All-Egyptian final as top seed Gaultier falls in straight games
By NATHAN CLARKE
World No.3 Mohamed ElShorbagy will appear in the final of the Qatar Classic for a fourth consecutive year – where he will be aiming to win the title for a third time – after he defeated World No.1 Gregory Gaultier in the semi-finals to set up an all-Egyptian clash with Tarek Momen, who will appear in the first World Series final of his career.
ElShorbagy, who lost to Karim Abdel Gawad 12 months ago, and Gaultier were meeting for the 21st time in what is one of the fiercest rivalries of the modern era. But, after coming through a spellbinding opening game, it was the 26-year-old from Alexandria who prevailed at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex to end the Frenchman’s 30-match unbeaten run over a best-of-five games format.
Buoyed on by a partisan crowd ElShorbagy – who showed little tiredness after a brutal five-game clash with Ali Farag the day before – attacked with intensity from the off to avenge his defeat to Gaultier at the Tournament of Champions in New York in January.
“I’m really happy to be back in the final here, it’s where I won my first ever World Series and to be back in my fourth consecutive final is an honour,” said ElShorbagy.
“He made a fool of me in that match in New York and I thought about it all summer – it motivated me to get back to my best in the off season and I really wanted to go out there today and beat him 3-0.
“Without the way that he beat me at the ToC that day, I wouldn’t be as hungry as I am now. I had a bad season by my standard last year but I feel like I’m better every tournament and every match this season so far and I’m really pleased to be competing for the title here once again.”
Meanwhile Momen, three years ElShorbagy’s elder at 29, secured a long awaited debut in a major PSA World Series tournament final courtesy of a dominant and controlling straight-games victory over Germany’s Simon Rösner – who was himself competing in just his first ever World Series semi-final.
It what was the sixth meeting between the pair it was Momen who kept his nerve on the big stage, coming out firing in the early stages to pile the pressure on the big German, profiting from a series of unforced errors to take the opening game and set up the foundations for an 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 victory.
“I’m really happy, I can’t believe I’m in my first World Series final – it’s amazing,” he said afterwards.
“I really wanted to win. It’s been long over due for me. I’ve been waiting to get to the finals of a major event for a long time. I saw the opportunity today and wanted to make the most of it.
“I think I had a physiological edge – with the crowd supporting me and having been in a semi-final before – and I took advantage of it. Earlier this season I wasn’t in the zone mentally but I knew I wasn’t far off and finally it materialised this week and I’m so happy.
“I’ve had some huge matches against Mohamed before and I have won against him as well so I know nothing is off the table. I’m in the final and I’ll give it my all and continue to believe in myself.”
PSA M165 Men’s Qatar Classic 2017, Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar.
Semi-finals:
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-1 (55m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)
Final:
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
Pictures courtesy of PSA