Sivasangari stages stunning comeback to reach first Diamond-level semi in Cairo
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari came back from the brink of defeat to reach her maiden PSA Tour Diamond-level semi-final at the Egyptian Open on Tuesday.
S. Sivasangari, the world No. 5 Malaysian, pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure her first Diamond-level semi-final appearance at the Egyptian Open on Tuesday. Facing world No. 6 Fayrouz Aboelkheir, the 27-year-old Malaysian battled back from a two-game deficit to emerge victorious 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 in just 63 minutes. This thrilling victory marked Sivasangari's third win against the Egyptian in their five previous encounters.
The triumphant performance will propel Sivasangari to a career-high world No. 4 ranking in the upcoming week, thanks to the recent leapfrogging of Olivia Weaver from the United States, who currently holds that position. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics looming, Sivasangari's ascent to the top four will be a significant milestone in her career.
Having defeated Fayrouz 10 times in 12 meetings, the Egyptian coach Ajaz Azmat hailed Sivasangari's breakthrough as outstanding. He expressed confidence in her ability to overcome her opponent Hania El Hammamy, who defeated Sivasangari 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 in 85 minutes. Both players have a reputation for closely contested matches, and Sivasangari's victory over Fayrouz has undoubtedly boosted her confidence heading into the semi-final.
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