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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
08:30it's 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
08:40championships 2026 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
09:18certainly be a lot of support in the crowd for kennedy and that's a little bit of a jammy start
09:26but 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 under
09:46the guidance of ben ford former professional player from kent very very talented junior back in the day
09:52and ben who's out of southeast london in the bexley area will be here
09:57this week i'm sure helping gina throughout the week terrific relationship that those two have
10:04had over the years yeah he's been here every match so far be very surprised if he's not here for
10:11the
10:11big semi-final
10:31referees will have a lot less to do i think in this encounter than the previous one yeah i think
10:36the
10:36roy jingell can have a bit of a rest hopefully in the as the vr
10:40well they've just been spotted out of the back jason foster
10:42roy having a bit of a lay down after that one
11:03there is ben ford next to stuart crawford and basim the tournament sponsor alongside james robbins another
11:13talented junior from england
11:17back in the day
11:45that's a terrific shot from shabini she actually leaps off of the ground as she takes in this
11:50forehand volley boast
11:56you could see with gina's movement there it just she's looking to perhaps have to cover that front
12:01right yeah in the role of the wrist
12:16it's a big challenge for kennedy she's such a good mover
12:21three but really struggles to read little shabini with the hold and that stop start
12:27not alone is she she's not alone she's not alone but but i think when you especially when
12:31you take someone's big weapon away kennedy you know she wants to be moving but she wants to be
12:36constantly moving and not stopped yeah absolutely
12:43she likes momentum she likes a bit of a flow and a rhythm to the movement but if there's anybody
12:49that can break a player's movement up that's nor else you've been in
12:56especially on this backhand side it's just such a lovely early racket position a lot of hold and time
13:01on the ball giving herself options as well three
13:07well 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
13:38oh yeah right box seven three
13:56down and out
14:01four seven
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 four managing to take
14:38that down the forehand wall for the winner
14:48oh dear i mean that's just so severe for shabini
14:51nine four
15:03oh that's brilliant i mean any questions over the movement of el shabini
15:08somebody some may have i mean that was ridiculous ridiculous wasn't it the speed
15:11would have been really happy with that most i think
15:14most people most people would but it's come back with interest
15:20six game balls for the number two seed
15:23she looks sharp she looks so sharp here shabini
15:28what a start for the warrior princess
15:35already created that doubt with kennedy's movement
15:41six minutes
15:43moral shabini takes the first game 11-4
15:46one love lead for the warrior princess
15:54well that certainly does send out a message no shabini absolutely flying out of the gate here
16:00six minutes dispatching of gina 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 movement is absolutely on point from shabini
16:15the court movement 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
16:31play will resume in 60 seconds
16:39well it would be fascinating to be able to hear the advice there from ben ford
16:47certainly a conundrum
16:58play will resume in 30 seconds
17:03the crowd would love kennedy to get into this
17:07it's going to take a big effort from the english player
17:1715 seconds
17:1815 seconds
17:26el shabini leads one game to love
17:32love all
17:39into game two
18:07the backhand side of the court just so many options
18:13so many weapons for oh shabini it's not just the speed that's taken away obviously kennedy she's
18:20incredibly fit works very very hard yeah and she can't get any physicality into it she can't extend
18:25the rallies
18:27that will be the aim
18:28no
18:29no
18:30no
18:30no
18:30no
18:32no
18:32no
18:45no
19:03better rally here from kennedy keeping herself in front
19:09it's done well there it's a good spell here from kennedy
19:12two good rallies back to back just increased the pace slightly there
19:15just making sure that she doesn't get anything loose around the front trying
19:22to deprive elshabini of time on the ball
19:35out
19:38and out
19:40and out
19:44and out
19:48and out
19:50and out
20:13she's actually wrong-footed elshabini as she played the backhand post there kennedy just clicked in the top of the
20:18tin though
20:20three two seems to be taking shabini on at the front of the court a bit more in this second
20:24game
20:44wonderful
20:44wonderful
20:45and out
20:48three-oh
21:02four three
21:30that's good she's determined not to give up that
21:33tee position kennedy
21:36five three
21:37trying to take everything as early as possible
21:55another point on the board just clipping shabini in the swing
22:09three
22:09fantastic response kennedy after such a dominant first game
22:17and out
22:18and out
22:21yeah much more proactive in the second game here gina kennedy
22:24four six
22:26everything that little bit quicker just upsetting the flow and the rhythm for shabini now
22:52and out
22:53and out
22:55seven four
23:00four
23:01and shabini just under that little bit more pressure and she's human she will make errors
23:12she will also hit a lot of winners
23:15hit some outrageous ones at that
23:16seven
23:17two
23:17and
23:19two
23:21and
23:39uh
23:45it's unbelievable court coverage from kennedy scurrying around
23:48oh she's earned the point somehow not sure how she's won that kennedy
23:56scrappy but effective eight five and she won't mind that at all
24:19down and out six eight
24:37again it's into the wheelhouse for shabini loves that backhand volley area
24:44mounting a little bit of a comeback here back to one point adrift
25:05oh
25:07oh
25:19wow
25:21So, Shabini just questioning whether that clipped the 10.
25:26Very, very close.
25:28Nine, eight.
25:29Can he just check it?
25:31You can check it if you want.
25:33We can't check like, we can't check like course.
25:36Oh, nice.
25:36As close as it gets.
25:38Yeah, very close.
25:52No doubt, player with you, Kennedy on the no-lapse decision.
25:56Court service, please.
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.
26:12No, it's just a natural move.
26:14As she's playing the ball, the momentum and body shift is going forwards.
26:19I'm not sure what else Shabini's supposed to do there.
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, sure.
26:37Okay.
26:43Nine, eight.
27:12Oh, wow.
27:14A rare loose ball from El Shabini.
27:18Very nicely put away.
27:20That ball control into the front is massively improved.
27:27Two game balls for Gina Kennedy to draw level.
27:32She's done well here.
27:33She's hanging tough, Kennedy.
28:00She's played it so many times.
28:03But they just can't quite read it in time.
28:09Yeah, you see the split step.
28:12Unable to recover.
28:13One game ball remaining for the English player.
28:23Got the full treatment.
28:25She actually read the boast that time.
28:27A player must win by two points.
28:48Oh, she was nowhere near that.
28:51And out.
28:52And out.
28:52Miles off.
28:54Eleven.
28:54Ten.
28:55Game ball.
28:57Well, fortune favours the Braves,
28:59and she's certainly been brave this game.
29:02Third game ball for Kennedy.
29:27Unbelievable pick-up from Kennedy.
29:29Oh, she's gone for it.
29:36Yeah, I think she was kind of through to play it.
29:41Game ball.
29:42Should have played.
29:42It was in interest to go through and play that straight.
29:44She's going to review it.
29:47Shabini just really made an effort to clear.
29:50Felt like by the time Kennedy was ready to play it,
29:54he was kind of there to play.
29:59Definitely a let, but Kennedy looking for the stroke.
30:04Crowd thought it was a stroke.
30:06It'll be a big cheer if it is a stroke.
30:16Yes, let's decision upheld.
30:18El Shabini has one review remaining.
30:2011, 10.
30:22Game ball.
30:51She's done it.
30:53Massive roar from the crowd.
30:56Really getting behind Kennedy.
31:01Undeservedly so.
31:02Fantastic second game there.
31:06Really, really gutsy effort.
31:1013-minute second game.
31:12Gina Kennedy, number four seed, takes it in the tiebreak.
31:1412-10 and draws level at 1-0.
31:20Well, a terrific performance from Gina Kennedy turning around this second women's semifinal
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, took her on at the front of the court, and it upset the rhythm
31:36and the flow of El Shabini.
31:39Some lengthy rallies now making the game a little bit more physical, which would aid
31:42and help Gina 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, a joint initiative between the PSA, the WSF and the Squash United Foundation
32:11and looking to create a fund to support Grassroot Squash in all sorts of ways.
32:20Global initiative.
32:22If you want to know more, you can scan the QR code or you can head over to rally28squash.com.
32:29Play will resume in 30 seconds.
32:30Just trying to grow the sport, Grassroots levels and bring some more participation into
32:34the game.
32:36Made a voyage into LA 2028, looking to hopefully make it a mainstay event in the Olympics.
32:4215 seconds.
32:44It's great to see this initiative taking place.
32:53One game all.
32:56Kennedy to serve.
33:00Love all.
33:12So everything to play for, PJ.
33:18Well, there's a bit of a pep in the step now from El Shabini.
33:20She's actually injected the pace of her own.
33:23Yeah, she won't be happy with losing that second game after the dominance of the first.
33:34And she's upping the ante here.
33:36Frustration there for Kennedy as well.
33:53I just 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.
34:03Kennedy just starting to read things a little bit better.
34:07Slightly higher tee position.
34:14She's done it again.
34:15She did the same thing in the first game to win the game.
34:19She's up there.
34:20She's fully stretched.
34:21She'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.
34:51Head out.
34:53One, three.
34:55It's a slightly unusual tactic here from Shabini for me, Vanessa.
34:59Normally we see a bit more variation in height, but she's almost taking Kennedy on at her own game here.
35:06I feel like Kennedy loves this pace, thick and fast.
35:15Head out.
35:19And out.
35:23Full cast.
35:25Yeah.
35:25Yeah.
35:26Yeah.
35:27Yeah.
35:32Uh-huh.
35:35Yeah.
35:44Yeah.
35:49Yeah.
36:00it's nice
36:03getting a bit inaccurate really through the middle of the court from kennedy
36:06shabini quite a few options there
36:33six one
36:34i think that is a good tactic kennedy to keep that pace quick
36:42try to deprive shabini of time but she has to keep the accuracy level
36:47out that's dropped in this third
36:53seven one
37:11that was very close wasn't it
37:17certainly we've seen improvements
37:18all the volleys for gina kennedy a bit more of a compact swing and she's
37:23taking that ball in with more accuracy
37:26a bit more punch
37:34so
37:42Let's go.
37:47Let's go.
38:14Let's go.
38:15Starting to toy with the movement of Kennedy.
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, eight game balls.
38:57Game ball.
38:59Request 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 a new ball before she exits the court.
39:20So we'll be on the lookout.
39:21Still seven game balls remaining.
39:23We'll be watching.
39:31Yeah, there it is.
39:32Immediately the hand goes up.
39:34Shebini 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 minutes, 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 Gina Kennedy just struggling to take
40:14control of the game.
40:15It was Shabini finding a little bit of a better length and utilizing a little bit more height as well.
40:20So 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.
40:47Play will resume in 60 seconds.
40:55Play will resume in 69 seconds to see it.
40:57Play will resume in 60 seconds as possible.
40:57An Embiédiconsなどではなけれp bezelに入る演奏.
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