It’s Willstrop and Darwish again!

James Willstrop beat Greg Gaultier (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 in the semi-finals of the Kuwait Cup 2011 (photo: Steve Cubbins, SquashSite)

The two Hong Kong Open finalists, Englishman James Willstrop (pic front) and Egyptian Karim Darwish have been able to set up the same situation in the Kuwait Cup final, as Willstrop beat Frenchman Greg Gaultier (pic back) in straight games 11-9, 11-6, 11-3. As the English World No3 played one of his best matches ever, Gaultier never did much wrong in this semi-final.

Willstrop’s final opponent has been selected in the all-Egyptian encounter between World No6 Karim Darwish and two times Junior World Champion and World No8 Mohamed El Shorbagy. While Darwish managed to play the big points more successful, he overcame his younger compatriot in 4 games (11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 15-13) to set up his chance of a revenge of the Hong Kong defeat.