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30th Sep - Final
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-2
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad
11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (45m)
I’m
really happy, it’s only my first tournament of the season and I
think it’s the first time in my life that I have won the first
tournament.
When I was World No.1 for 28 months, all of the players studied
me every single day but, coming into this season, I’m studying
everyone. I’m coming in really hungry and I really want to do
well this season.
I’ve put in a lot of work this summer and there is nothing in my
mind apart from getting back to World No.1 this season. I’m
going to do everything I can to get back to where I feel I
should be.
29th Sep - Semis
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad 3-2
Diego Elias (Per) 6-11, 4-11, 11-8,
11-7, 11-9 (90m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-2 [4] James Willstrop
(Eng)
11-2, 11-13, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12 (70m)
After the first game and then
being 10-4 up in the second, I don’t think many people
understand the challenge I had to face after losing that second
game.
I was thinking I should have been 2-0 up and then suddenly I’m
2-1 down in the semi-finals against someone like James, it was
such a huge challenge for me to stay positive and remove any
kind of negative thoughts.
I’m really proud with how I came back, it was never easy, and
even in the fifth game, to be 10-8 up and then finding myself
11-10 down after having two match balls, it was challenge after
challenge.
James was playing so well today and once he won that second game
and got his confidence, he was like a train, there were times
when I couldn’t stop him. I had to keep fighting and that’s what
I do best.
At 10-10 anything can happen and luckily I kept my nerve. It’s
only our first battle of the season and I’m sure we will have
many more.
He’s really young but he’s very experienced and really mature on
court.
He had all the crowd on his side and he’s very talented. When I
was his age I would do a lot of unforced errors and give my
opponent too much respect but Diego doesn’t do that. He’s
already very successful but he will be more successful soon.
It’s always good to play an Egyptian in the final. Me and
Mohamed are almost the same age, he’s only six months older, and
we’ve always been competing since we were 7 years old.
It’s very tough playing him and we always have a huge battle.
Hopefully we’ll have a great match and have enough in the tank
for tomorrow.
Mohamed after his victory against James
27th/28th Sep - Quarters
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad
3-1 [5] Tarek Momen
4-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0
[7] Daryl Selby
(Eng)
11-5, 13-11, 11-6 (50m)
[1] Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-1
[8] Salma Hany Ibrahim
11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-7 (47m)
It’s
harder to play one of your best mates and Tarek like a brother
to me.
I grew up watching him and I remember him playing one of the
other Egyptian guys and I was so impressed and now we’re here
playing and competing together. We had been playing at the same
club for 10 years, I’ve moved to another club now but we still
train together and are very close.
It’s always to tough to play such a physical and gifted
opponent.
At the beginning of the match I struggled a little bit.
Playing on the glass court is completely different and I
couldn’t see the ball. Daryl is very experienced, he took full
advantage of that and full credit to him, he was leading in the
first two games and I had to work really hard to come back.
We both played a really high quality match in a good spirit like
always, it was a good battle. I always stay positive and I felt
like I really put some work into his legs in that second game.
Luckily it went my way, I got his game ball back and it was huge
for me to be 2-0 up. It’s my first year here and I’m absolutely
loving it.
The goal for me this season is to get my World No.1 spot back. I
didn’t play very well last season and I want to prove to myself
that I can still get the wins when I play well.
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