International Squash Magazine – April 2020

CANARY WHARF CLASSIC
MOHAMEDELSHORBAGY
BEATSALIFARAGTOLIFT
2NDCANARYWHARFTITLE
Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy claimed the St. James’s Place Canary
Wharf Classic title for the second time in his career after he prevailed
in a thrilling final against compatriot Ali Farag at the spectacular East
Wintergarden in London.
The pair were meeting on the PSA World Tour for the
20th time in their careers, with ElShorbagy coming
into this meeting in London holding the 11-8 advantage.
However, Farag had won their last meeting - a straight
games victory to lift the FS Investments U.S. Open
Squash Championship in Philadelphia in October.
The 80-minute final was played at frenetic pace with
lengthy, high-quality rallies throughout and although
the first game saw work put into the legs of both
players it was ElShorbagy who claimed the initial
advantage despite looking the more physically tired at
the game’s conclusion.
Farag started the second by pushing further up the
court and trying to raise the tempo further and despite
establishing a comfortable lead, ElShorbagy countered
by saving four game balls, including two outrageous
cross-court winners, before Farag was able to recover
to restore parity in the match.
A run of seven consecutive points in the third
saw ElShorbagy re-establish a one-game lead
and carry the momentum into the fourth game
and to within only three points from the victory
before Farag pushed once again.
The number two seed won four of the next
five points to challenge his rival’s resolve as
ElShorbagy was forced to save three game balls
before eventually winning the tie-break 15-13
to claim a second title at the St. James’s Place
Canary Wharf Classic.
“The longer you play on Tour, you realise
you spend more time with your rival than
your family. Ali is not just a rival for me, he is
someone who really inspires me, and he makes
me want to be a better squash player every
day,” said the two-time champion.
“I have played so many different players from
many different generations, but if I get asked
who is the toughest opponent I have played in
my life, it will be him. It keeps getting harder
every time we play and he keeps bringing
something different to the game. I am really
glad to see him back and it is such pleasure to
be on court with him again.
The longer you play on tour, you realise you
spend more time with your rival than your family.
Ali is not just a rival for me, he is someone who
really inspires me, and he makes me want to be a
better squash player every day
MOHAMED ELSHORBAGY
06 | April 2020 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE
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