Ashour Over Gaultier In Four To Capture Historic British Open Title by Howard Harding
photos courtesy britishopensquash.net
26 May 2013
- Today's sensational climax of the 2013 Allam British Open Squash
Championships, the fourth PSA World Series event of the year staged on
an all-glass court erected on the pitch of soon-to-be English Premier
League football club Hull City, saw Ramy Ashour make history by
becoming the first Egyptian in 47 years to win the sport's prestigious
title.
Despite having produced world champions, world number ones and
currently five players in the PSA men's world top ten, Egypt has not
boasted a British Open champion since 1966 - when the legendary AA
AbouTaleb won the trophy for the third year in a row in London.
Undefeated since losing the 2012 final in London exactly a year ago,
Ashour was firm favourite to have his name inscribed on the trophy this
year. But the top seed dropped his first game of the tournament as
French rival Gregory Gaultier took an early lead in the final of the
first staging of the event in Yorkshire since 1974.
Gaultier, the first French winner of the title in 2007, tried to
continue where he had left off in the second - but was unable to take
the ball as early as previously with Ashour become more patient on the
attack.
As the Egyptian forced the Frenchman into making more errors, Ashour
grew in confidence and finished the second on his first game ball to
draw level.
Gaultier started the third with more aggression with 25-year-old Ashour
making a few uncharacteristic errors. At 7-5 to Gaultier, it looked as
if the match was swinging back in his favour - but a few patient
rallies and errors from the world number three got Ashour back on track
at 10-7 and again the Egyptian closed out the game at the first
opportunity.
Ashour built up a 6-3 lead in the fourth as his opponent began to show
signs of fatigue. But a series of unforced errors from the Cairo king
saw Gaultier win four points in a row to lead the game for the first
time.
Ashour regrouped to reclaim the lead and after both players put the
ball out of the court in successive rallies, Ashour clinched his first
match-ball with a deft forehand shot into the nick to win 7-11, 11-4,
11-7, 11-8 in 64 minutes.
After shaking his opponent's hand and seeing Gaultier out of the court,
Ashour leapt into the air in celebration before falling to the ground
to kiss the floor - where he stayed for several minutes, clearly
tearful with emotion.
When asked to express his feelings, several minutes later, the new
champion said: "There's a famous quote: the game is just a game - it's
what you play for that matters.
"I've been preparing for eight weeks for this tournament - but I've had
lots of hard times over the last two weeks, so I'm really proud of
myself for what I've achieved.
"Winning this prestigious title is one of the happiest moments of my
life, if not the happiest," continued the exuberant Ashour, now winner
of his 41st PSA Tour match in a row, and his eighth successive title.
"I've experienced waking up in the morning every day with a heavy heart
and a heavy spirit. There have been a lot of distractions. But I've
learnt a lot from the last couple of weeks.
"Winning this title is really big for me. It's something I will always remember," the new British Open Champion concluded.
A disconsolate Gaultier said: "I'm very disappointed. I did what I could. I wanted to win so much.
"But Ramy played better today and he thoroughly deserved it.
"Hopefully next time I will come back stronger. I really want to win
this title again," concluded the 30-year-old from Aix-en-Provence.
RESULTS: PSA World Series Allam British Open, Hull, England
