Kiwi King Takes Out Defending Champion El Welily to Reach First World Series Final by Ellie Mawson
photos PSA
February 27, 2018
- New Zealand's World No.9 Joelle King will compete in the final of a
PSA World Series event for the first time in her 13 year career after
she knocked World Champion and three-time tournament winner Raneem El
Welily out of the 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family
& EquiTrust Life Insurance Company in a five-game thriller today.
Former World No.4 King suffered a career threatening injury in 2015
just months after reaching her first ever World Series tournament
semi-final, at the 2014 Windy City Open. But she crowned her steady
rise back up through the rankings with a formidable display against El
Welily, coming from a game behind to take out the 2015, 2016 and 2017
title-holder 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10.
El Welily – who was targeting her fourth Windy City crown - looked
determined in the first game as she hit with fierce accuracy to take
the opener. However, King came back strong to reach the lucrative final
– with this year’s event offering a record high prize fund of $250,000
in both the men’s and women’s draws.
“I’m just over the moon that I was able to hold my nerve in the end in
what was another brutal battle,” said King following her huge win.
“I definitely think I’m playing the best squash of my whole career
right now. I think the injury helped me go away and figure out a few
things that were missing in my game and I’ve never really looked back.
“The exciting thing is that I still feel like there is a lot more to
come in my game. I think I’m just enjoying my squash which is the main
thing and I think it shows and I'm really excited to be in the final."
The World No.9 will now face World No.3 Nour El Tayeb of Egypt after
she defeated England’s Sarah-Jane Perry in another thrilling 3-2
encounter in the women’s event.
“After I won the first two games, I started to feel nervous,” said El
Tayeb. “I was thinking ‘am I going to be in another final? This is
huge’ and I let go of thinking about the actual points and the squash.
“In the fourth, I started to play well again so I’m happy I won of course.”
In the men’s event, Egyptian brothers Mohamed and Marwan ElShorbagy
will lock horns in the finale in what will be their first meeting since
they clashed in the final of the 2017 PSA World Championships in
Manchester last December, when it was Mohamed who claimed victory on
the day.
The pair saw off the challenge of compatriots Ali Farag and Tarek Momen to earn their spot in the final.
“I’m so happy to reach another final in Chicago and if I could get my
first ever World Series title here it would mean a lot,” said Marwan
after reaching his second successive Windy City Open final.
“To play in another major final with my brother is amazing. We played
in the World Championship final and to play against each other again,
this time in Chicago, is fantastic.”
Tomorrow match will be the seventh final of the 2017/18 season for
Mohamed’ – who will return to World No.1 next month – and he will be
aiming to collect title number six so far this campaign.
“It’s great to be in another final, it will be my third final in Chicago,” said Mohamed following his win over compatriot Momen.
“I’m very happy to be playing my brother, he beat me here last year, so I will be looking for revenge.
“I’m really happy with the way he has been playing this season and I’m
really proud of him. He has been playing really well and playing with
consistency and he is showing the whole world what he can do and what
he can achieve.
“The way he played today was unbelievable to take Ali 3-0. We learn
from each other but tomorrow he is going to go for me and I know he
feels that this is his time to take his first World Series event and
it’s up to me to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Results: Men’s Semi-Finals – 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
