Birthday Boy Elshorbagy Leads Five Egyptians Into ToC Round Two by Howard Harding
photos PSA
photos Squashpics.com
January 12, 2016 -
World number one Mohamed Elshorbagy celebrated his 26th birthday in
fine style today in New York where he led five fellow Egyptians through
the first round of the 2017 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions which is
marking its 20th year at the city's iconic Grand Central Terminal.
The 26-year-old from Alexandria, seeded to win the prestigious PSA
World Series squash title for the third year in a row, faced rookie
Declan James, a qualifier from England making his maiden appearance in
the tournament.
Showing no signs of the 103-minute marathon he survived against the
odds less than 24 hours earlier to claim his unexpected place in the
main draw, James took the game to his illustrious opponent – earning
several game-balls in the opener before Elshorbagy eventually forged a
1/0 lead courtesy of a 16-14 game score.
Elshorbagy held game-ball at 13-12 when James dived to retrieve a
seemingly impossible ball in the backhand corner of the all-glass court
in Vanderbilt Hall only for the Egyptian to put the ball into the
tin. The top seed inexplicably repeated this unforced error again
just minutes later to give game-ball to underdog James.
Elshorbagy took full advantage of his early lead to win the next two
games 11-5, 11-6 to claim his anticipated place in round two after 52
minutes.
"All credit to Declan – he put me under so much pressure," said
Elshorbagy afterwards. "He's by far the best young English player
coming through – if he gets the right people behind him, he'll be
something special."
Despite losing, James was delighted with his first performance in the
championship. "I was pleased that I took the game to him in the
first game.
"He played those vital points so well – but that's why he's world number one.
"It was the first time I'd played him – and he told me after the match
that we'll have a lot of hard matches together in the future.
"It's incredible not only to play in this event for the first time, but
to play against the world number one. It's something I'll never
forget," added the Manchester-based 23-year-old.
Elshorbagy was joined by his younger brother Marwan Elshorbagy in the second round.
With the pair's head-to-head record poised at two-all, the Grand
Central crowd sensed a close encounter when fifth seed Elshorbagy
junior took on Daryl Selby – the unseeded Englishman who finished last
year with four successive semi-final berths on the PSA World Tour.
But the world No.6 from Egypt played with determination and control to
see off the experienced 34-year-old, ranked nine places below, 11-6,
11-7, 6-11, 11-8 in 63 minutes.
"I probably played better than he did in the first two games," said
23-year-old Elshorbagy. "Then he stepped up his game in the
third."
Twice a quarter-finalist since 2012, Elshorbagy enjoys his time in New
York City. "This is one of the best tournaments on the
Tour. Every time I step onto the court here, I want to make the
most of it."
With only one match win in four events since October, the tall and
imposing No.7 seed Omar Mossad had a point to prove when he took on
younger fellow Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar in the first round.
The 28-year-old from Cairo reached a career-high No.3 world ranking
midway through last year after a formidable run which featured four
finals in five months including a first-time appearance in the World
Championship climax from the position of seventh seed.
Seeded seven on the Vanderbilt Hall court, Mosaad truly imposed himself
on the match – despatching the 23-year-old Abouelghar 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
in 44 minutes. It was a repeat of his win over his Cairo
colleague at the same stage of the event two years ago.
"I was thinking about that match today," said Mosaad, currently ranked 9 in the world. "He played really well today."
Recalling his low over the past three months, Mosaad said: "I wasn't
playing badly but when I went on court I kept losing my focus. I
needed to de-stress myself.
"I think I did a good job today. I tried to focus 100% on every point."
A four-match unbeaten run over more than ten years came to an end today
when South African Stephen Coppinger beat Spain's former world No.5
Borja Golan in a closely-contested three-game marathon.
In game one, underdog Coppinger raced to a 7-3 lead before world No.16
Golan rapidly reclaimed the upper hand to reel off seven points in a
row to reach game-ball at 10-7. But it was the plucky Cape Towner
who ultimately prevailed, saving five game balls before finally closing
out the game 16-14.
Coppinger, ranked 21 in the world, went on to take the next two games
11-5, 13-11 to claim his breakthrough win after 69 minutes.
"That opener felt like three games in a single game," explained
Coppinger later. "I was 7-3 up, then he got seven points in a
row, then it was neck and neck to the finish.
"It would have been a very different match if he had won that one," admitted the 32-year-old.
Golan, who was playing his first match since taking time off to nurse a
back injury, rued that first game: "I should have closed it out
from 10-7," said the dejected Spaniard.
Home hopes for success in the men's event rested exclusively on the
shoulders of Todd Harrity, the two-time US champion from Pennsylvania
who was awarded the event's wildcard.
The 26-year-old, ranked 51 in the world, faced Fares Dessouky, a rising
Egyptian star boasting a career-high world No.12 ranking. The
pair met at the same stage 12 months ago – and Dessouki repeated his
victory over the rapidly-improving American, this time winning 11-9,
11-4, 11-6 in 31 minutes.
"He played much better this time," admitted the 22-year-old from Alexandria. "He's improving all the time.
"I have had a good run recently, winning a big title in India last
November," added Dessouky. "I think I'm playing better and I'm
enjoying my squash.
"I'm trying to mix up my game. If I want to be in the world top ten, I need to do that."
When asked by event MC Will Carlin if he felt his game had improved,
Harrity told the partisan crowd: "I think I'm playing better and moving
better – I'm getting more experience on the big stage.
"I've moved to Bristol in England - I needed to get away from home
where it was too comfortable. It's been a good switch – it’s
helped toughen me up."
An Australian and a Frenchman were the other two winners on day one at
Grand Central. Ryan Cuskelly, the US-based world No.19 from New
South Wales upset Hong Kong's higher-ranked Max Lee 11-7, 11-4, 6-11,
11-8 to earn a place in round two for the second year in a row, while
third seed Gregory Gaultier stopped Peruvian Diego Elias.
Gaultier, the 2009 champion and runner-up in 2013 and 2014, was a
semi-final casualty 12 months ago when he was forced to retire after
just six points.
"Last year was nothing compared to what's going to happen this year,"
said the Czech Republic-based world No.3 after his 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
first round win.
