Egyptians Dominate As Windy City Open Finalists Decided by Nathan Clarke photos squashpics.com
March 1, 2016
- The finals of the 2016 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim
Partners and Equitrust Life Insurance Company, PSA World Series
tournament taking place at the University Club of Chicago, will have a
heavy Egyptian feel after three of four available berths in the
respective men's and women's title deciders were snatched up by players
from the Middle Eastern country today.
In the women's draw
in-form 20-year-old Nour El Sherbini, who last month claimed the first
major World Series title of her career when she won the J.P. Morgan
Tournament of Champions, followed up her impressive 3-0 win over Nicol
David with a masterclass performance to beat pre-tournament favourite
and World No.1 Laura Massaro.
El Sherbini played with
unrestricted attacking flair throughout the match and underlined her
position as a genuine top class contender by overturning a 2-7 deficit
in the third game to take the match 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.
“I
have been struggling with a flu so I really did not expect to reach the
final but I think I played perfect today," said El Sherbini.
“Because
I was struggling with my breathing I was going for every shot and
thankfully they were going in. Normally when I play Laura it is a tough
five-game match so to win 3-0 is an achievement that I’m definitely
proud of."
El Sherbini will face compatriot and defending women's champion Raneem El Welily in the final.
After
stuttering through the early rounds of the tournament El put in a
highly polished and focused performance to overcome Camille Serme of
France 3-0.
“I tried to stay relaxed and play to my game
plan and I think I focused well and managed not to get loose and play
too many shots down the middle," said El Welily.
"I’m very
happy to be into the final again here in Chicago. I enjoy this
tournament and it brings the best out of me and it is great that it is
an all-Egyptian final and I’m looking forward to playing Nour.
"She’s in top form and played really well today so it should be a very good match tomorrow.”
In
the men's draw perennial foes Nick Matthew, the defending champion, and
Mohamed Elshorbagy, the man Matthew beat to glory 12 months ago, will
lock horns for championship bragging rights once again - just weeks
after contesting the Tournament of Championship final.
World
No.1 Elshorbagy overcame the challenge of Colombian Miguel Angel
Rodriguez, the man who knocked his younger brother Marwan Elshorbagy
out in the quarter-finals, in straight-games to reach the final.
"Miguel
has been playing very well in this tournament and especially against my
brother yesterday but I have raised my game match after match and
played some of my best to beat him today," said Elshorbagy.
“He
was playing strong at the end of the second and third as well so I’m
happy to have gone through in three games and be back in the final.
“I’ve
never won this tournament so it would be nice to get my name on that
trophy and I can’t wait to come back and play on this stage tomorrow.”
35-year-old
Matthew prevented an Egyptian clean-sweep by defeating World
Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad in their first meeting since Matthew
lost to the powerful World No.4 last October.
“I lost to him in US Open and that was the first time he beat me and it was a little bit on my mind today," said Matthew.
"But
I’m a different player than I was before Christmas so I wanted to carry
on making that statement and prove it. He’s improved so much and I had
to be very proactive and keep the ball away from his danger weapons so
I’m happy to beat him.
“Mohamed (Elshorbagy) and I had a
great final in New York and I beat him here in the final last year so
i’m sure he’s going to want to prove a point. He's the World No.1 for a
reason but I believe that on my day in front of this crowd and support
that anything can happen."
Results - Semi-finals Women's 2016 Windy City Open: [5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (35m) [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [4] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 (37m)
Draw - Final: [5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Results - Semi-finals Men's 2016 Windy City Open: [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 11-7 (41m) [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 (61m)
Draw - Final: [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [2] Nick Matthew (ENG)
