Nafiizwan runs out of steam after another gruelling five-setter

PETALING JAYA: Enduring another gruelling five-setter for the second straight day has taken a toll on Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan.

The national No. 1 just ran out of steam against Egypt’s Omar Mosaad, losing 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 5-11 in the semi-finals of the HKFC International Squash Championships.

Defending champion Nafiizwan came into the clash with Omar on the back of a marathon 104-minute quarter-final win over second seed Alan Clyne of Scotland on Thursday.

And it was former world No. 3 Omar who started stronger by taking the first set 11-6 before pushing on to lead 2-1.

World No. 32 Nafiizwan did well to take the fourth set 11-4 but he could no longer go the distance in the decider as Omar sealed the win after 87 minutes.

It was sweet revenge for the 29-year-old Egyptian, who lost to Nafiizwan in the qualifying finals of the China Open last week.

Meanwhile in France, youngster S. Sivasangari’s gallant run at the Nantes Open ended after she lost to top seed Millie Tomlinson of England in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Sivasangari, who came through the qualifiers, was riding high after beating world junior champion Rowan Reda of Egypt in the first round.

But the world No. 61 blew a two-set lead to allow world No. 22 Tomlinson to cap a 6-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-9 win.