Massaro fights back to earn final spot

Chorley's Laura Massaro will appear in the final of the iconic  British Open for the fourth time after she mounted a stunning comeback from two games down against defending champion Nour El Sherbini at Hull's Airco Arena.
Laura Massaro clinches victory over Nour El SherbiniLaura Massaro clinches victory over Nour El Sherbini
Laura Massaro clinches victory over Nour El Sherbini

She now becomes the first female English player to reach four British Open finals since Lisa Opie in 1986.

Massaro, the 2013 British Open champion, looked to be heading out of the prestigious World Series tournament after an imperious start from El Sherbini saw the World No.1 go two games ahead inside 20 minutes.

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But Massaro, drawing on the energy of a passionate home crowd, dug in resiliently and swung the momentum of the match on it’s head to come through by a 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 scoreline.

“I felt I just needed to be positive myself, but do it in a way that was from the right position," Massaro said.

"I felt a bit nervous when I came on in the fifth, my legs felt a bit wobbly. I had a split second thought of whether it was tiredness or nerves. At that point, I thought I was back in with a chance now as the tables turned, you’ve got nothing to lose at 2-1 or 2-0 down.

"I really wanted to do well this week, especially being at home. There was a lot of pressure on me going into that fifth. They say that the home crowd helps and when you’re down at the end there, it definitely does."

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