‘I think that was my best performance of the whole season. The way I fought back and the way we played, I think we had a go at each other, but we played the game in the right spirit’

When the going gets tough, Mohamed ElShorbagy gets going. He’s been doing it with alarming frequency lately, and he did it again yesterday.
Less than 24 hours after coming through a gladiatorial five-game contest in the quarter-finals against German Simon Rosner, the top seed and defending champion rose from the brink like a phoenix to end the run of three-time world champion Nick Matthew to storm into the final of the Qatar Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex here.
ElShorbagy will meet Karim Abdel Gawad in an all-Egyptian title clash today. The newly-crowned world champion recovered from his customary slow start to see off surprise semi-finalist Daryl Selby 3-1.
It was a contest of two halves, in the latest instalment of one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries. England’s Matthew dominated the first half, forcing the vocal packed pro-ElShorbagy crowd into stunned silence when he went 2-0 up. The 2009 Qatar Classic champion looked in total control, with some accurate and tight play, and never allowed his Egyptian opponent to break free.
The first game was almost a one-sided affair (11/8), while the second was a close affair before a run of four points in the end saw Matthew clinch it 11/9.
He was leading for the better part of the third game too, 8-5, then 9-7, when the world No. 1 mounted an astonishing comeback, taking four points in a row to reduce the deficit (11/9). It was his turn to take charge now.
The Egyptian dominated the fourth (11/4) to force a decider, which went close till 6-all before ElShorbagy broke free with to lead 9-6, then 10-8 to sit pretty on a three match-ball cushion. Matthew saved one, but on the next a video decision gave a stroke to Shorbagy and it was all over for the Englishman.
Yesterday’s clash was the 20th between the two on the PSA World Tour, with ElShorbagy winning 12 of them – including the 2013 Qatar Classic final where the 25-year-old Egyptian claimed his first ever World Series title. He has also won six of their last seven contests. It’s ElShorbagy’s fifth final in a row in Qatar, which also includes the two World Championships.
“The huge respect we have for each other brings out the best from both of us whenever we play,” said ElShorbagy. “Today was no different. He is a great player, and he showed it today during those first three games.”
“I think that was my best performance of the whole season. The way I fought back and the way we played, I think we had a go at each other, but we played the game in the right spirit.
“Thanks to him for having a great match and I’m sure we’re going to have other great battles again in the future,” the elated Egyptian added.
Results (Semi-finals)
1-Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) beat 4-Nick Matthew (ENG) 3-2 (8/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/4, 11/9)
3-Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) beat Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-1 (14/16, 11/6, 11/2, 11/5)