El Shorbagy reigns in Qatar

Main squash story: Title number 3 for El Shorbagy in Qatar

Mohamed El Shorbagy continues his impressive run of form. He won the Qatar Classic today in Doha, beating compatriot Tarek Momen in 4 games in the final.

His reaction after his win in Qatar shows how much it meant for Mohamed El Shorbagy (Photo credit: Qatar Classic)

Mohamed El Shorbagy likes Qatar. It was his sixth consecutive squash final in Doha, including his losses in the 2012 and 2014 World Championships against Ramy Ashour. He was blatantly tired after some tough matches in the previous rounds (see below). But the former world number 1 dug deep and was able to overcome the resistance of fellow Egyptian Tarek Momen, who was featuring in his first World Series final at the age of 29 (11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, in 64 minutes). It was yet another all-Egyptian final, for the 5th time in 5 major tournaments this season (World Series and $100,000 included). “I’m extremely proud of how I performed this week,” said El Shorbagy (Source: PSA World Tour). “When I saw the draw pre-event I knew it would be tough, but this is the challenge that I live for. To be the best you have to beat these players. What made the difference today was my experience. I have been in so many finals, while it was his first. I knew the emotions he was going through. But he really pushed me and I feel this is just the beginning for him. However, today it didn’t matter how tired I was – it was about how much I wanted to win."

The "Beast of Alexandria" has definitely found his hunger back - after a disappointing 2016-2017 season to his standards - and he's proven that all week. After a tough 3-game win against Fares Dessouky in the round of 16, his win over Ali Farag after a 93-minute gruelling squash battle was probably the best match of the season so far. In the semis, he was facing world number 1 Grégory Gaultier, who was playing his first PSA tournament in 2017-2018 after an ankle injury. Barring at the World Series finals in a pool match where there was nothing to play for, the two rivals had not played each other since their controversial encounter at the ToC in January. The first game was incredible, both players performing at their best. They both had game balls but Shorbagy came out on top after 30 minutes. The second was also very close but the Egyptian took a decisive two-game lead (11-9). With Gaultier's match fitness understandably not being 100%, it was one-way traffic from there (11-1 in the third), but the Frenchman was rather satisfied with his comeback: "It's a nice feeling to be able to play injury free. I did all I could this week and I don't want to be too hard on myself. I know it'll take a bit of time to come back to my best." However, he would probably not have been as satisfied with Shorbagy's comments after the match. “He made a fool of me in that squash match in New York," the Egyptian said to the ToC semi-final (Source: PSA World Tour). "Without the way that he beat me that day, I wouldn't be as hungry as I am now. I thought about it all summer – it motivated me to get back to my best in the off season." Their next match promises to be a feisty affair. It could be in Hong Kong in a few days, where both are in the same half of the draw.

Although the atmosphere was friendly at times on court, the rivalry is still fierce between Gaultier and El Shorbagy (Photo credit: Qatar Classic)

Other squash news

--- Nour El Tayeb and Ali Farag had made history earlier at the US Open: they became the first married couple in sporting history ever to win the same major sports title on the same day.

Overjoyed Ali Farag and Nour El Tayeb, posing for the photographers next to their US Open winner trophy: this is undoubtedly THE picture of the beginning of the season. The Egyptians are not only the first married couple in sporting history ever to win the same major sports title on the same day. They also wrote their own history, clinching one after the other their first World squash Series title. A few months ago, Farag had told us during an interview how lucky he was to have his wife by his side. “You wouldn’t understand how much of a privilege it is until you actually live it. It is SO hard to find a coach/trainer/mentor that understands the game so well AND understands you so well. And Nour is just THAT person. She’s the one person I depend on in everything on and off the court, and she really is one of a kind!” While it was obvious that Farag (member of the world top 5 since the end of last season) had the potential to rapidly reach such highs, El Tayeb (14th in the world rankings before the event) caused a massive upset in Philadelphia. The former World Junior Champion had been struggling to get back to her best since a serious shoulder injury sustained in the 2015 US Open finals. After recording good results in Asia in September, she raised the bar in the US with extraordinary displays against Nour El Sherbini, Laura Massaro and Raneem El Welily in the final, where she showed amazing confidence in her attacking abilities. “I’ve been dreaming about it and working really hard for the last two and half years.” she said (Source: PSA World Tour). “But I didn't think it would happen here. Before the tournament I was telling my coach that if I wanted to win I had to beat so many top players! It’s amazing and I hope this is just the start. As far as Ali is concerned, I see him every day working hard so it feels really special that both of our first World Series titles happen to be together.”

 Husband and wife Ali Farag and Nour El Tayeb had a dream week in Philadelphia (Photo credit: US Open Squash)

Except Frenchman Lucas Serme in the first round, Ali Farag only faced fellow Egyptians in Philadelphia. After tough 5-game encounters with Mazen Hesham and Fares Dessouky, the Harvard graduate put an end to Omar Mosaad's run. World number 5 was not the favorite in the final against Mohamed El Shorbagy, who had been merciless all week. But Farag was impressive especially in the business end of the first two games and was able to close the match in three. “Squash may be an individual sport," he said in his speech (Source: PSA World Tour), "but there are so many people helping us to reach this level. First and foremost my parents, I dedicate this trophy for them. But I can tell you one thing: Mohamed (El Shorbagy) is not joking when he says he will come back stronger! I know our next match will be even harder.”

--- Harder it was. Mohamed El Shorbagy got his revenge a few days later in the final of the St George's Hill Classic ($100,000). Farag won the first game and had two games balls to level at 2-all. But El Shorbagy saved them both and then closed the match in four, clinching his second $100,000 $ title of the season. “I didn’t have a good time here last year, so I’m really glad that things went my way,” he said after the match. “I would like to pay my respects to Ali, this is our third tournament this year and both of us have made it to three finals now. He beat me last week, I beat him this week, so maybe it’s going to be his turn next week [in Qatar] but hopefully we’re not going to play again.” His wish was not be fulfilled ... (see above Title number 3 for El Shorbagy in Qatar). His rival admitted that “the difference was experience today. Mohamed was World No.1 for 28 months and knows how to back up those long tournaments. He truly deserved it today.” (Source: PSA World Tour)

Mohamed El Shorbagy got his revenge over Ali Farag in St George's Hill (Photo credit: Channel VAS)

Nour El Sherbini also got her revenge over Nour El Tayeb in the quarters of the Carol Weymuller Open ($50,000) in Brooklyn, and then she went on to win the tournament. She was impressive in the final against in-form Joelle King from New Zealand, putting the ball away at will. It was Sherbini's twelfth title on the PSA World Tour, including two World Championships. At only 22 years old, the Alexandria born has now been world number 1 for nineteen months!

--- November world rankings - which don't include the results from Qatar - were released earlier this week. Ali Farag has moved into the world’s top four for the first time in his career, after lifting his maiden World Series at the U.S. Open. Frenchman Gregory Gaultier stays at World No.1, while three-time World Champion Nick Matthew drops a place to No.5 – his lowest World ranking in 12 months. Egyptian trio Marwan ElShorbagy, Tarek Momen and Fares Dessouky take the No.6, No.7 and No.8 spots, respectively, with Dessouky sitting at a career-high ranking. New Zealand’s Paul Coll also moves up a spot to a career-high No.9 ranking, while England’s James Willstrop falls three places to close out the top 10. Former World No.3 Omar Mosaad saw his ranking increase by 11 places after his semi-final finish at the U.S. Open. Farag's wife Nour El Tayeb also won her first WS trophy in the US and consequently returns to the world’s top 10 for the first time since October 2016, rising six places to No.8. Nour El Sherbini celebrates her 22nd birthday by retaining the No.1 spot for a 19th successive month ahead of El Welily, who swaps places with France’s Camille Serme to take the No.2 spot. Courtesy of a run of form that saw her reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open and the final of the Carol Weymuller Open, New Zealand’s Joelle King is rewarded with a move up to No.9. Olivia Blatchford moves up three places to occupy a career-high No.13 ranking – becoming the United States No.1 after former World No.6 Amanda Sobhy dropped 12 places to No.23, her lowest ranking in over four years, as she continues her recovery from a ruptured achilles tendon sustained in March. (Source: PSA World Tour)

November squash hotspots

--- The next fews weeks will be packed with major events. It will start with the Hong Kong Open from the 14th of November. In the men's draw, Grégory Gaultier is seeded No.1 and due to play Mohamed El Shorbagy in the semis, while Ali Farag and Karim Abdel Gawad are in the bottom half of the draw. Farag could face Ramy Ashour - who is due to make his return in HK - in the second round, while Nick Matthew has chosen not to play in the event. In the women's draw, world number 1 Nour El Sherbini could clash with Nouran Gohar in the quarters and possibly Laura Massaro in the semis. If she wants to reach that stage, Camille Serme may have to beat Nicol David for the first time in her career, while Raneem El Welily may face Nour El Tayeb in the second round. Here are our picks for the first round: James Willstrop v Mohamed Abouelghar, Mathieu Castagnet v Simon Roesner, Sarah-Jane Perry v Salma Hany Ibrahim. 

--- Later in November, the Saudi Masters will be the first professional women’s squash tournament ever to take place in Saudi Arabia. With no qualifying rounds featured at the tournament, 32 of the world’s top players will go straight into the main draw, including world No.2 Nour El Sherbini. “We believe that this event will have a crucial role in promoting squash to a new generation of Saudi women,” said PSA Chairman and Saudi Squash Federation President, Ziad Al Turki. England's Emily Whitlock doesn't share the same enthusiasm and has refused to enter the tournament, citing her “moral standards” regarding the treatment of women in the country and the fact that men are not allowed into the venue. As a consequence, it will not be broadcast by SquashTV and players will wear leggings and T-shirts on court. World No 12 told The Times: “This is about women’s rights. The money and ranking points do not even come close to my moral standards. I don’t want to be viewed as against Saudi Arabia’s religion but I would certainly go and play if men were allowed. It would be groundbreaking." A spokesperson from the PSA said : “We fully respect the decision of any player who does not wish to compete. There has been a major shift towards women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. For squash to be pioneering the empowerment of women in the region is something that we are immensely proud of.” Laura Massaro is the only other top-32 player not travelling to Riyadh, citing a tough tour schedule.

Emily Whitlock has decided not to play in the Saudi Masters (Photo credit: England Squash)

--- Finally, the 25th Men's World Team Championship will start in Marseille on the 27th of November. Boasting 8 players in the top 13, Egypt will be hot favourites (team line-ups have not been announced yet) and will try to re-conquer the title after their loss in the 2013 final and the cancellation of the 2015 event. Their main rivals will be title holders England and their wealth of experience (Matthew, Willstrop, Selby), as well as home country France. Led by world No.1 Grégory Gaultier, Les Bleus are hoping to put their hands on the trophy for the first time in their history.