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21-Sep, Semi-Finals
 With
play only on the Glass court, there was time to have a little
look around Toluca.
In the evening it was Yathreb Abel and Victoria Lust who won
through to the women's final, while top seeds Gregory Gaultier
set up a decider in the "France v Shorbagy" series as they both
won in straight games ...
[Q] Yathreb Adel bt Tesni Evans
11/6, 8/11, 11/4, 11/8 42m
 First
up on the showcourt tonight for the ladies semi finals, with
only 3 places separating these two ladies in the world rankings,
it was the 17 year old Egyptian Yathreb, who had stunned the
local crowd into silence the previous night by defeating
Mexico’s favourite Samantha Teran, who took the initiative in
the first game by allowing Tesni only the odd point here and
there to take the first game 11/6.
Tesni fought back brilliantly in the second to get to game ball
at 10/7 from 7/7, Yathreb saved one but Tesni took the next
point for the game at 11/8. Yathreb then seized the initiative
to fly through the next game 11/4 and completed the match in the
fourth despite Tesni fighting back from 2/7 to 6/7 and then to
8/9, she could not stop Yathreb from taking the game 11/8 and
the match 3 – 1.
Victoria Lust bt Coline Aumard 8/11, 11/7, 11/3, 11/8 33m
 Next
up we had two ladies who had both exceeded expectations in
reaching the semi final, with the energetic and thrustful
Victoria facing the stylish and graceful Coline. It was Coline
who took the early advantage leading 5/4, 9/6 then taking the
game 11/8. Vicky started very well in the second taking a 5/1
lead before Coline pulled back slowly to 7/8 but then Vicky
finished off strongly for an 11/7 win.
Coline had taken a rather heavy tumble during the second game
and this showed heavily in the third as Vicky sailed through to
take the game 11/3. Vicky then took a comfortable 9/3 lead in
the fourth and despite Coline putting in a brave last ditch
performance to get to 8/9 Vicky finished off to take the game
11/8 and the match 3 games to 1.
[1] Gregory Gaultier bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez 11/5, 11/5,
11/7 50m
 Although
Miguel had done really well to reach this stage, especially
after defeating No 4 seed Omar Mosaad last night, taking on the
maestro who is Frenchman Gregory was just a step too far at this
stage in his career.
Gregory just dominated throughout in his usual stylish manner,
despite a valiant attempt from Miguel, to march comfortably into
the final with a 3 games to nil win.
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy bt [3] Borja Golan 6/11, 11/8, 11/6,
11/5 56m
 The
second men’s semi final was a much closer affair as would be
expected, involving the No 2 and the No 3 seed. Mohamed started
the better taking an early 5/3 lead, but Borja forced his way
into a 7/5 lead then took the game 11/6 after a four point hand.
Borja was again slightly on top in the second as he moved into
an 8/6 lead but then Mohamed struck back with a five point hand
to take the game 11/8.
The match was starting to turn rather ugly at times with
especially Borja, but also Mohamed at times, arguing fiercely
with the referees over many decisions, but Mohamed remained
slightly the calmer of the two as Borja let the match slip away
from him through his obvious anger, and allowed Mohamed to take
the next two games 11/6 and 11/5.
So tomorrow we look forward to two contrasting finals, with the
women’s between a non seeded player and a qualifier, and the
men’s between the No 1 and the No 2 seeds.
Racketball Semi-Finals:
Paola Longoria 3-0 María José Vargas
Cristina Amaya 3-1 Frederique Lambert 11/9, 6/11,
11/9,11/5
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