Perry win sets up first all-English women's Allam British Open final for 25 years

Sarah-Jane Perry and Laura Massaro will contest the first all-English Allam British Open women’s final for 25 years.

Both women won against the odds to reach the final in Hull and there will be an English name on the trophy this year.

With Massaro coming back from 2-0 down to defeat World No.1 Nour El Sherbini, the stage was set for Perry to join her if she could find a way past five-time champion Nicol David.

And Perry flew out of the blocks to take the first game before David (Malaysia) played her way into the match to win the second. Perry then edged a tie-breaking third that proved crucial, with the final score 11/8, 7/11, 13/11, 11/7.

She joked afterwards: “I’d like to dedicate that win to the people who were walking behind me earlier and didn’t know who I was, who thought Nicol was going to win!”

The last time two English women played in a British Open final, in 1991, Perry was just one year old. And she said seeing Massaro win beforehand did not ease any of the pressure on her. She said: “It gave me a bit of extra fight, knowing that it was Laura in the final.

“She’s beaten me a few times, including in the final of the National Squash Championships which wasn’t that long ago, and in my last World Series semi-final at the Tournament of Champions. This gives me a chance to exact a little bit of revenge and show that I’m here to win.

England Squash’s national senior coach David Campion was delighted for both his players after their victories.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” he said. “The performance by SJ today was superb and prior to that Laura Massaro coming back from 2-0 down against Nour El Sherbini, World No.1, so yes I’m absolutely over the moon for the girls. They put so much effort and hard work in and it’s a testament to their professionalism witnessing this and we’re now going to have an all-English ladies’ final.”

Nick Matthew [4] faces defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy for a place in the men’s final.