Ramy Ashour was forced to withdraw injured during his quarter-final clash with Egyptian compatriot Ali Farag ©PSA

Triple world champion Ramy Ashour was forced to withdraw injured during his quarter-final clash with Egyptian compatriot Ali Farag in the Al Ahram Squash Open.

Ashour was visibly in pain after an innocuous looking incident in the last eight clash, and was forced to concede while 6-5 down in the opening game.

It means his hopes of winning his home tournament - taking place in a dramatic setting at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza - is at an end but Egyptian success still seems highly likely as the country continues to dominate world squash.

World number one Mohamed Elshorbagy made it through to face Farag in the semi-finals as he saw off Germany's Simon Rosner in an epic five-game affair.

He eventually came through 5-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5.

"I felt flat today," Elshorbagy said afterwards.

"I had to push hard mentally to make it happen and make sure that it would take a lot of effort to beat me here.

"He was playing very well but when I pushed I think he went defensive and that helped me.

"To be honest I'm proud that I could win today. 

The tournament is being played at the foot of the famous Great Pyramids ©PSA
The tournament is being played at the foot of the famous Great Pyramids ©PSA

"It's moments like this that separate the top athletes from the others - today was tough but I live for these kind of challenges."

In the women's tournament, Egypt's world number one and reigning world champion Nour El Sherbini eased through to the semi-finals against her compatriot Omneya Abdel Kawy, 11-1, 11-4, 11-8, in just 23 minutes.

There was further local success as wildcard Nour El Tayeb fended off a fightback from England's Alison Waters to win in five.

She won the first two games but Waters rallied before El Tayeb sealed the contest 11-6, 11-6, 11-13, 12-14, 11-8.

"I think that is the toughest match I've ever won," said El Tayeb.

"I've never been match ball up and lost before and there was a lot going through my head. 

"It got quite heated and I just panicked.

"I told all my friends to come and watch me and the thought of losing was going through my head. 

"At 10-8 in the third I had that thought of winning and having that picture of the pyramids in the background and boom it hit me and I crumbled.

"But I kept pushing and pushing and I have a rest day tomorrow so I can train and work on a few things and hopefully play better in the next round."