The defending champion triumphed 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 after 70 minutes on the banks of Egypt’s Red Sea.

He staved off an impressive fightback from world number 16 Rodríguez to take the first game, but his opponent put together some sublime winners in the second which, mixed with his trademark speed and retrieval skills, enabled him to draw level.

The pair traded points in the third game until Gaultier built up a head of steam to restore his lead, and the match was then forced into an injury break - with the Frenchman 4-3 up in the fourth - after a coming together between the two saw Rodríguez’s ankle twist painfully.

The 32-year-old returned to court and fought on bravely but Gaultier had too much in the tank and held on to complete the win.  

"I’m happy I managed to get back on court but after the accident, it was not easy," Gaultier, who has now claimed five wins on the bounce against Rodríguez, said.

"It was tough to get the rhythm back, but I'm happy that after losing the second game I managed to find my length and my focus again."

Standing between Gaultier and a place in the final is Egypt’s Ali Farag, who continued his impressive performance at the event by beating compatriot Tarek Momen 11-4, 11-3, 11-7.

Victory for Farag, the world number two, sees him end a two-match losing streak against Momen having fallen to defeats in the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions in New York City and the Canary Wharf Classic in London.

Momen, the world number five, came into this tournament having reached the semi-finals in four of his last five Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour events.

In the women’s event, reigning world champion Raneem El Welily of Egypt edged ever nearer to the final as she put Hong Kong’s Annie Au to the sword in an 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 win amid windy conditions.

El Welily, who lost on the same court to fellow countrywoman Nour El Sherbini in the 2016 PSA Women’s World Championship final, clinched victory after just 23 minutes.

Aside from a slight lapse in the third game, where she squandered a 5-1 lead to allow Au back to within a point, the world number two was in complete control.

"Annie’s got a very strong game and like the previous players said, the conditions on the court today are not the best," El Welily said.

"I’m just happy to be through in three today against a tough opponent."

Next up for El Welily as she bids for a place in what would be a fourth PSA World Series final of the season is fellow Egyptian Nour El Tayeb.

El Tayeb booked her place in her fourth consecutive PSA World Series semi-final after overcoming England’s Alison Waters 12-10, 11-6, 11-7.

Waters struggled to contain her in-form opponent in a match that saw the glass courts buffeted by strong gusts. 

World number three El Tayeb is aiming to win a third PSA World Series title of the season after triumphs at the US Open in Philadelphia and Windy City Open in Chicago.

The semi-finals in both the men's and women's events are due to take place tomorrow.