By Armstrong Vas
Doha: Experience reigned supreme at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex here yesterday as two-time champion Ramy Ashour of Egypt overcame a tough challenge from compatriot and world No.1 Mohammed El Shorbagy to win the 2014 PSA World Championship.
The 27-year-old from Alexandria, winner in 2008 and 2012, fought many a physical and mental battle with himself before triumphing in a marathon battle which last one and half hour and went to the wire.
In the end, Ashour won 13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 14-12 over his 23-year-old rival, but not before experiencing a few hiccups in the decider.
“I am speechless. I am speechless. It’s great, it’s unbelievable, it’s unbelievable, I have worked so hard physically for this I have been pushing myself to get this reward, no way it can better, so much work,” Ashour said during the presentation ceremony.
The final was a repeat of the 2012 final, held in Doha, with the two Egyptians going head to head for the title.
Two years back Ashour was the hot favourite and he leaved up to the billing winning the final against then upcoming youngster Shorbagy in five games, winning the decider 11-8.
In yesterday’s final, Shorbagy held the edge after dethroning Nick Matthew of England and having under his belt a unbeaten run of 23 matches.
On the other hand, Ashour his first tournament after a six months injury layoff was the underdog.
The more experienced of the two Egyptians on court started in a shaky fashion but bounced back to take the first game 13-11.
The second and third both went Elshorbagy way at 7-11 and 5-11.
Ashour, who talked to himself constantly whenever he tinned the ball or committed a false stroke, rallied to tie the score at two-all wining the fourth at 11-5.
At the times Ashour pointed to his head, saying to himself that it is more of a more mental battle that he has win than a physical one on the court. The deciding game had all the twists and turns, that the beyond capacity final crowd could have asked for. Ashour was leading 10-4 at one stage but Elshorbagy clawed back to level the score at ten-all and from there on it was touch and go.
Both the players thereafter fought every inch for superiority and for points, the referee’s decisions being challenged and the video reviews asked for.
The video reviews at most times upheld on court referees decision but a few times the video umpire overruled the decision.
A significant decision which changed the closely contested the deciding game in favour of Ashour was the video decision of overruling a let for Elshorbagy which took closer to the title at 13-12.
Ashour won the decider at 14-12 and his joy knew no bounds as he leaped high into the air to celebrate his win and a few seconds later pumped his in the air in jubilation and went down on his knees. He got richer by $45,600 while Shorbagy walked away with a prize of $25,500.
THE PENINSULA
