World’s Top 4 Progress In World Series Finals from PSA Media
photo credit mickandersphotography
March 17, 2014
- French World No.2 Gregory Gaultier and Egypt’s World No.3 Ramy Ashour
are set to lock horns in the semi-finals of the Power Courts World
Series Finals just two weeks after they met in the final of the 2014
Windy City Open. Ashour will be hoping
to gain revenge for his 3-0 defeat to Gaultier in that match-up when
they take to the court at the prestigious Westwood Club in Richmond,
Virginia tomorrow. Ashour booked his
place in the semi-finals following an impressive 20-minute demolition
of compatriot Tarek Momen in the final day of round robin action which
also saw World No.1 Nick Matthew and World No.4 Mohamed Elshorbagy
progress to the last four. “The court conditions
were cold tonight and it was very rewarding because when you hit a good
shot it just goes right and I love playing on a cold court,” said
Ashour. “It’s great to be
competing with these amazing athletes in this event as it really pushes
you and motivates you and I’m happy to be in the semi-finals. “Greg is very
dangerous and explosive player and he’s a good friend of mine as well.
We’ve had some great matches before but the games between us are always
fair so hopefully it will be another great show tomorrow.” After losing a
dramatic match against compatriot Tarek Momen yesterday, Elshorbagy
rebounded in impressive fashion to beat English World No.5 James
Willstrop 2-0 to ensure his place in the semi-finals. Having had several
match balls in his favour Elshorbagy lost 2-1 to Momen in one of the
most dramatic comebacks in recent history but managed to put that
defeat out of his mind to win an exhilarating 11-9, 11-7 contest
against Willstrop. “I don’t think anyone
can imagine how tough it was to take that loss last night especially as
I had match balls,” said Elshorbagy. “I had played so well
against Ramy in the first match and I was playing well against Tarek so
it was so tough to know that if I went wrong today I would have gone
out of the competition. “I spoke to Jonah
(Barrington) at 6am and told him I couldn’t get the loss out of my mind
and without his advice there is no way I would have been able to get on
the court today. “He told me that when
you lose a match like that you just have to laugh about it and you just
have to concentrate on what you have to do as a professional player. “I went 2-0 up in each
of my last two matches against James so that gave me some confidence
and it’s my first time in the semi-finals of the World Series so I’m
just going to enjoy it now.” World Series Finals - Round Robin Day Three Results Simon Rosner (GER) bt Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 2-0: 13-11, 12-10 [30mins] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9 [36 mins] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 2-0: 11-6, 11-6 [20 mins] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 2-0: 11-9, 11-9 [32 mins] World Series Finals – Semi-final Draw Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Ramy Ashour (EGY) Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Nick Matthew (ENG)
