Nafiizwan reaches Montreal final

Adnan advanced to his first PSA Tour final in two years after beating Germany’s Raphael Kendra in the semifinals of the Montreal Open on Friday.

National No 1 Nafiizwan’s 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 win in 87 minutes over fifth seeded Kendra set up a final against top seed Borja Golan. Spaniard Golan downed New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson 11-6, 911, 11-8, 11-6 in the other semi-final.

Nafiizwan’s performance will come as a welcome boost ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next month as he bids to win his 11th career PSA Tour title.

Ranked 42nd in the world, Nafiizwan’s last title came at the HKFC International in May 2016.

“Both of us played well and I hope the spectators enjoyed it,” said Nafiizwan, 31, who avenged a five-game defeat to Kendra at the 2017 Macau Open.

“I always train as if I am playing an actual match and today I felt I was nine out of 10.

“On this court, players know that lobs are very effective to get out of pressure situations and it’s what I did. I’ll be ready for the final and both Golan and I had four-game wins and we’re both looking forward to it.”

National women’s No 2 S. Sivasangari, however, had her run at the Salt Lake City Open in Utah halted in the semifinals on Friday by Hong Kong’s Joey Chan.

Top seed Joey defeated 2017 Sea Games women’s singles gold medallist Sivasangari, seeded seventh, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6.