Elshorbagy And Massaro Are 2015 Qatar Classic Champions by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
November 6, 2015
- Egyptian Men’s World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and England’s Women’s
World No.3 Laura Massaro prevailed in their respective finals at the
Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha today to become the 2015
Qatar Classic, PSA World Series tournament, champions.
After triumphing at the first PSA World Series tournament of the
season, the Delaware Investments U.S. Open, just two weeks ago in
Philadelphia Massaro, the 32-year-old from Preston, continued to enjoy
the form-of-her life as she came through a breath-taking five-game 73
minute battle with Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini.
With the pairing sharing the first four games between them to force a
title-decider it was the 20-year-old World No.8 who raced into an early
lead before a succession of lets and strokes halted her rhythm and
allowed Massaro to find her way back into the match. Massaro hit a
delightful volley drop at championship ball to wrap up an enthralling
11-8, 12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 victory - a win that sees her strengthen
her lead at the top of the PSA Road to Dubai Standings and cut down the
gap between herself and Worlds No.1 and 2 Raneem El Welily and Nicol
David, respectively.
“There’s a lot of great names on that trophy so it’s a great feeling to
know that my name will go along side them now,” said Massaro.
“It’s amazing to win another major trophy - I’m over the moon.
Physically and mentally I feel in a really good place at the moment.
“I think that there was a little bit of a change in tactical plan in
the end and then a bit of a momentum shift and it was enough to carry
me over the line in that fifth game. There was only three or four
points left at that point and I don’t think that there was enough time
for her to adjust to that.”
24-year-old Elshorbagy claimed a second consecutive Qatar Classic title
with an assured 3-1 triumph over World No.3 Gregory Gaultier, to avenge
his defeat against the Frenchman at the semi-final stage of the U.S.
Open - a tournament Gaultier went on to win.
Elshorbagy reached the final without dropping a single game all
tournament and he capitalised on his freshness to pounce on a tired
looking Gaultier, who had flirted with elimination against Karim Abdel
Gawad in the quarter-final, recovering from a 2-0 deficit, and against
Mazen Hesham in the semi-finals.
The victory now sees Elshorbagy go into the biggest tournament of the
year, the PSA Men’s World Championship which begins on November 15 in
Bellevue, Washington, approaching peak form.
“This is my fourth year in a row to make it to the final in Qatar [2012
& 2014 World Championship, 2013 Qatar Classic],” said Elshorbagy.
“I’m just glad I was able to play the whole week here and I’m glad I
could win the title just one week before the World Championship. It’s
an important win and for sure it’s a confidence boost for me for that
tournament.”
Result - Men’s 2015 Qatar Classic: PSA World Series [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10 (59m)
Result - Women’s 2015 Qatar Classic: PSA World Series [4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (73m)
