Cameron Pilley flies flag for Australia in PSA Dubai World Series Finals

Having only qualified for the tournament in eighth position, the hard-hitting 33-year-old ran out an 11-2, 11-7 winner to set up a semi final with World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy.

“It’s an understatement to say I’m feeling pretty good right now – considering that I just scraped in to this tournament and it’s my first World Series Finals, I am over the moon to be in the semi-finals,” said Pilley.

While Pilley will face ElShorbagy, who lost a dead-rubber encounter with Nick Matthew, the second semi-final will see World Champion Gregory Gaultier take on Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez – the first South American to appear in the tournament’s semi-finals. 

Rodriguez came through after opponent Mathieu Castagnet was forced to concede their encounter with injury after a brutal game and a half.

In the women’s tournament Malaysian Nicol David kept alive her hopes of winning the competition for a third time after defeating World Junior Champion Nouran Gohar 2-0 to go through in second place in Group A.

David required just one game to join group winner Laura Massaro in the semi-final and duly delivered as she played with intent from the opening exchanges, scampering around court with ease to take the match and set up a semi-final with Raneem El Welily – the World No.3 who topped Group B.

The second semi-final will see Massaro and Nour El Sherbini lock horns just weeks after contesting the PSA Women’s World Championship Final – which the Egyptian won in a thrilling five-game battle. 

Results – PSA Dubai World Series Finals: Round 3
Men’s Group A
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 2-0: 12-10, 12-10 (28m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 2-0: 11-9, 6-4 retired (37m)
Men’s Group B
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 2-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-1 (38m)
[8] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [6] Simon Rösner (GER) 2-0: 11-2, 11-7 (38m)
Women’s Group A
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 2-0: 13-11, 11-9 (31m)
[3] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 2-0: 11-7, 11-9 (30m)
Women’s Group B
[4] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 2-0: 15-13, 11-9 (20m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [7] Camille Serme (FRA) 2-0: 11-4, 11-6 (20m)