Willstrop survives El Shorbagy US Open marathon!

"I had a good first, but then he started playing at a really good pace and I was failing to take the chances I gave myself at the front," said the 29-year-old Willstrp (photo: Steve Cubbins)

England’s World No1 James Willstrop (le) survived his 3rd consecutive match lasting more than 80 minutes when he beat 8th-seeded Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy (ri) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 in the quarter-finals of the US Open in Philadelphia.

Willstrop will face career-long French rival Greg Gaultier for a place in the final. The 3rd seed beat 5th-seeded Egyptian Karim Darwish 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 in 61 minutes.

Quarter-finals (top half of draw):
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 (90m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Karim Darwish (EGY) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (61m)
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