The
Egyptian – who recaptured the World No.1 ranking from France’s Gregory
Gaultier in March - has been in scintillating form this season claiming
seven titles, including
three World Series titles and his first PSA World Championship crown,
but is determined to underline his campaign with a successful defence of
the title he won twelve months ago.
That
win proved to be a high in what was by his standards an otherwise
frustrating season for the Bristol-based Egyptian – who began working
with two-time World Champion
David Palmer prior to the 2017 World Series Finals - and he insists
that a successful defence of his crown is a high priority.
“For
me, last year, it was the start of getting back on track. This year I’m
taking it more seriously than ever. I really, really want to win this
year.
“The
year when I won six World Series events I had broke down mentally and
physically when it came to Dubai and I couldn’t really perform how I
wanted. This year I want
to perform strongly until the end.
“Last
year, I didn’t play like a World No.1. This year even when I lost at
the U.S. Open at the start of the season I still played like a World
No.1 – I didn’t mind
losing because I gave it everything, but I mind losing if I’m not
playing like a winner and that’s what happened last year”
The
World Series Finals brings together the top eight players on the Men’s
and Women’s PSA Road to Dubai Standings, with qualifying points on offer
at all World Series
tournaments throughout the 2017/18 season.
ElShorbagy
– who finished at the top of the World Series Standings – defeated
England’s former World No.1 James Willstrop in the final of last year’s
tournament to win
the title and with this year’s World Series Finals set to be one of the
most competitive yet with six current and former World No.1s set to
feature across both the Men’s and Women’s draws, ElShorbagy knows he has
to be at his best.
“I
can always say that I have had an amazing season but I’m looking
forward to keeping going and doing what I’m doing for many more years,”
said the current World No.1.
“I want to show everyone that I can keep going until the last tournament, even though I have played so many more matches.
“That’s
why Dubai is so important for me this year – I think it is going to be a
test for me mentally and physically this year, but I love to go through
these kind of
tests.”
The
World Series Finals will feature a unique best of three games format
throughout the group stages before reverting back to the traditional
best of five format for
semi-finals and final.
Group stage matches will take place at 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm and 5:15pm (Group B) and 8:00pm, 8:45pm, 9:30pm and 10:15pm (Group A) between June 5-7 with the semi-finals
due to take place from 8:00pm on June 8.
The finals will commence at 8:00pm local time on June 9.
Every
match from the tournament will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of
World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and
finals will be broadcast
live on mainstream channels across the globe, including BT Sport, beIN
Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.
Tickets for the World Series Finals can be purchased here:
https://dubai.platinumlist.
Squash fans can follow the tournament via https://worldseriesfinals.
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