Willstrop Stuns World No 1 Elshorbagy in Men's World Championship Round of 16
from PSA Media

photo PSA

20TH NOV 2015 - England’s James Willstrop came up with one of his greatest ever performances to shock World No.1 and last year’s runner-up Mohamed Elshorbagy in the third round of the 2015 PSA Men’s World Championship.

The 32-year-old has suffered an injury ravaged two years but produced the sort of squash that he has become known for over an extensive 16-year-career that has seen him top the World Rankings for 11 months in addition to winning 18 PSA World Tour titles.

Willstrop, known as ‘The Marksman’, was impeccable in the early stages of the match as he sought to drop the ball short and force Elshorbagy into the front of the court to take an unlikely two-game lead.

Egypt’s Elshorbagy responded by upping the pace considerable in the third but he still struggled against the Yorkshireman’s incredible accuracy and was forced to save three match balls to claw a game back. A tense battle resumed in the fourth with Willstrop again amassing a trio of match balls. This time he converted to continue a superb return to form for the World No.24.

“In the context of everything it’s maybe one of my best ever performances,” said Willstrop.

“When I got to number one I was ready to be number one but I haven’t played to that kind of level for so long. It’s probably about as good as I’ve ever played all things considered. There are times when I’ve left a match and said I didn’t get the rub of the green or things didn’t go my way but no doubt about it I had the rub of the green today.

“My shots were going into nicks and clinging when they could have hit the wall. People always say, even the best, that you always need a little bit of luck in matches and tournaments.”

After spending so long out injured, Willstrop paid tribute to his team and admits that it has been a slow process to get back to something approaching his best.

“It’s much, much more than squash,” he said.

“It’s people’s days and lives and efforts, it’s such as selfish game but so many people behind the scenes are so selfless and I want to acknowledge everyone. I feel very lucky to do what I do and to play like that today is a hat off to all the people who’ve supported me. It’s been a slow process and it’s taken a while to get moment into it and maybe now that I’ve been going since January my body is getting used to the training load and match play again.

“I feel great for the moment but I can’t get too carried away, it’s not the end. This is the biggest tournament in the world and I need to get myself together now for the next round, it’s as simple as that. I’ve won but I need to perform again tomorrow.”

Willstrop will do battle with Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the last 8 with the Colombian seeing off Mathieu Castagnet earlier in the day.

Result – Third Round: PSA Men’s World Championship 2015

James Willstrop (ENG) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 (64m)