World’s top two to contest all-Egyptian finals in Bellevue
The world’s top two players across both the men’s and women’s events will contest the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals title deciders after Egyptian quartet Ali Farag, Mostafa Asal, Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar all triumphed in their semi-final matches at Bellevue’s Boys and Girls Club Hidden Valley Field House.
[1] Nour ElSherbini (Egy) 2-0[3] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 11-9, 11-9 (23m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 2-0 [6] Nele Gilis (Bel) 11-9, 11-7 (36m)
[1] Ali Farag (Egy) 2-0 [2] Paul Coll (Nzl) 11-10, 11-6 (30m)
[3] Mostafa Asal (Egy) 2-0 [7] Tarek Momen (Egy) 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
Reports & Reaction
Defending Champion Gohar Books Finals Spot With Victory Over Gilis
World Champion Nouran Gohar defeated Belgium’s Nele Gilis in straight games for a chance to retain her World Tour Finals title.
The No.6 seed got off to a very strong start against the defending champion off the back of a win over World No.4 Weaver, taking the first five points of the match.
The Egyptian started to hit her targets as she found her way into the game. Despite the early lead, Gohar quickly caught up to the Belgian, and pushed on to earn a 1-0 lead in the match, putting her one game from the World Tour Finals title decider.
The former World No.1 looked in control of game two as she applied pressure to Gilis, resulting in an 11-7 win and Gohar going through to tomorrow’s final after 36 minutes.
Speaking after the match, Gohar said: “Not many players start off that great. I’m known for being a good starter so all credit to Nele.
“It shows how high of a level of squash she has been playing this week. She has been playing incredible matches and she has such a great fighting spirit and I have a huge respect for her.
“I think the conditions today were very different from the first day. [It] was very very bouncy today I think that’s one of the hottest days. It felt like we were playing outdoors.
“I just needed to adapt a little bit, I feel like I had no clue what was happening at the beginning.”
Result : [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [6] Nele Gilis (BEL) 2-0: 11-9, 11-7 (36m)
Asal Makes it Four Finals in a Row
World No.2 Mostafa Asal has become the first man in the history of the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals to reach four finals in a row after he stormed to a straight games victory over fellow Egyptian Tarek Momen at Bellevue’s Boys and Girls Club Hidden Valley Field House.
Asal has won the previous three title deciders he has competed in at the season-ending Xbox PSA World Tour Finals – beating three different opponents in Mohamed ElShorbagy, Paul Coll and Diego Elias – and he will have the ability to add a fourth title to his trophy cabinet following an 11-3, 11-5 win.
Momen beat World Champion Diego Elias and World No.3 Paul Coll top Group B at the age of 36, but came undone against a strong performance from Asal today.
If Asal wins tomorrow he will become only the second man since the great Jansher Khan to lift the prestigious trophy on four occasions. His final opponent will be either World No.1 Ali Farag – who he beat in the British Open final earlier this month – or Coll, who he defeated in the 2021-22 final.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s my fourth final at the World Tour Finals and you’re playing the best eight players since the start of the season,” said Asal afterwards.
“You are playing former World No.1s and current World No.1s and it’s incredible for me. I’m writing history, but I’m taking it step by step, putting all the trophies on the side and focusing on tomorrow. This is how to be a great champion and this is the advice that I want to give to all the youngsters.
“Nothing is easy, but if you push hard, if you’re disciplined and committed, then you can get to the top of the sport.
“He’s [Momen] 36-year-old and he’s amazing. It feels like I’m the one that is 36! He’s an unbelievable player and I grew up watching him at the same club as me, when I was a little chubby kid.
“He won the group against the World Champion and Paul Coll, so all credit to him, he’s a legend on tour.”
Result : [3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 2-0: 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
El Sherbini Halts El Hammamy to Reach Title Decider
World No.1 Nour El Sherbini is through to the final of the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals for the fourth time after she got the better of World No.3 Hania El Hammamy.
It marks El Sherbini’s fifth successive victory over the 23-year-old and she achieved the victory with 11-9 wins in both games to add to her final appearances in 2017, 2018 and 2022.
The 28-year-old – who won the latter two of those final matches – hit her targets early on in both games, but had to show impressive mental fortitude to keep her opponent at bay following comebacks from El Hammamy towards the back end of both games.
El Sherbini will take on World Champion Nouran Gohar in the title decider. It will be a repeat of the 2022 final, while it will be the fourth time in a row the pair have met in a final. Gohar has won all three of those previous final matches.
“As everyone sees, it’s always a hard and physical against Hania,” said El Sherbini afterwards.
“She’s a great player, never gives up, and gets everything back. We haven’t played in a long time, which is tough, but I’m happy to win this one.
“We’re very good friends off court as well, and I know how tough it’s been for her to come back after the injury. She’s been trying to come back to the way she used to play, but to be honest she hasn’t been feeling it on court over the last couple of months. Outside of the court, I’m a big sister to her and I try to cheer her up.
“I’m sure she will be back next season more hungry, stronger and she will hunt for this World No.1 spot.
“I don’t feel like I’m the underdog against Gohar. I’ve gone one step better than last year and I want to end the season in a good way. She’s been doing great the last three tournaments, but I’ve also been doing well the whole season.”
Result : [1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 2-0: 11-9, 11-9 (32m)
Farag on Form to Dispatch Coll
World No.1 Ali Farag got the better of World No.3 Paul Coll in straight games to set up a mouthwatering final clash with World No.2 Mostafa Asal at the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals.
Farag and Coll were meeting for the sixth time this season and Farag levelled the head-to-head record at three wins apiece courtesy of an 11-10, 11-6 win over the Kiwi.
After taking a 1-0 lead on a sudden death decider, Farag ruthlessly dispatched Coll’s loose shots at the start of the second and Coll grew more and more frustrated as Farag absorbed the pressure and nullified him, resulting in some simple errors at the mid-point of the second game.
The Egyptian then held off a mini comeback from Coll at the back end of the second to seal his spot in the title decider of the final event of the 2023-24 season.
“Paul and just exchanged a couple of words, saying how great of a season we’ve both had,” said Farag.
“We’ve both been getting to the latter stages of events and it’s not easy. It takes a toll on your body and mind, and it takes a whole team behind you to keep you motivated. Even though it was the second to last match of the season, we both pushed really hard.
“The first game was played at such an erratic pace. Thankfully, he hit way too many errors for his liking, but the character he is he came back really strongly.
“I’m two for two in sudden death at this tournament, so it seems like I like it, but not really deep inside. I treat it like any point because if you tense up or try to be too smart then it benefits your opponent.
“Ever since it [the World Tour Finals] has been in my home town, I’ve been losing in the semis or the group stages. That’s thanks to Mostafa Asal, as he’s been the one who has been beaten me. The World Tour Finals is at the back end of the season, so you have to drag yourself up and play your best squash against the best players in the world.”
Result : [1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [2] Paul Coll (NZL) 2-0: 11-10, 11-6 (30m)
