Elshorbagy Comes from Two-Down to Beat Gaultier in 90-Minute El Gouna International Final by Nathan Clarke photo squashsite.co.uk
April 29, 2016
- Egypt's Mohamed Elshorbagy continued his recent domination of the PSA
World Tour by defeating World Champion Gregory Gaultier 3-2 in the
final of the 2016 El Gouna International to claim a sixth consecutive
PSA World Series title and avenge his runner-up finishes in the the
tournament in 2014 and 2015.
The 25-year-old from Alexandria
has been undefeated in PSA World Series competition since losing the
semi-final of the 2015 U.S. Open, to Gaultier, in October, and has won
his last 19 consecutive matches at the top level of the professional
game to become the first man since Ramy Ashour, the man who beat him in
both the 2014 and 2015 final, in 2012 to win six World Series
tournaments in one season.
Competing in front of a
passionate and partizan home crowd Elshorbagy delighted the onlookers
in the Red Sea resort as he produced a remarkable comeback, fighting
back from 2-0 down to see off Gaultier in an enthralling 90-minute
battle to take the crown.
"It feels great to win this title
after losing the last two years - I'm just so happy to win and get the
title in front of my home crowd, it's an amazing feeling," said
Elshorbagy.
"Today was a very tough battle at the end of a
very tough season. I think I have played more matches than any other
player and it has been difficult to push myself mentally at each
tournament - to compete, rest and re-focus each time takes so much out
of you.
"I started the season losing the first round in
Shanghai and then the semi-final of the U.S. Open. To turn the season
around and win six World Series tournaments in a row is just a dream
for me - I cannot believe that I have just done that.
"I had
a big test today and I was very nervous - Greg and I always have such
great battles, he's such a tough competitor and I really had to work
hard to get back from two games down. I'm really happy I came through
that test."
The French World No.2 put in a virtuoso
performance in the opening two games, playing precise and powerful
squash to dominate the court but Elshorbagy fought back with impressive
tenacity to force a decider.
In the fifth Gaultier opened
up a quick 4-0 lead but the man coached by then legendary Jonah
Barrington, who today celebrated his 75th birthday, roared back once
again to take a ferocious rally and move 6-5 up - the first time he led
throughout the entire match - before eventually profiting from a simple
error off the strings of Gaultier's racket that handed him the trophy
at the third time of asking.
"At 2-0 down I just kept fighting - it might be what I'm best at," added Elshorbagy.
"Beating
him from 2-0 down is not easy and in the fifth I was 4-0 down, then 6-2
down, but I just kept fighting. It paid off in the end and he made a
few errors that helped me in the closing stages.
"This is by
far the best tournament I play in all year and I really want to thank
everyone this week for all the support and for putting on such a great
event."
After the match Gaultier said: "It's hard for me to lose but I will keep a smile on my face.
"Thanks to the sponsors and tournament for their support - they continue to raise the level here every year."
