Germany's Simon Rösner will be hoping to collect his second PSA World Tour title in succession when he faces Egyptian World No.3 Ali Farag in the final of the 2018 UCS Swedish Open tomorrow.
The 30-year-old from Paderborn made history last month when he claimed the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions title - becoming the first German ever to win a World Series event - and he continued to go from strength-to-strength in Linköping as he defeated Tarek Momen, whom he beat in the Tournament of Champions final, to set up a showdown with Farag tomorrow.
Rösner started the tournament slowly, struggling to get past England's Declan James in round one. But, after impressing in a straight games victory over Daryl Selby yesterday, he continued to improve as he came through a compelling 62-minute encounter 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7.
"It's feels good to finally be in the final here after many years of trying," said Rösner.
"And it's amazing to be into my second final this year already - after only two events played. I'm a little speechless.
"I only just won my first round match here. It could easily have been over for me (against Declan James) so to be in the final now is a great achievement and I'm happy with how my game went today.
"I was lucky to come out on top of this first two games - and that 2-0 lead is a huge difference to being level at 1-1."
Momen had spent over 150 minutes on court leading into their match, a fact Rösner played on as he attacked out of the blocks in the first game.
While the Egyptian World No.7 began to grow in confidence throughout the second, becoming more competitive in the rallies and using his speed to move Rösner and sap at his physical strengths, World No.6 Rösner ultimately stood firm to prevail.
He'll now face Farag after the 24-year-old came through a nail-biting four-game battle with Paul Coll of New Zealand
Farag steamrollered past former World No.1 James Willstrop in the quarter-finals courtesy of a sumptuous and flawless display and he carried that into today's encounter, outclassing Coll to take an early 2-0 game lead.
Coll gamely fought back, saving match ball in the third to extend the match and drag Farag into an attritional battle. But, with game ball in hand in the fourth, a ragged error allowed Farag back into it and he pounced to take the match 11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 12-10.
"In the first two games today I felt like I picked up where I left off last night," said Farag
"I was controlling the T very well, but he stepped up after that and made it very hard for me from the third onwards. I was getting edgy out there but at 6-3 down in the fourth I told myself to try and step it up, which I was able to do and I'm very happy to be through."
Results - Semi-finals: 2018 UCS Swedish Open
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [2] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7 (62m)
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [3] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 12-10 (66m)
Draw - Final:
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) v [1] Ali Farag (EGY)
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