World
No.3 Mohamed ElShorbagy will appear in the final of the Qatar Classic
for a fourth consecutive year - where he will be aiming
to win the title for a third time - after he defeated World No.1
Gregory Gaultier in the semi-finals of the 2017 iteration of the event
to set up an all-Egyptian clash with Tarek Momen, who will appear in the
first World Series final of his career.
ElShorbagy,
who lost to Karim Abdel Gawad twelve months ago, and Gaultier were
meeting for the 21st time in what is one of the fiercest
rivalries of the modern era but, after coming through a spell-binding
opening game, it was the 26-year-old from Alexandria who prevailed at
the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex to end the
Frenchman’s 30-match unbeaten run over a best-of-five
games format.
Buoyed
on by a partizan crowd ElShorbagy - who showed little tiredness after a
brutal five-game clash with Ali Farag the day before
– attacked with intensity from the off to avenge his defeat to Gaultier
at the Tournament of Champions in New York in January.
“I’m
really happy to be back in the final here, it’s where I won my first
ever World Series and to be back in my fourth consecutive
final is an honour,” said ElShorbagy.
"He
made a fool of me in that match in New York and I thought about it all
summer - it motivated me to get back to my best in the
off season and I really wanted to go out there today and beat him 3-0.
“Without
the way that he beat me at the ToC that day, I wouldn't be as hungry as
I am now. I had a bad season by my standard last
year but I feel like I'm better every tournament and every match this
season so far and I'm really pleased to be competing for the title here
once again."
Meanwhile
Momen, three years ElShorbagy's elder at 29, secured a long awaited
debut in a major PSA World Series tournament final courtesy
of a dominant and controlling straight-games victory over Germany's
Simon Rösner - who was himself competing in just his first ever World
Series semi-final.
It
what was the sixth meeting between the pair it was Momen who kept his
nerve on the big stage, coming out firing in the early stages
to pile the pressure on the big German, profiting from a series of
unforced errors to take the opening game and set up the foundations for
an 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 victory.
“I’m really happy, I can’t believe I’m in my first World Series final – it’s amazing," he said afterwards.
"I
really wanted to win. It's been long over due for me. I've been waiting
to get to the finals of a major event for a long time.
I saw the opportunity today and wanted to make the most of it.
"I
think I had a physiological edge - with the crowd supporting me and
having been in a semi-final before - and I took advantage of
it. Earlier this season I wasn't in the zone mentally but I knew I
wasn't far off and finally it materialised this week and I'm so happy.
"I've
had some huge matches against Mohamed before and I have won against him
as well so I know nothing is off the table. I'm in the
final and I'll give it my all and continue to believe in myself."
Results - Semi-finals: 2017 Qatar Classic
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-1 (55m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)
Draw - Final
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
-ends-
Notes
Imagery of both finalists is attached free-to-use.
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