Farag Over Gaultier 13-11 in the 5th, Joins ElShorbagy In Oracle NetSuite Open Final from PSA Media
photos PSA
October 1, 2018
- World No.2 Ali Farag escaped the clutches of defeat by saving two
match balls to defeat in-form Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in a thrilling
77 minute five-game battle and set up a championship showdown against
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy in the final off the 2018 Oracle NetSuite
Open - the PSA World Tour Gold event taking place in San Francisco.
Under the shadow of the city’s iconic Ferry Building 26-year-old Farag
twice came from a game-down to take the match to a decisive fifth-game,
which went all the way to a nail-biting tie-break that saw both men
squander match balls before the Egyptian finally secured his place in
the final courtesy of an 2-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11 win.
The match began with 35-year-old Gaultier totally outclassing Farag,
storming out of the gates to take an early 6-0 lead and secure the
opening game. Farag duly responded in the second, slowing the pace to
swing momentum in his favour and level the scoreboards before etc duo
traded points back and forth en route to the tense climax that saw
Farag book a berth in the 24th final of his career.
“I’m over the moon to come through with a win, he outplayed me for most of that match,” said Farag.
“But sometimes it isn’t the better player who wins. Sometimes you just
have to find a way out and that’s what I did today - I tried to focus
on hitting the back corners and playing basic and it worked.
“I was very tense at the start and struggled to find my short game. I
had to accept there were going to be times when he would be in control
but I just tried to make it as hard as possible and make the rallies a
long as possible - I was absorbing a lot but it paid off in the end.
“I’m very excited to face Mohamed in the final tomorrow. He brings the
best out of me every time we play. I have trained very hard over the
summer and worked on some specific things which I hope I can apply
tomorrow.”
Farag will now go up against ElShorbagy after the 27-year-old prevailed
in a compelling four-game encounter with compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad
that saw him bounce back from losing the opening game to come through
an 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 winner.
The match, a repeat of the 2017 tournament final, saw Gawad, who
largely disappointed during the 2017/18 season, hitting clean, crips
lines and moving with languid freedom reminiscent of the form that saw
him clinch the World title in 2016.
But ElShorbagy proved equal to the task, responding to the challenge by
increasing the pace and using his ferocious hitting power to counter
Gawad’s guile and come through a riveting match that saw the duo duel
through a series of captivating exchanges, trading points back and
forth to the delight of the crown on the Embarcadero.
“I’m really happy to be back in the final once again,” said ElShorbagy.
“I came here for the first time last year and it was a great experience
so I’m looking forward to having the chance to defend the title
tomorrow.
“We were playing a lot of very tough rallies out there - it was a high
quality match - and I think that third game was crucial. He’s such a
smooth player that you have to accept that there will be times when he
will make you look like a fool. But you just have to accept that and
come through it and find a way to win.
“Last season he wasn’t at his best. Sometimes you have those periods
but it’s great to see him back and hungry again but I’m very happy I
managed to get the win against him today.”
The women’s final will see World Champion Raneem El Welily, who booked
her place in the decider with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Laura
Massaro yesterday, go up against defending champion Sarah-Jane Perry
after the Englishwoman swept aside the challenge of Hong Kong’s Annie
Au with a ruthless 3-0 win.
Perry, who beat eight-time World Champion Nicol David in the
title-decider twelve months ago in what was the biggest win of her
career, was in complete control from the outset as she picked Au apart
from the off set, taking the opening game for the loss of just four
points and continued to enjoy complete control as she wrapped up the
match in just 25 minutes.
“I’ve got fantastic memories here from last year.
“Tomorrow against Raneem I have no expectations. I just have to go out
and do the best I can. I watched the match yesterday between Raneem and
Laura so I know how well she’s playing at the moment but I’ll give it
my best tomorrow to try and defend the title.”
