The semi-final line-up comprised of the top four players in both draws, and an Egyptian player will win both competitions as Mohamed ElShorbagy and Ali Farag booked their place in the men’s final and Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar did likewise in the women’s.

El Sherbini against Gohar will be a repeat of last year’s final.

The world number one and top seed El Sherbini reached the final as third seed Camille Serme of France was forced to retire through injury, just as she put herself in a strong position to take the match to a deciding fifth game.

Defending champion El Sherbini was formidable in the first game which she took 11-2, but Serme hit back and levelled 11-8.

The home favourite comfortably clinched the third 11-1, but her opponent again came roaring back, and led 9-8 in the fourth before suddenly falling to the floor and being unable to carry on.

"It is the worst ending of any match and you never want to win the match like this," El Sherbini said.

"I am really sorry for Camille, she has been injured in the last tournament and she didn’t have the chance to compete in the British Open and injuries is the worst enemy for any player.

"I am very sorry for her and hopefully it is not too bad and she will recover and come back soon."

In the other semi-final, Gohar beat American fourth seed Amanda Sobhy in straight games.

A close first required her to take the last two points to win it 11-9, before Gohar stamped her authority on the contest and took the following two games 11-2 and 11-7 to reach the final in 28 minutes.

The men’s semi-finals saw top seed and world number two ElShorbagy defeat his compatriot, the third seed and last year’s runner-up Tarek Momen, in straight games.

Momen won the first four points of the first game, but the "Beast from Alexandria" was able to fight back to take it 11-6, and subsequent 11-3 and 11-8 victories saw him reach the final in his first appearance at the Egyptian Open since 2016.

Standing in the way of ElShorbagy's first ever triumph at this event is Farag, the defending champion.

The world number one was up against fourth seed Paul Coll, with the New Zealander having beaten Farag on his way to winning last month’s British Open.

However, it was the Egyptian who clinched this 69-minute semi-final.

Farag took the first game 11-9, and had two game balls in the second, but Coll won four straight points to win it 12-10 and level the tie.

The second seed was most comfortable in the third game which he won 11-4, before another 11-9 scoreline in the fourth saw Farag set-up a final against ElShorbagy.

"I did have a plan and I think I executed most of it, but with the conditions, I had to adapt, and so did he," Farag said afterwards.

"The wind keeps getting harder every night. Tonight, especially on the forehand side, you would think that you would be able to hit it properly, but then it fell off rapidly.

"We both had to adapt to it and to mix the pace, and I was very annoyed with myself for losing that second game.

"I gave him a very cheap return of serve in the tin at 9-10, to get him back to 10-all.

"That changed the dynamic of the match completely.

"2-0 to 1-1 would have been totally different.

"But then, I am happy that I contained myself and came back in the third strong, and then the fourth, thankfully I scraped through."

Both finals are due to be held tomorrow.