Farag Dethrones ElShorbagy As England’s Perry Retains Oracle NetSuite Open Title from PSA Media photos PSA
October 2, 2018
- A sublime performance from start to finish saw Egypt’s World No.2 Ali
Farag defeat 2017 tournament champion and World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy
in the final of the 2018 Oracle NetSuite Open to claim his first major
title in nine months on an evening of play that also saw England’s
Sarah-Jane Perry stun World Champion Raneem El Welily to successfully
retain the title she won here twelve months ago.
Farag, who lost four of five meetings with ElShorbagy during the
2017/18 campaign, underlined his intention to challenge his compatriot
for the coveted World No.1 ranking spot this season with a clinical
display that saw him nullify ElShorbagy’s power and pace to prevail an
11-9, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9 winner.
There was little to separate the pair as they battled it out for 64
minutes of spell binding action on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, trading
points tit-for-tat during a series of physically punishing rallies to
the delight of the crowd. But it was Farag who settled quicker, using
his relaxed attacking style to edge a tight opening game, before
doubling the lead courtesy of a dramatic second-game tie-break.
ElShorbagy replied in style to dominate the third game before Farag
once again enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the fourth to come
through and win his first tournament since February’s Swedish Open.
“I’m feeling great right now, I’m very, very happy to have won this title,” said Farag.
“When I first saw the entry list I thought I would withdraw from
playing because the draw was so strong. But my mentor Karim Darwish
told me that I should play the event and show people that they should
be scared when seeing my name in the draw - that is the kind of
mentality that I need to have if I hope to be World No.1 some day.
“I wasn’t at my best last night (against Gaultier) but I was optimistic
that I would play at a higher level tonight because sometimes you need
matches like that to help get you into the rhythm.
“Tonight against Mohamed I had to be on my mettle throughout. He’s a
great champion and such a determined fighter - which he showed even
when I was ahead in the fourth game, so I’m very glad I managed to get
this last few points.
“Last season I got off to a strong start but I couldn’t carry it
through until the end of the season. I was maybe mentally tired towards
the end of the year so I’m trying to learn from that experience and be
more consistent this season and now I’m really looking forward to going
to the U.S Open to defend that title next week.
“Winning there with Nour last year has been the highlight of my career so hopefully we can do it again this time.”
Speaking afterwards ElShorbagy said: “He played great tonight - he’s
been the best player here all week. But it’s a long season so hopefully
I can get back at him at an event coming up.”
After storming through the women’s draw to book a place in the final
without dropping a game El Welily, the 29-year-old World No.2, picked
up where she left off during the opening exchanges of the women’s final
as she raced into an early 6-1 lead to set up what looked certain to be
a comfortable opening first game.
But World No.8 Perry responded to the challenge, finding her own lethal
streak mid-way through to swing the game on its head and take the
opener 11-9 against the run of play. Buoyed by her comeback in the
first, Perry continued to enjoy a purple patch as she dominated the
second to double her advantage - leaving El Welily searching for a way
to stop the onslaught.
The Egyptian though responded in kind, lifting her level once again to
engage Perry in rally after rally of physically testing and tactically
probing squash. With the finishing line in sight at 9-7 though a series
of errors from the racket of Perry gifted El Welily a reprieve, and she
took full advantage to gain a lifeline on the scoreboard before taking
the fourth in just eight minutes to level the scores.
The crucial fifth and final game began with a series of cat-and-mouse
exchanges with little to separate them but from 4-4 Perry turned the
screw to set up match ball at 10-4. A series of sumptuous winners saw
El Welily threaten to extend the match into a tie-break but Perry
finally sealed the match, and her second Oracle NetSuite Open title,
11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7.
“I’m speechless,” said Perry afterwards. “She was making me work so
hard and any time there was even a slight chance she was punishing me.
“I had to play as clever as I have ever done before and I was
absolutely knackered in that fifth game but I just forced myself to
keep pushing. I knew I was playing well and that I didn’t have to
chance much tactically, I just had to execute.
“But even at 10-4 up she was coming back and she hit some fantastic
shots to get it back to 10-7 so there was a lot of relief at the end
alongside the elation.
“I dedicated the win here last year to my Nan (who passed away shortly
before the event). My mum said she’s be looking down watching over me
tonight as well so this one is defiantly for her again.”
After the match El Welily said: “Obviously I’m disappointed to lose
tonight but Sarah-Jane played very well and deserved the win.”
Result - 2018 Women’s Oracle NetSuite Open Final
[5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7 (57m)
