Doha: Frenchman Gregory Gaultier remains on course to collect a second consecutive PSA World Series title after he nullified shot-making sensation Mazen Hesham to move into the final of the 2015 Qatar Classic at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday.
Gaultier had to dig deep to secure his place in the last four after going two-games down to Karim Abdel Gawad in the quarters and he was forced to call upon his reserves once again as 21-year-old maverick Hesham shot out of the blocks to take the first game 11-4 as he strung together a series of un-returnable winners.
Hesham continued his electric form in the second game but Gaultier managed to inject extra pace into his play to level the playing field and he used his wealth of experience in tandem with supreme physical athleticism to extend the rallies, forcing the younger man to push his body to the limits and it proved too much for the Egyptian, as Gaultier managed to secure his finale berth 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12 after 59-minutes.
“He’s been flying all week and I really had to give my best today to get through,” said Gaultier.
“In the first game he was on fire and controlling things so I had to pinch myself and tell myself to push again like yesterday and get out of his rhythm. I had to make him work and extend the rallies and then I felt like I played the big points really well.
Meanwhile, World No.1 Mohamed El Shorbagy will return to defend his Qatar Classic title after an emphatic victory over Australian qualifier Ryan Cuskelly saw him secure passage to the final in the first semi-final.
The 24-year-old was irrepressible throughout the 39-minute encounter and unleashed a barrage of attacking drives to left-hander Cuskelly’s backhand side before launching a number of highly-accurate shots into the nick, taking the opening two games in the process.
Cuskelly attempted to slow the pace down in the third, a decision that seemed to pay dividends in a tightly-contested start to the game which drew some errors from the Egyptian.
However, there was no stopping a rampant El Shorbagy who surged on to complete an 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 victory. “It’s great for me to get to final without dropping a game,” said El Shorbagy.
“I will be fresh for tomorrow. It’s the fourth year in a row that I’ve made it to the final here on my favourite court and it’s great confidence before the World Championship. I can’t wait to play the final tomorrow in front of the crowd here.”
Earlier yesterday, Egyptian number six seed Nour El Sherbini came through an epic five-game-thriller against defending champion Nicol David of Malaysia in the semi-final of the Qatar Classic, PSA World Series event to set up a mouthwatering finale against World No.3 Laura Massaro of England.
England’s Massaro defeated the number four seed dispatched Omneya Abdel Kawy in an assured straight games triumph.
Massaro took just 25 minutes to secure her place in the title-decider as she continues the impressive form that has seen her collect two titles so far this season, including the prestigious Delaware Investments US Open.
And with World No.1 Raneem El Welily exiting the tournament in a shock first round defeat to Joshana Chinappa, Massaro could now take a huge stride towards overtaking the Egyptian to top the World Rankings for the first time in her career.
THE PENINSULA
