World No.1 Mostafa Asal is through to the title decider of the SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals for the fifth year in succession after storming past 2019 winner Karim Abdel Gawad at Toronto’s Revival Film Studios.
Asal played with more intensity and more purpose than today’s opponent and dropped just nine points across both games as he dominated proceedings.
Asal has faced four different opponents in his PSA Squash Tour Finals title decider appearances – Mohamed ElShorbagy, Paul Coll, Diego Elias and Ali Farag – and won this tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Only Farag got the better of him.
His opponent in tomorrow’s final will either be World No.2 Elias or Welshman Joel Makin, the World No.4.
What Asal had to say…
“Gawad is a legend for me,” said Asal afterwards.
“I grew up watching him at the same club. I remember his unbelievable run in the 2016 World Championships, he was playing Nathan Lake in round one and almost lost but then won the tournament. His personality off the court is amazing and I’m really proud to share the court with him again.
“There’s one last push now. I’m enjoying another final at this amazing tournament, it’s my fifth time in a row in the final and I’m really happy with that.
“Diego is an amazing player and he’s very skilful and very dangerous. He got the better of me the last few times and there are no excuses. He was the best player on the day.”
Result : [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [7] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 2-0: 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
