Laura Massaro runs out of steam in British Open

The two-time champion was appearing in her fifth semi-final in the last six years and the Chorley ace took a 2-1 lead against El Sherbini, who she beat at the same stage of last year’s tournament.

However, from the fourth game onwards it was the player from Egypt who looked the more comfortable of the two on court and the momentum shifted in her favour as she closed out an 11-13, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5 victory in 70 minutes to reach her third final at the sport’s longest-running tournament.

It has been a hectic period for the 34-year-old as she travelled straight from the Commonwealth Games in Australia to take part in the El Gouna International in Egypt where she also reached the semi final.

After a few days at home, Massaro then helped England retain the European Team Championships in Poland.

And she says the busy workload finally took its toll.

Massaro, who has yet to reach a final this season, has played some of her best squash for Hull including a superb 3-0 win over third seed Nour El Tayeb in the quarter finals.

“It is really disappointing because of how I played in the quarter finals and I felt pretty good coming in but it has been a really long stint and I think, physically, that caught up with me a bit, particularly in the fifth,” she said. “A month away then home for three nights then away in Poland for European Team Championships and then home for a week then here.

“While everyone not doing that schedule is training.

“It just showed up a little bit physically and felt that I didn’t have that power to bring to the court. I think I fought as well as I could but maybe in a slightly different way to I normally do.

“It’s a bit frustrating because I thought she was tired at the end as well.”

Massaro said the two players traded blows like weary boxers in the fifth game and it was El Sherbini who came out on top. But she will take positive out of the tournament and will now prepare to defend her title at the season-ending World Series Finals in Dubai next month.

“Both of us were throwing punches and wobbling around so it was just a case whoever stayed strongest really so I am more disappointed with that more than anything else,” she added.

“But I am really happy with the quarter finals, happy with another semi just really disappointed that I haven’t got over the line.

“But I think another positive week to take in to the next couple of weeks before Dubai.”

While England did not have a presence in the final, Massaro says the women’s game in this country is in good health.

Alison Waters and Sarah-Jane Perry along with Wales’ Tesni Evans all reached the quarter finals and Massaro says the future remains exciting - especially with the retiring Nick Matthew set to help out. “It’s very exciting,” she said. “We had one in each quarter final and quite lucky not to be playing each other.

“The women are doing really well, and three inside the top 10 is really good. We just have to keep inspiring and it’s great to have Nick on board to help the next generation which will be really good as well and hopefully helping me out a little bit as well.”

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Massaro was full of praise for her rival.

“She reads the game exceptionally well,” said Massaro. “There are lots of subtleties going on. Even when I thought as tight my backhand was she was able to cross me.

“Not all the time with great width but a lot of the time with great width on to my forehand taking if off that volley.

“I was digging out from the back forehand a lot. She is tough to play and there is a lot going on that maybe people who are just watching. Unless you can appreciate that subtlety, you don’t realise what you are watching and what you have to cover and stuff and that has accumulated through the course of the match

“But I hope I bring my own problems to her but she was just a bit better on the day."