LAURA Massaro’s wait to win the Tournament of Champions goes after losing her semi final clash with world number one Nour El Sherbini.

The 34-year-old from Chorley, who has twice been a runner-up in New York, got off to a blistering start - winning the opening game 11-4 in the event held at the iconic Grand Central Station.

The world number four also had game point to go 2-0 up but squandered the opportunity and El Sherbini survived and won the game 12-10.

Momentum swung in favour of the Egyptian top seed as she went on to win the next two games to wrap up a 4-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 victory.

Massaro was out of sorts in the opening two rounds of the competition where she was a beaten finalist last year and was also runner-up in 2014.

She scrapped through against England team-mates, Fiona Moverley and then Victoria Lust, winning the deciding game on each occasion.

But the Hoghton-based star hit top form against world number five Nouran Gohar in the quarter finals - winning 3-0 - and she took that form in to the clash with El Sherbini who she had beaten in the final of the PSA Dubai World Series Finals last June.

“At the beginning she was killing everything,” said El Sherbini of Massaro’s form in the opening game.

“She was always ready and I wasn’t focused enough, but I’m really glad I regrouped after the first game. I just tried to relax and play my game more.

“Even though I was sure I was going to lose the first game, I just wanted to get some points and play until the last point. I think the second game very crucial and I think that’s what made the difference.”