Finals day of the ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals, appropriately, featured two matches between the top two female and male players in the world – who all happened to be Egyptian.
FINALS
[1] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-1 [2] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (41m)
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egy) 3-1 [2] Ali Farag (Egy) 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8 (52m)
Sherbini Claims
Nour El Sherbini claimed the World Series Finals title for the first time with a four game win over Raneem El Welily – the pair’s 8th major final in 16 months!
Top seed Sherbini, last year’s beaten finalist, raced out of the blocks to take the first with some sublime winners, and led 6-3 in the second before Welily started to find her range and levelled 11-9 as Sherbini tinned on game ball.
The third was close up to 6-all, but Sherbini finished strongly, reclaiming the lead on a stroke. Sherbini moved 6-3 up in the fourth, and although Welily, now under constant pressure, recovered to 6-5 Sherbini reeled off the last five points to wrap up the title.
“This is the best match we’ve played in the whole season,” said El Sherbini.
“We know each other’s game so you have to try and change your tactics and your game
“I’ve reached the semis twice and last year I reached the final, so this time it had to be mine and I just wanted to prove that I deserved to be at the top of the game right now.
“This tournament was really important for me and that’s why I’ve been pushing hard from the first match.”
ElShorbagy retains
Defending men’s champion Mohamed ElShorbagy faced world #2 Ali Farag for the men’s title and although the top seed led in the middle of the first, it was Farag who finished stronger, aided by some uncharacteristic ElShorbagy errors, to take the lead 11-9.
ElShorbagy stormed back to take the second 11-3 and established a 9-3 lead in the third. Farag fought back to 9-all only for two errors to give the lead to ElShorbagy.
The fourth started evenly, but for 4-all top seed moved ahead to 10-6 and although Farag was able to save two match balls ElShorbagy was not to be denied as he retained the crown.
“It’s been an amazing week here in Dubai,” said ElShorbagy.
“There have been some great matches all and I’m very proud to have been part of this event at the end of the season and to have won it.“Ali and I have played so many battles this season and I’m happy that we managed to end the season playing against each other – he’s a great guy and great player and I look forward to being back on court battling with him again next season.”