Ibrahim Masters Makin to Reach Maiden U.S. Open Semifinal

Youssef Ibrahim

World No. 9 and Princeton graduate Youssef Ibrahim reached his first PSA Platinum semifinal in three years, upsetting world No .3 Joel Makin, while Team USA’s Olivia Weaver confidently advanced to her fourth U.S. Open semifinal in five years Wednesday, October 22, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

Ibrahim, who entered the match with just one win from his nine prior meetings with Makin on the PSA Squash Tour, delivered a superb performance full of balanced stroke play to take down the British National Champion by a 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 scoreline.
Despite a third-game injury scare, which saw Ibrahim call for the Physio following a suspected dislocated shoulder, the Princeton Squash alumni returned to the court full of accurate, attacking intent in the fourth. The No.8 seed fought off the pain to move through to a hard-earned 72-minute win inside the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.

“Joel and I have played a lot of tough matches in the past,” Ibrahim said after the match.

“I think we have played eight or nine times, and I think 80-90% of them, I have been a couple of points away from winning them. So, I knew it was going to be long and tough. I was in it for the long run.

“Once it [the shoulder injury] happened, I didn’t think I was going to be able to continue; it is the first time I have experienced something like this.”

brahim will face World No.1 Mostafa Asal in the semi-finals after the current World Champion put in a near-faultless display to end the impressive run of England’s Curtis Malik in three games.

Olivia Weaver

Team USA’s Olivia Weaver Weaver advanced to her fourth U.S. Open semifinal in five years after a ruthless straight-games victory over Sana Ibrahim.

World No.5 Weaver, Philadelphia-born-and-raised, barely put a foot wrong throughout the 31-minute encounter, hitting her targets into the back of the court to great effect and limiting the mid-court opportunities of World No.18 Ibrahim.

After racing through a rapid-fire 11-3 first game, the 30-year-old only moved from strength to strength, sealing her one-sided victory with a sublime forehand overhead nick.

“I’m so happy I could play well tonight and put on a decent performance,” Weaver said after the match. “Sana had a huge win last night, so I knew that I was going to have to bring my A-game. I wasn’t fully pleased with how I played and moved in my previous rounds, so I really wanted to turn over a new leaf tonight, and I’m really happy that I did that.”

In the other women’s quarterfinal, No.2 seed El Hammamy recorded her 13th straight win on the PSA Squash Tour with a dominant 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 win over World No.8 Satomi Watanabe.

The second half of the quarterfinals will play out Thursday night, October 23, with match play starting at 6pm ET.