The quarter-final stage will come to an end today at the Windy City Open 2026 presented by the Walter Family, with the four bottom half matches coming up from the University Club of Chicago, with players looking to book their spots in the final four.
Home favourite and six-time Windy City Open quarter finalist Amanda Sobhy takes on World No.2 Amina Orfi in the opening match of the day. The two-time Windy City Open champion Mohamed ElShorbagy will take on the current World No.2 Paul Coll in a contest that is set to entertain the Chicago crowd. US No.1 Olivia Weaver will take on the No.8 seed and new World No.7 Fayrouz Aboelkheir, then No.4 seed Karim Gawad will take on the French No.1 Victor Crouin to conlude the action.
Orfi Reaches Her First Windy City Semi-Final After Straight Game Victory
In the opening match of the day’s play, Amina Orfi booked her spot in her sixth major semi-final, after a dominant display on court beating the six-time Windy City Open quarter-finalist, Amanda Sobhy, in three straight games.
Orfi stormed out the blocks and proved to have all the answers for Sobhy’s threats, with her accuracy causing many issues for the former World No.3 in the opener, winning 11-5.
The next game followed a very similar pattern, with Orfi’s intensity and rhythm proving to be enough to silence the home-crowd support in Chicago. The World No.2 was able power through in the second, winning the game 11-5 in eight minutes.
Despite the two game lead, Sobhy continued to fight on court, refusing to make it easy for the No.2 seed. However, Sobhy’s efforts were squashed once again, as Orfi was able to progress through to a career first Windy City Open semi-final, winning the third 11-6.
“It was a really tough match against Amanda,” said Orfi after the match, “I played her in the beginning of my years on tour, back then she had more experience than me and she knows the game very well.
“I played her recently in Canada so I knew what to expect and I watched her match with Satomi (Watanabe), and she played really well and she always plays really well in the US, so I knew I had to be at my very best to beat her.”
RESULT:
[2] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt. Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (36m)
Coll Advances Into The Semi-Final After Five-Game Thriller
Paul Coll advanced to his fourth straight Windy City Open, defeating Mohamed ElShorbagy in a back-and-forth five-game thriller.
The contest lasted 62 minutes and saw ElShorbagy start the match quickly, with the No.8 seed taking a 6-2 lead in the opener. Despite the threats from ‘The Beast’, Coll was able to find form, winning nine of the next eleven points to clinch the first 11-8.
The second game started in the same way as the opener, with ElShorbagy taking a commanding 7-1 lead. However, unlike the opening game, the former World No.1 was able to hold on to the lead, winning the second 11-4.
Coll was able to bounce back and give his opponent a taste of his own medicine, winning the third 11-5. Despite taking the lead once again, the New Zealand No.1 was unable to close out the match, with ElShorbagy swinging the momentum back in his favour, winning 11-7.
The final game of the contest seemingly broke the mould of the contest. The World No.2 made short work of the fifth taking a ten-point lead, to eventually win 11-1 in six minutes.
RESULT:
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt. [8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-2: 11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-1 (62m)
Weaver Reaches Fourth Major Semi-Final Of The Season
Olivia Weaver has reached her maiden Windy City Open semi-finals after beating Fayrouz Aboelkheir in three straight games. The US No.1, who has already reached three major semi-finals this season, was determined to reach another, as she was able to win the tie within 26 minutes.
Weaver, who has a perfect record against Aboelkheir, 7-0 in matches, was able to continue this form, opening the tie in an impressive manner, winning 11-6. The World No.3 was able to maintain this momentum, as she eased past the 19-year-old in the second to win 11-4.
Marching into the third game, it seemed as though she already had her opponent beat, as Weaver was able to storm ahead and win the final game 11-2 in front of a supportive home crowd.
The US No.1 is now set to face World No.2 Amina Orfi, as the American plans to reach her third consecutive final of 2026.
“I am very happy with that performance,” Weaver admitted after the match, “I played Fayrouz last week in New York, so I knew she would be coming out here looking for revenge, and I was ready for it and up for it.
“I was feeling good, I enjoyed my day off yesterday, I got some good work in and I was able to sharpen up.
“I am very happy with how I was able to manage the match. She is incredibly dangerous if you give her the middle, so I was just trying to play my game and stay in front and I am very happy that was executed.”
Result:
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt. [8] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (26m)
Gawad Progresses To The Last Four After Impressive Victory Over Crouin
Karim Gawad advances to the last four at the Windy City Open for the first time since 2020 after securing an impressive 3-1 victory over French No.1 Victor Crouin.
Despite winning the match, it wasn’t an easy victory for the former World No.1, as he was pushed to the limit in the opening game. There was very little to separate the pair, as Gawad was able to win the first 13-11 after 26 minutes. The second game seemed to follow the same pattern, with the two being inseperable once again – sharing 22 points – with Gawad winning 12-10.
However, momentum changed in Crouin’s favour as he was able to shake off the opening two games, winning 11-2 in four minutes. Despite the Frenchman’s best efforts, the thoughts of a potential comeback were shut down with Gawad returning back to winning ways claiming the fourth, 11-7.
“I am really happy of course, I am relieved to be playing tomorrow in the semi-finals,” Gawad said after the match.
“I am proud of the way I was able to push last week and push this week too.
“It never easy to play two tournaments in a row, but I am enjoying it and physically I am good and mentally I am good, so I am really happy to be in the semi-finals here.”
Result
[4] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt. [7] Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-1: 13-11, 12-10, 2-11, 11-7 (63m)