Pilley moves into semi-final of World Series Finals

Sport360 staff 19:09 26/05/2016
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  • Moving on: Cameron Pilley.

    Cameron Pilley became the first Australian since David Palmer in 2008 to reach the last four stage of the lucrative season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals after defeating Germany’s Simon Rösner 2-0 during a crunch encounter on the final day of round robin action in Burj Park, Downtown Dubai.

    Competing in the tournament for the first time in his career, Pilley downed Omar Mosaad before losing out to World Champion Gregory Gaultier on Wednesday to set up a winner-takes-all battle with Rösner – where victory would have seen the German reach the semi-finals for the first time in three attempts.

    Despite the pressure on his shoulders the tall Aussie opened up in relaxed fashion, taking the first game 11-2. In the second Rösner edged ahead in the early stages, but Pilley profited from a series of errors to move 7-5 ahead, and go on to take the second game 11-7 and with it a berth in the semi-finals.

    “It’s an understatement to say I’m feeling pretty good – considering that I just scraped in to get here and it’s my first World Series Finals, I am over the moon to reach the semis,” said Pilley.

    “I felt a little flat yesterday but Greg was as sharp as I have ever seen him and I think that helped me and gave me a wake-up call and made me realise you can’t cruise in this tournament. I changed a few things in my game and training last year and I feel like I’m playing the best squash of my career.

    “I’m still keen which is a big thing when you’ve been on tour as much as me so I’m just looking forward to enjoying the match tomorrow.”

    Gaultier, who had already secured his place in the semis and is in devastating form, made it three from three with a win over Omar Mosaad 7-11 11-8 11-1 to top Group B.

    Moving on: Gregory Gaultier.

    Moving on: Gregory Gaultier.

    Gaultier looked like he was taking his foot off the gas as it was Mosaad who took the opening game 11-7, before the feisty Frenchman increased the tempo in the second, taking the match to Mosaad and forcing the pace to take it 11-8. He blew Mosaad out of the water in the third, winning 11-1.

    Raneem El Welily was already assured of a place in the semi-finals and also completed a clean sweep of her pool games in Group B with victory over Omneya Abdel Kawy 15-13, 11-9.

    With victories over Camille Serme and world champion Nour El Sherbini, El Welily moves into the semis in red hot form.

    El Sherbini meanwhile, salvaged her hopes of ending the 2015/16 season in the best fashion possible as she overcame the challenge of Camille Serme in a do-or- die encounter that would see the winner exit the tournament.

    El Sherbini took the match by the scruff of the neck from the start, winning 11-4, 11-6 in just 20 minutes.

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