Ashour Beats Elshorbagy to Win Second World Series Finals Title by Nathan Clarke March 19, 2014
- Egyptian World No.3 Ramy Ashour claimed his second Power Courts World
Series Finals crown after emerging a 3-1 victor in an electrifying
final against compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy in Richmond, Virginia today. Ashour, champion in
2007, came through 15-17, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 in a titanic 63-minute
tussle which was full to the brim of thrilling rallies which delighted
the crowd at the prestigious Westwood Club. It was the first time
that two Egyptians have met in the final of the PSA World Series title
decider and Cairo-based Ashour, who’s past four months have been injury
plagued, said he was privileged to take on his Alexandrian compatriot
with the title on the line. “I’m really, really proud to win such a prestigious event,” said Ashour. “Everyone would love
to win this event and I really pushed myself and focused from the first
point of the week until the last point of the week which gives me a lot
of confidence mentally. “It’s been a great
week overall and I think my performances were good and I was really
proud that both of us were in the final today. “It’s the first time
that there’s been two Egyptian in the World Series Finals final and
this kind of success can help uplift spirits back home in Egypt. “We’ve gone through a
lot of turmoil in recent years. It’s still not over but it’s getting
better and better. We do what we can to raise the flag through squash
and doing our best and we have faith that very soon things will be in a
much better state than they were before.” It was Elshorbagy who
took the opening game in a nail-biting 17-15 tie-break but that
challenge forced Ashour to raise his game and the former World No.1 and
two-time World Champion responded to produce some of his best squash to
see off his younger challenger. “It was a brutal match
and both of us were really hungry to win that opening game and it’s
credit to him that it went his way,” he said. “He deserved to win that game and I had to come back with a different plan from the second game and thankfully it worked. “It definitely wasn’t
easy. He’s very explosive and catches you off guard so you have to be
on your toes and you have to really dig-in and make sure that every
point counts and I’m happy to have won.” World Series Finals – Final Result:
