Elshorbagy Beats Gaultier, to Face Ashour in El Gouna Final by Nathan Clarke
photo courtesy Steve Cubbins
April 17, 2014
- World No.3 Mohamed Elshorbagy came through an electrifying and truly
epic encounter against World No.1 Gregory Gaultier in the semi-finals
of the 2014 El Gouna International Squash Open today, beating the
Frenchman 3-1 to book his spot in the final. In a brutally tough
112-minute encounter, in which the second game alone lasted over
45-minutes, Elshorbagy finally broke his duck against the number one
seed, recording his first ever victory over Gauliter 11-6, 14-16, 11-9,
12-10. The victory will see
Elshorbagy compete in just his fourth PSA World Series event final,
gunning to add to his sole tournament triumph at the 2013 Qatar
Classic, and he will take on compatriot Ramy Ashour in an all-Egyptian
final which promises to delight the local crowd. “I just can’t believe I’m into the final,” said Elshorbagy. “I have played him
nine times and I have never beaten him before so to be able to get my
first victory over him in Egypt makes it extra special. “I would not have been able to get the win today without the support of the crowd who were fantastic. “It’s two players in
there and it’s like they’re trying to knock each other out. I tried to
move him around but he never gave up and when I thought I had him in
the fourth game he came back fighting again. “I’m just really happy that I made it through in the end.” Elshorbgay and Ashour
were the first two players ever to become double World Junior Champions
with Elshorbagy following in the footsteps of Ashour, who booked his
place in the final after beating four-time World Champion Amr Shabana
3-0 in a sublime performance. The defending El Gouna
International champion, Ashour will be bidding to win his 25th World
Series title and will be buoyed by having beaten Elshorbagy when the
pair contested the final of the PSA World Series Finals in March. “It’s never easy against Shabana and every time you beat him it’s like a miracle,” said Ashour. “He’s a squash legend
and a four-time World Champion and a truly great player. I’m really
happy to get the win and it’s very pleasing. “Mohamed is very hungry and he’s eager so it’s going to be a very tough match tomorrow in the final.” 2014 EL Gouna International – Semi-final Draw:
