We're live from the finals of the 2017 Hong Kong Open from 16:00 local time (HKT), with two all-Egyptian finals in store for the first time.
Two time-winner Mohamed ElShorbagy and U.S. Open champ Ali Farag line-up in the latest chapter of their thrilling rivalry, while World No.1 Nour El Sherbini and World No.2 Raneem El Welily lock horns in the women's final, which will be a repeat of April's PSA Women's World Championship final.
Here's a look at the head-to-head records
Order of Play
(All times are local HKT)
16:00 [1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
follow on [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [4] Ali Farag (EGY)
El Sherbini Beats El Welily to Lift First Hong Kong Open Title
(All times are local HKT)
16:00 [1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
follow on [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [4] Ali Farag (EGY)
El Sherbini Beats El Welily to Lift First Hong Kong Open Title
World No.1 Nour El Sherbini ended a 20-month wait for a PSA
World Series title after she won the 2017 Women’s Cathay Pacific Sun
Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open courtesy of a comfortable victory over
compatriot and World No.2 Raneem El Welily at the Hong Kong Park Sports
Centre.
El Sherbini’s last World Series crown came back in March 2016 when she felled World No.5 Nouran Gohar to win the prestigious British Open, and she overcame Egyptian opposition once again in Hong Kong to win this tournament for the first time.
The match was a repeat of April’s PSA Women’s World Championship final, in which El Sherbini prevailed, and the 22-year-old from Alexandria rediscovered that form against a tired El Welily, who had come through five-game encounters against Nour El Tayeb, Joelle King and Camille Serme in the build-up to the final.
El Sherbini outplayed El Welily to take an 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 victory in just 29 minutes to strengthen her lead atop the World Rankings, while she has moved up to second on the PSA Women’s World Series Standings – just five points behind leader El Welily, who also reached the final of the U.S. Open last month.
“It’s my first World Series title in almost two years, so it’s special,” said El Sherbini.
“This title was really important for me so I could get my confidence back and to feel that I’m playing well before the World Championships. This tournament has given me a huge push and I’m really happy to win the Hong Kong Open.
“It’s my second time here and I played well, so I can’t wait to come back next year.”
“Raneem is one of my good friends and I’ve learned a lot from her. I don’t feel any pressure playing her, I just go for my shots. She’s been playing a lot of matches from the first round and I think she was struggling a lot with her movement.
“I was more fresh than her, so I think that was the difference today.”
Result
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (29m)
ElShorbagy Overcomes Farag to Capture Men’s Title
El Sherbini’s last World Series crown came back in March 2016 when she felled World No.5 Nouran Gohar to win the prestigious British Open, and she overcame Egyptian opposition once again in Hong Kong to win this tournament for the first time.
The match was a repeat of April’s PSA Women’s World Championship final, in which El Sherbini prevailed, and the 22-year-old from Alexandria rediscovered that form against a tired El Welily, who had come through five-game encounters against Nour El Tayeb, Joelle King and Camille Serme in the build-up to the final.
El Sherbini outplayed El Welily to take an 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 victory in just 29 minutes to strengthen her lead atop the World Rankings, while she has moved up to second on the PSA Women’s World Series Standings – just five points behind leader El Welily, who also reached the final of the U.S. Open last month.
“It’s my first World Series title in almost two years, so it’s special,” said El Sherbini.
“This title was really important for me so I could get my confidence back and to feel that I’m playing well before the World Championships. This tournament has given me a huge push and I’m really happy to win the Hong Kong Open.
“It’s my second time here and I played well, so I can’t wait to come back next year.”
“Raneem is one of my good friends and I’ve learned a lot from her. I don’t feel any pressure playing her, I just go for my shots. She’s been playing a lot of matches from the first round and I think she was struggling a lot with her movement.
“I was more fresh than her, so I think that was the difference today.”
Result
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (29m)
ElShorbagy Overcomes Farag to Capture Men’s Title
Mohamed ElShorbagy
Egyptian
World No.3 Mohamed ElShorbagy has claimed his third Hong Kong Open
title after he defeated compatriot Ali Farag – making it two World
Series title out of three for the Egyptian powerhouse.
The first four games featured some brutal rallies as an engaging spectacle played out in front of enraptured spectators at the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre, with Farag twice fighting back from a game down to level.
But it was all ElShorbagy in the decider as he overpowered his fellow Egyptian, dropping just three points to wrap up an 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 in 64 minutes as the Bristol-based 26-year-old continued his incredible start to the season after claiming his fourth successive PSA World Tour title and the 29th Tour title of his career.
His victory also sees him strengthen his lead atop the PSA World Series Standings to 75 points over second-placed Farag after three men’s World Series tournaments played.
Points are on offer at all eight World Series tournaments throughout the 2017/18 season and, after adding the Hong Kong Open title to his Qatar Classic crown from earlier this month, the Bristol-based Egyptian is odds on to qualify for a top-eight berth, which would guarantee him a place in June’s season-ending PSA World Series Finals.
“We’ve played so many battles in the last few weeks and I want to congratulate him and all of his team,” said ElShorbagy.
“He’s played unbelievable squash at the last few tournaments and to keep backing it up tournament after tournament, and I’m looking forward to many more battles with him in the future.
“I’m happy I’m playing well again this year, I’ve done a lot of work this summer and I’m really proud with the way I’ve started this season, but there is still a long season ahead. I’m going to enjoy this trophy for a day or two and then I will look forward to my next event.”
Result
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 (64m)
The first four games featured some brutal rallies as an engaging spectacle played out in front of enraptured spectators at the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre, with Farag twice fighting back from a game down to level.
But it was all ElShorbagy in the decider as he overpowered his fellow Egyptian, dropping just three points to wrap up an 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 in 64 minutes as the Bristol-based 26-year-old continued his incredible start to the season after claiming his fourth successive PSA World Tour title and the 29th Tour title of his career.
His victory also sees him strengthen his lead atop the PSA World Series Standings to 75 points over second-placed Farag after three men’s World Series tournaments played.
Points are on offer at all eight World Series tournaments throughout the 2017/18 season and, after adding the Hong Kong Open title to his Qatar Classic crown from earlier this month, the Bristol-based Egyptian is odds on to qualify for a top-eight berth, which would guarantee him a place in June’s season-ending PSA World Series Finals.
“We’ve played so many battles in the last few weeks and I want to congratulate him and all of his team,” said ElShorbagy.
“He’s played unbelievable squash at the last few tournaments and to keep backing it up tournament after tournament, and I’m looking forward to many more battles with him in the future.
“I’m happy I’m playing well again this year, I’ve done a lot of work this summer and I’m really proud with the way I’ve started this season, but there is still a long season ahead. I’m going to enjoy this trophy for a day or two and then I will look forward to my next event.”
Result
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 (64m)
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