Egypt's Abouelghar Is PSA Western Province Champion
by Howard Harding
27 April 2013 - Egypt's Mohamed Abouelghar picked up his second PSA World Tour squash title in South Africa in two weeks when he beat home hero Clinton Leeuw in today's final of the Western Province Open, the inaugural PSA Challenger 5 event at Western Province Cricket Club in Cape Town.
The third seed from Cairo made his breakthrough in the previous round where he ousted top-seeded Welshman Peter Creed in straight games.
Fourth seed Leeuw also pulled off a notable upset in the other semi, taking out Raphael Kandra, the No2 seed from Germany, in a five-game marathon.
"It was a very high quality final," said event spokesman Paul Atkinson. "The game scores were 11-8, 14-12, 11-7, with Clinton just not having enough in the tank after two five setters in the quarters and semi's and Mohamed displaying some truly incredible shot-making that took Clinton to every corner of the court!
"Abouelghar's professionalism and focus the entire week was fantastic to see and his on-court conduct even more impressive and a great example for the large number of juniors present in a jam packed gallery.
"It has been great week of squash and a true honour to have so many international players back in Cape Town again with a worthy champion in Mohamed lifting the trophy that dates back to 1907 and a title that dates back to 1949!
"With a firm commitment already in place with a sponsor for next year, there is no doubt that we will make the tournament even greater and hopefully more special for players, spectators and partners alike," added Atkinson.
Abouelghar's win follows his triumph in the Central Gauteng Open in Johannesburg earlier in the month - and brings the 19-year-old's career success in PSA World Tour finals to four out of four!
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Western Province Open, Cape Town, South Africa
1st round:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 (30m)
Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-13, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (74m)
James Huang (TPE) bt [Q] Michael Wood (RSA) 12-10, 11-6, 11-4 (32m)
[3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (30m)
[4] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [Q] Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 (43m)
Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [WC] Rudi Willemse (RSA) 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3 (43m)
[Q] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-6, 13-11, 11-5 (34m)
[2] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Rodney Durbach (RSA) 11-6, 11-8, 13-11 (40m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 5-11, 11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 (73m)
[3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt James Huang (TPE) 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 (46m)
[4] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2 (75m)
[2] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (53m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [1] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (30m)
[4] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [2] Raphael Kandra (GER) 8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7 (76m)
Final:
[3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [4] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 11-8, 14-12, 11-7
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