ISM June18-web

ALLAM BRITISH OPEN
MIGUELANGELRODRIGUEZ&NOURELSHERBINI
CROWNEDALLAMBRITISHOPENCHAMPIONS
Miguel Angel Rodriguez became the first South American player
ever to win a Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series
tournament after the unseeded Colombian stunned Mohamed
ElShorbagy to win the men’s title at the Allam British Open, whilst
Nour El Sherbini defeated World Champion Raneem El Welily to win her
second title at the ‘Wimbledon of Squash’.
Rodriguez, the first unseeded player in
the modern era to win the British Open,
and ElShorbagy, a two-time British Open
champion, contested one of the most
dramatic finals the tournament has
ever seen, with 32-year-old Rodriguez
prevailing 11-7 6-11 8-11 11-2 11-9 in a
gladiatorial 102-minute contest.
ElShorbagy, who prior to the final
had spent almost an hour longer on
court than his opponent during this
tournament, fought through the fatigue
to take a 2-1 lead but the Egyptian
took just two points in the fourth as he
recharged his batteries for one last push
in the fifth.
What followed was a stunning display
of squash from both players, with
ElShorbagy sinking to the floor due to
sheer exhaustion after a particularly
gruelling rally in the latter stages.
The reigning World Champion fought on
heroically but couldn’t deny his South
American rival and when the Colombian
reached match ball by deceived him with
a well-disguised boast, Elshorbagy called
an attempted pick-up to be down to
ensure that Rodriguez made history.
“I think everything was mental, I dreamed
it,” said Rodriguez after claiming the
27th and biggest PSA World Tour title of
his career.
“I had emotions during the week but
I am just speechless. I’m so grateful
for this opportunity to win this major
tournament, the greatest of all time. I’m
so proud of myself, this is for my parents,
my family and Colombia.
“It’s huge, this is like winning the
‘Wimbledon of Squash’. No one in South
America has achieved this before, I’m a
legend I think I can say. I couldn’t believe
that I was able to fight with a top player
like Mohamed, he has achieved so many
titles. I can’t believe that I am 32 years
old and I just won the British Open.”
Women’s World No.1 El Sherbini claimed
her second British Open title from three
finals after the 22-year-old produced a
scintillating performance to overcome
compatriot and reigning World
Champion Raneem El Welily in straight
games, avenging her defeat to the
29-year-old in the final of the El Gouna
International which preceded the UK’s
premier squash tournament.
The pair were meeting in a fifth major
final of the season with each player taking
two wins apiece. El Sherbini became the
first female Egyptian to win the British
Open in 2016 and had also reached the
final in 2012 at the age of just 16, while
29-year-old El Welily contested the title
decider of the iconic tournament for the
first time in her career.
The younger Egyptian prevailed 11-6
11-9 14-12 in 47 minutes to win her 16th
PSA crown.
“The British Open is the biggest
tournament on tour, it was an honour to
win it once and now I have two and I’m
really proud,” said El Sherbini.
10 | June 2018 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE
www.isportgroup.com/InternationalSquashMagazine