Nour El Sherbini

Nour El Sherbini
Nour El Sherbini in 2024.
Full nameNour Atef Ahmed Zaki El Sherbini
Nickname(s)The Warrior Princess
CountryEgypt
Born (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 29)
Alexandria, Egypt
ResidenceAlexandria, Egypt
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Turned pro2009
PlaysRight Handed
Coached byOmar el Sherbini , Roushdy Mabrouk
Racquet usedTecnifibre Carboflex 125ns X-top v2
Websitewww.nourelsherbini.com
Women's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1 November 2020)
Current rankingNo. 2 (15 December 2024)
Title(s)40
Tour final(s)65
World OpenW (2015, 2016, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022, 2023)
Medal record
Women's squash
Representing  Egypt
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kuala Lumpur Singles
Gold medal – first place 2016 El Gouna Singles
Gold medal – first place 2018–19 Chicago Singles
Gold medal – first place 2019–20 Cairo Singles
Gold medal – first place 2020–21 Chicago Singles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Cairo Singles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Chicago Singles
Silver medal – second place 2013 Penang Singles
Silver medal – second place 2017 Manchester Singles
Silver medal – second place 2024 Cairo Singles
World Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Nîmes Team
Gold medal – first place 2016 Issy-les-Moulineaux Team
Gold medal – first place 2018 Dalian Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Cairo Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Hong Kong Team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Niagara-on-the-Lake Team

Nour El Sherbini (Arabic: نور الشربيني;[1] born 1 November 1995) is an Egyptian professional squash player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Squash Association (WSA), having held the position for a total of 43 weeks. Nour, the only player representing Egypt in the list of most winner in all time of PSA Women's World Championship.[2] And The Most Egyptian Player to win a Major series title, has won the British Open four times and the US Open once. Nour has won 40 titles, including the PSA Finals Twice.

Early life

Nour was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. She started playing squash when she was 6 years old, and was already participating in tournaments before she was 8.

She trains at Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) in Alexandria.[citation needed]

Her brother Omar el Sherbini kept her interested in squash as she would spend time watching him and learning from his sessions. She has said that sports runs in her family: "My father used to be a football player and a good swimmer. Also my mum was a good athlete".[3]

Junior career

Nour won the British Junior Open Under-13 category in 2007 and 2008. On 28 November 2009, Sherbini was awarded the 2009 Young WISPA Squash Player of the Year. As she explains: "By time I gained more confidence and become [sic.] more steady that made me able to win most of the titles of the local tournaments in Egypt, till reaching the British open and my first international titles. My first BJO title was such a push for more titles starting from under 13 years old till under 15, titles in a row".[4]

A few months after her 13th birthday, she joined WISPA in early 2009, and in April she announced her arrival by losing to world top liner Engy Kheirallah in a tight 3/1 at the Heliopolis Open. After having reached the final of the ATCO Miro event in June, also in Cairo, Sherbini was stopped by Kheirallah in her bid for her first WISPA Tour title. On August 2, 2009, at 13, Sherbini became the youngest world champion in the history of the sport when she won the women's title at the World Junior squash Championships (U-19). As she explained: "Reaching the most important moment of my life, I was chosen to represent Egypt in the world open junior championship taking place in Chennai, India. To win the title was a dream, but to take it and feel the taste of victory was a dream came true. Adding the World Team title made it looks extraordinary".[5]

Professional career

2012: Entering the top 10

In 2012 on the WSA World Tour, Nour El Sherbini rose 208 places in the women's rankings to occupy the world No. 7 spot at the age of 16.

Her first professional competition came in the Heliopolis Open as a qualifier, and she made it to the first round. The following January she won the British Junior Under-19 Open at the age of 14, at which point she had already broken into the world's top 50. She returned to Heliopolis in 2010 to claim her first WSA title. The following year, still climbing the rankings and sitting at No. 36, she won the Alexandria International Open as 5th seed and finished the year by reaching round two of the World Open as a qualifier.[6]

In 2012 Sherbini made semi-final appearances in the Tournament of Champions in New York, as well as in the KL Open in Malaysia. These results tipped Sherbini into the world top 20, and she reached the final of the WSA World Series Platinum Allam British Open event at the O2 Arena, where she lost to Nicol David.[6] On 19 May 2012, Sherbini defeated Raneem El Weleily to become the youngest-ever British Open women's finalist.[7]

2016: World No. 1

She reached a world ranking of No. 1 in April 2016.[8][9]

In May 2023, she won the 2023 PSA Women's World Squash Championship, defeating the number 4 seed Joelle King in the semi final and defeating the number 1 seed Nouran Gohar in the final. It was her seventh World Championship (and fifth in a row) taking her to second in the all-time list of World championship wins behind Nicol David.[10][11]

National representation

WSF World Junior Team championships

2009, she won her first world team title as part of the Egyptian team that won the gold medal at the 2009 Women's World Junior Team Championships.[12] 2011, She was part of the Egyptian team that won the fifth title at the WSF World Junior Team title.[13] The 2013 edition was Nour’s last with the junior national team in World Junior Team Championships.[14]

WSF World Team Championships

In 2012, she was part of the team that regained the world team title after winning a gold medal at the 2012 WSF World Team Championships.[15] 2014, she was part of the Egyptian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[16] 2016, she won her second world team title as part of the Egyptian team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[17] 2018, she won her third world team title as part of the Egyptian team that won the 2018 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[18] In 2022, she was part of the Egyptian team that won the 2022 Women's World Team Squash Championships. It was her fourth world team title.[19]

In December 2024, El Sherbini helped Egypt win their fourth consecutive title at the 2024 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[20]

World Squash Championships

Finals: 10 (7 titles, 3 runner-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2013 Penang, Malaysia England Laura Massaro 11–7, 6–11, 11–9, 5–11, 11–9
Winner 2015 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia England Laura Massaro 6–11, 4–11, 11–3, 11–5, 11–8
Winner 2016 El Gouna, Egypt Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–8, 11–9, 11–9
Runner-up 2017 Manchester, England Egypt Raneem El Weleily 3–11, 12–10, 11–7, 11–5
Winner 2018–19 Chicago, USA Egypt Nour El Tayeb 11–6, 11–5, 10–12, 15–13
Winner 2019–20 Cairo, Egypt Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–4, 9–11, 11–5, 11–6
Winner 2020–21 Chicago, USA Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–5, 11–8, 8–11, 11–9
Winner 2022 Cairo, Egypt Egypt Nouran Gohar 7–11, 11–7, 11–8, 11–7
Winner 2023 Chicago, USA Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–6, 11–4, 12–10
Runner-up 2024 Cairo, Egypt Egypt Nouran Gohar 8–11, 11–9, 7–11, 5–11

World Tour Finals

Finals: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2017 Dubai, United Arab Emirates England Laura Massaro 8–11, 10–12, 5–11
Winner 2018 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Egypt Raneem El Weleily 3–11, 8–11, 11–7, 11–4, 11–6
Winner 2022 Cairo, Egypt Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–6, 11–8, 11–5
Runner-up 2024 Bellevue, United States Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–7, 2–11, 9–11, 10–11

Major World Series final appearances

Major Finals (29)

Major tournaments include:

  • Top-tier PSA World Tour tournaments (Diamond+Platinum/World Series/Super Series)

British Open: 6 finals (4 titles, 2 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2012 Malaysia Nicol David 6–11, 6–11, 6–11
Winner 2016[21] Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–7, 9–11, 7–11, 11–6, 11–8
Winner 2018[22] Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–6, 11–9, 14–12
Winner 2021[23] Egypt Nouran Gohar 9–11, 13–11, 5–11, 11–7, 11-2
Winner 2023[24] Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–9, 11–7, 11–1
Runner-up 2024 Egypt Nouran Gohar 6–11, 15–17, 11–3, 11–7, 4–11

US Open: 5 finals (1 title, 4 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2014 Malaysia Nicol David 5–11, 10–12, 10–12
Runner-up 2016 France Camille Serme 8–11, 11–7, 10–12, 9–11
Runner-up 2018 Egypt Raneem El Weleily 6–11, 9–11, 8–11
Runner-up 2022 Egypt Nouran Gohar 7–11, 11–9, 7–11, 6–11
Winner 2023[25] Egypt Hania El Hammamy 11–6, 11–6, 11–7

Hong Kong Open: 1 final (1 title, 0 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 2017[26] Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–5, 11–8, 11–5

Qatar Classic: 2 finals (0 title, 2 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2015 England Laura Massaro 11–8, 12–14, 11–9, 8–11, 11–9
Runner-up 2023 Egypt Hania El Hammamy 11–9, 9–11, 11–9, 9–11, 6–11

Windy City Open: 5 finals (2 titles, 3 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2016 Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–9, 6–11, 3–11, 6–11
Runner-up 2017 Egypt Raneem El Weleily 12–10, 7–11, 7–11, 7–11
Winner 2020[27] Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–8, 8–11, 11–8, 6–11, 11–9
Runner-up 2022 Egypt Hania El Hammamy 11–5, 17–15, 5–11, 6–11, 5–11
Winner 2024[28] Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–7, 6–11, 11–4, 11–4

El Gouna International: 3 finals (1 title, 2 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2018 Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–3, 10–12, 7–11, 5–11
Winner 2021[29] Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–7, 11–8, 11–5
Runner-up 2024 Egypt Nouran Gohar 6–11, 13–11, 11–6, 11–6

Tournament of Champions: 6 finals (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 2016[30] United States Amanda Sobhy 11–4, 9–11, 12–10, 11–8
Winner 2018[31] Egypt Nour El Tayeb 2–11, 11–6, 4–11, 11–7, 11–7
Winner 2019[32] Egypt Raneem El Weleily 11–9, 11–8, 11–8
Runner-up 2020 France Camille Serme 8–11, 6–11, 7–11,
Winner 2023[33] Egypt Nouran Gohar 11–9, 3–1rtd.
Winner 2024[34] Egypt Nouran Gohar 9–11, 4–11, 11–5, 11–5, 11–5

Paris Squash: 2 finals (2 titles, 0 runner-up)

Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 2023[35] Egypt Nouran Gohar 7–11, 11–4, 11–8, 11–5
Winner 2024 Egypt Nouran Gohar 6–11, 11–3, 8–11, 11–7, 11-4

Awards and achievements

Nour El Sherbini at the World Junior Squash Championships in Doha, 2012
  • British Junior Open Champion GU13 2007[36]
  • British Junior Open Champion GU13 2008[37]
  • British Junior Open Champion GU15 2009[38]
  • Atco Miro No.1 WISPA Runner-up 2009[39]
  • World Junior Champion 2009[40]
  • Young WISPA Player of the Year 2009[41]
  • Young Female Player of the Year 2009
  • British Junior Open Champion GU19 2010[42]
  • Heliopolis Open WISPA Champion 2010[43]
  • High WISPA Ranking of 25 October 2010[44]
  • World Junior Runner-up 2011[45]
  • Alexandria International Open WISPA Champion 2011[46]
  • British Junior Open Champion GU19 2012[47]
  • High WSA Ranking of 7 June 2012[48]
  • Youngest ever to reach the final of the British open in 2012[49]
  • The first Egyptian to reach the final of the British Open in 2012[49]
  • Youngest ever to be in the top ten on the world reaching No. 7 in June 2012[50]
  • World Junior Champion 2012[51]
  • The first Egyptian to win the British Open (in 2016)
  • PSA Player of The Year 2017/18[52]

References

  1. ^ "Nour ElSherbini". psaworldtour.com.
  2. ^ "El Sherbini Becomes Youngest Ever Women's World Champion - Professional Squash Association". psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Athlete of the Month April 2017". theworldgames.org. World Games. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Alexandria International Squash Open - Players". squashsite.co.uk. Squashsite. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Nour El Sherbini: The Warrior Princess". emys.gov.eg. Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b Nour El Sherbini. psaworldtour.com
  7. ^ "Nour El Sherbini". britishopensquash.net.
  8. ^ Nour El Sherbini at Squash Info Edit this at Wikidata
  9. ^ El Sherbini Becomes Youngest Ever Women’s World Champion. psaworldtour.com (30 April 2016)
  10. ^ "2023 World Championship draws". PSA. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ^ "FINALS : Sherbini and Farag retain titles". World Squash. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Egyptian Dream Team retains the title". wsfworldjuniors.com. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  13. ^ "Egyptian Girls take title in Boston". wsfworldjuniors.com. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Egyptian Girls Claim Historic Fourth". wsfworldjuniors.com. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Women's WSF World Team Championship 2012, La Parnasse Arena, Nimes, France". Squash info. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  16. ^ "England Reclaim Women's World Team Championship Title". Squash info. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Egypt Beats England, Winning Women's World Team Squash Championship". Cairo Scene. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Women's World Team Championship squash: Egypt beat England to retain title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Egypt defeat USA in thriller to retain WSF Women's World Team Championship". World Squash. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Egypt complete historic clean sweep of WSF World Squash Team Championship titles". World Squash. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Sherbini takes the title". britishopensquash.info. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  22. ^ "World #1 Nour El Sherbini claimed her second BO title as she beat compatriot Raneem El Welily in three close games". britishopensquash.info. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  23. ^ "The women's final World No.1 El Sherbini triumph after she came from down to prevail". britishopensquash.info. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Egypt's Nour El Sherbini crowned British Open champions". britishopensquash.info. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  25. ^ "At twenty-seven years old, El Sherbini had won every major title the sport has to offer including seven world titles–except for the U.S. Open". usopensquash.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  26. ^ "World No.1 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt beat her compatriot Raneem El Welily at a straight in her first final appearance to win her maiden champion title". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  27. ^ "Nour El Sherbini have been crowned the 2020 Windy City Open champions after five game victories over Raneem El Welily". www.worldsquash.org. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  28. ^ "El Sherbini has lifted her second Windy City Open trophy after she got the better of Gohar". windycityopen.ussquash.com. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  29. ^ "El Sherbini, the World No.1, has lifted her first El Gouna International trophy after beating Gohar". elgounainternational.com. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Nour El Sherbini ended the magic carpet ride that had been Amanda Sobhy's journey through the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions". tocsquash.com. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  31. ^ "El Sherbini lifted her second Tournament of Champions title, and her third World Series title in a row, after twice fighting back from a game down against U.S. Open champion Nour El Tayeb". tocsquash.com. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  32. ^ "El Sherbini Becomes First Women's Three-Time ToC Champion". tocsquash.com. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  33. ^ "El Sherbini Matches Power's Record With Fourth ToC Title". tocsquash.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  34. ^ "Reigning champion El Sherbini produced a stunning comeback from 2-1 down to defeat Gohar 3-2 to retain her title". tocsquash.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Nour El Sherbini won the Paris Squash 2023, in front a packed crowd". parissquashproject.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  36. ^ Finals 2007. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  37. ^ Finals 2008. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  38. ^ Today. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  39. ^ "ATCO Junior Open Squash Championships, Cairo". atcosquash.com.
  40. ^ FINALS. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  41. ^ WSA 2009. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  42. ^ Today 2010. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  43. ^ Heliopolis2010. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  44. ^ WISPA World Rankings. March 2013. wispa.net
  45. ^ "Individual Final: El Tayeb takes the Title – World Junior Squash Championships 2011". worldsquash.org.
  46. ^ "Alexandria WISPA Sept 2011". sitesquash.com.
  47. ^ British Junior Open Squash – Today. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  48. ^ Players. wsaworldtour.com
  49. ^ a b "Allam British Open Semi-Finals". Allam British Open Squash Championships – Official Site.
  50. ^ June 2012 World Rankings. Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 June 2016.
  51. ^ "Today: Day Six, the FINALS". worldsquash.org.
  52. ^ "Egypt Take Top Honours At PSA Awards - Professional Squash Association". psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nour El Sherbini.
Sporting positions
Preceded by World No. 1
May 2016 – November 2018 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by WISPA Young Player of the Year
2009 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by WSA Breakthrough Player of the Year
2012 		Succeeded by