Friday, March 29, 2024

Tarek Momen takes his first Macau title

Reigning champion Omar Mosaad defeated in all-Egyptian final
By ANDREW CROSS  – Squash Mad  Reporter in Macau

Tarek Momen watches as Omar Mosaad plays a backhand
Tarek Momen watches as Omar Mosaad plays a backhand

The Macau Squash championships 2014 came to an end today with two new winners adding their names to the trophies.

After Nicol David had added her first Macau title to her massive collection of WSA trophies, last year’s men’s champion Omar Mosaad and top seed Tarek Momen were next on court.

Omar began extremely well leading 8-2 but Tarek began to work his way into the match. Despite losing 11-5, you sensed he had woken up ready to fight for the second and that is exactly what happened. In the second Tarek played well to win the game 11-5.

Could Omar stop the momentum? It looked like he had done that very well when he raced out to a 4-0 lead but Tarek, who never seems phased when he is behind, began his comeback and led 7-6.

Two low straight drives took him to 9-6 and he closed out the game 11-7. In the fourth Omar played well winning it comfortably 11-4, so we were all set for a deciding fifth game.

The fifth was incredibly tight, both players winning and losing points. Tarek looked to have the upper hand as he built a lead at 8-6, but then lost the next four points to be behind 10-8. Match ball to Omar. Omar played a great rally I thought he had won it with a low backhand drive, I still don’t know how Tarek got the ball or got it in play but somehow he did.

He continued the fight back and, after drawing level, it was his turn to hold his first match ball. A no let is awarded to Omar at match ball and Tarek, who saved four match balls this week, became the Macau champion for 2014.

He said: “I don’t feel anything just tired from this week, I feel I have been playing well this week and hope that I can continue that into the World Open in a few weeks’ time.”

PSA Macau Open, Taipa, Macau, Final. 

(1) Tarek Momen (Egypt) beat (2) Omar Mosaad (Egypt) 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10 

Pictures courtesy of PSA and Macau Open 

 

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