Shoukry Seals Cleveland Skating Club Open Crown by Sean Reuthe November 2, 2015
- Egyptian World No.72 Andrew Wagih Shoukry overcame Ireland’s Arthur
Gaskin in the final of the Cleveland Skating Club Open, PSA M5 event to
lift his first PSA World Tour title of 2015.
The number one seed came through a thrilling five-game semi-final with
Sebastiaan Weenink in the previous round, despite trailing the Dutchman
2-1 at one point. Gaskin on the other hand had swept to the final
without dropping a single game and looked full of confidence heading
into the showpiece finale.
Indeed, it appeared as if the previous day’s exploits had taken a toll
on Shoukry who, after a slow start, found himself a game behind after
Gaskin won the first game 11-9. The momentum changed in the second,
however, as Shoukry found his range with some fine winners to level
proceedings at the Cleveland Skating Club.
Both players traded blows back and forth in the third before an awkward
fall from Shoukry led to an injury break. Once back on court however,
the injury seemed to be a distant memory as Shoukry surged to an 11-9
triumph to take the lead for the first time.
Gaskin mounted a superb fightback in the fourth game and put himself in
the ascendancy with a 7-5 lead. Unforced errors crept into his game
though and Shoukry took full advantage, earning a 9-11, 11-6, 11-9,
11-7 victory to bring an end to the 85 minute contest and claim his
eighth career PSA World Tour title.
Result - Final: Cleveland Skating Club Open 2015
[1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (85m)
