2013

Shabana takes Detroit Title as Darwish limps out!

In the 2013 Motor City Open Egypt’s Amr Shabana assured that his name will be engraved on the trophy for the 1st time after fellow countryman Karim Darwish retired (11-4, 2-6, ret.) midway through the 2nd game of the final in Detroit, USA.

The win takes the illustrious four-time world champion from Cairo’s career PSA World Tour title haul to 31 – stretching his lead as the top 20 player with the most titles.

“It was very sore before the match. I thought when I warmed up it was going to get better, but after lunging a few times in the second game I think I pulled a calf muscle,” said Darwish later.

“I knew he had a tough, physical game yesterday against Omar Mosaad. And I knew if I had a good start it would help me a lot,” said the new champion Shabana.

Final:
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-4, 2-6 ret. (25m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 13-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7 (65m)

[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 14-12, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 (97m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 14-12 (75m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (39m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3 (53m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 6-11, 14-12, 11-7, 12-10
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 12-14, 11-0, 11-6, 14-12
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 15-13, 11-3, 11-7
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 11-3, 11-7


Amr Shabana on fire at Queen’s!

This is a MUST: Any squash fan will love that as Amr Shabana is on fire and showing his brilliancy. Nick Matthew played well but there was alsmost nothing to do against the maestro this time …


Amr Shabana retains World Series title!

Despite beginning his 19th year as a professional squash player, 33-year-old Amr Shabana proved that he is still the one to beat when he recovered from a game down to defeat England’s World No2 Nick Matthew in the final of ATCO PSA World Series Finals to retain last year’s title.

The Queen’s Club in London which featured the top eight players from last year’s elite PSA World Series championships. Staged on the unique ASB all-glass Z-court, the final was broadcast live to more than 300 million homes around the world for the first time.

Two-time world champion Matthew, the event’s No2 seed from Sheffield, looked in commanding form as he took the opening game for the loss of just four points.

But a reinvigorated Shabana, the four-time world champion from Cairo, immediately turned the tables in the second and drew level after dropping just two further points.

The illustrious left-hander continued his assault on the home hero, taking the next two games to record a magnificent 4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 victory in 57 minutes.

The win marks the 30th PSA World Tour title of Shabana’s career – a milestone which puts him three titles ahead of compatriot Ramy Ashour, the world No1 and reigning world champion, and five in front of Matthew.

“When everything is so well taken care of and you feel like all you need to do is come and play squash, then it really makes you want to raise your game.”

He was full of praise for his final opponent after their high-octane clash: “Nick doesn’t have any weaknesses – he’s an amazing athlete. I’m just happy to still be able to play like this against players like Nick today.

Matthew, denied the chance of becoming the first home winner of the title since 2001, was not unhappy with his own game: “I didn’t play badly at all, he was just too good for me – but I think he would have been too good for most people today,” said the 32-year-old Yorkshireman.


Nicol David won World Series Finals!

Nicol David (le) from Malaysia won the World Series Finals with an impressive 11-3, 11-2, 11-9 victory over Englishwomen Laura Massaro (re) in 37 minutes of play.


ATCO PSA/WSA World Series Finals!

A new year and the 1st highlight is not far away as in a few hours time the ATCO PSA/WSA World Series Finals will start in London’s Queen’s Club.

1st pool round: Wednesday 2th January 2013
Start 13.00
Pool A
Laura Massaro v Natalie Grinham
Nicol David v Annie Au

Pool B
Raneem El Weleily v Jenny Duncalf
Nour El Sherbini v Camille Serme

Start 18.00
Pool A
[4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v [7] Peter Barker (ENG)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [5] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Pool B
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) v [6] Karim Darwish (EGY)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [8] Simon Rosner (GER)