabini for me, Vanessa
34:58Normally we see a bit more variation in height
35:00But she's almost taking Kennedy on at her own game here
35:06I feel like Kennedy loves this pace thick and fast
35:18My balance
35:23Fugelbaum
35:24Full round
35:252-3
35:282-3
35:331-1
36:00It's nice.
36:03Getting a bit inaccurate really through the middle of the court from Kennedy Shabini.
36:07Quite a few options there.
36:12Yeah.
36:27Down.
36:32Six, one.
36:37I think that is a good tactic, Kennedy, to keep that pace quick, trying to deprive El
36:43Shabini of time, but she has to keep the accuracy level out.
36:50That's dropped in this third.
36:537-1.
37:12That was very close, wasn't it?
37:16Now, certainly we've seen improvements, all the volleys for Gina Kennedy, a bit more of
37:21a compact swing, and she's taking that ball in with more accuracy, a bit more punch.
38:05That's nice.
38:07Just breaking up the play now nicely, isn't she, Shabini?
38:128-2.
38:14Starting to toy with the movement of Kennedy.
38:319-2.
38:36Just a bit late to read things, and it throws off the balance.
38:47Huge lead now in this third game.
38:51The expected response from the world number two.
38:558-2.
38:56Game balls.
38:57Game ball.
38:59A quest for a new ball, possibly.
39:01Vanessa, would that be in Gina's interest, do you feel?
39:04Yeah, certainly wouldn't be surprised.
39:11Down.
39:13And out.
39:15She has to request the new ball before she exits the court, so we'll be on the lookout.
39:21Still seven game balls remaining.
39:24We'll be watching.
39:31Yeah, there it is.
39:32Immediately, the hand goes up.
39:34El Shabini leads two games to one.
39:37Miss Kennedy has requested a new ball, which she is entitled to at the end of the third game.
39:43The players will warm it up when they return to court.
39:45So there will be a little bit more life in that ball as we head into the fourth game.
39:50Seven-minute third game.
39:52Nor El Shabini responds, takes it 11-3 and leads by two games to one.
40:01Impressive third game from El Shabini.
40:03You can tell that she was a little bit ticked off after losing that second.
40:07Fair play to Kennedy, though.
40:08She played brilliantly in the second, but in that third it was more about
40:12Gina Kennedy just struggling to take control of the game.
40:15It was Shabini finding a little bit of a better length, utilizing a little bit more height as well.
40:20Some more variation to just upset the rhythm and the pace of Kennedy.
40:25Request for a new ball has gone in, so that may help the English player.
40:282-1 lead for Shabini.
40:46Play will resume in 60 seconds.
40:49Play will resume in 60 seconds.
40:49.
40:50.
40:50.
40:50.
40:50.
40:52.
40:52.
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