Massaro falls to top seed El Sherbini in British Open semi-final thriller

England No 1 Laura Massaro was beaten in a dramatic five-game semi-final battle with world No 1 Nour El Sherbini, who ended the 34-year-old's defence of her Allam British Open title on Saturday at a packed Airco Arena in Hull.

El Sherbini hung on to overturn her defeat to Massaro at the same stage last year and set up a final showdown with compatriot Raneem El Welily, the world champion.

The top-seeded Egyptian came from a game down for the second match running as El Sherbini won through 11-13, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5.

Massaro, who has had little down time since the Commonwealth Games admitted:

"I felt really good but it has just been a really long stint and it showed up physically in the end especially in the fifth."

"I didn't have that power that I usually bring to the court. We were both wobbling around at the end and it was about who stayed strongest."

Seeking a third title in the sport's oldest tournament, Massaro did brilliantly to carve out a 2-1 lead against the 2016 champion.

She used the boast to brilliant effect in the opener before El Sherbini countered Massaro's decision to use lifts in the second as she dropped her first game of the week.

Control and tight shots in the third then left Massaro within one game of another home final, but even though tiredness crept in from both players, El Sherbini did enough to hang on in the final two games.

El Sherbini said:

"It was very high quality and Laura always plays good here. It's the end of the season but it was all about keeping pushing on."

Massaro knew how dangerous her opponent would be and praised the Egyptian's skill level after an energy-sapping 70-minute contest.

"You hit a short ball and quite often there is a last lunge and it turns into a good shot. She reads the game really well with lots of subtleties," admitted Massaro.

"She is so tough to play and there is a lot going on with her subtlety and what you have to cover."

Massaro, who will compete at the season-ending World Series Finals next month, admitted it was up to her compatriots to keep pushing at the top level of the game.

"The women are doing really well and we have three in the world top 10. We need to keep inspiring and it's great to have Nick on board to bring through the next generation, as well as helping me a little bit."