January 2015

Miguel takes Motor City Open title!

January 29, 2015 • Tags: Detroit, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Motor City Open, PSA, Stephen Coppinger, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez emerged victorious in a battle of training partners to win the Motor City Open. The World No.8 from Bogota overcame unseeded South African Stephen Coppinger, ranked ten places lower, in the final in Detroit to become the tournament’s first ever South American winner.

The duo both train under the guidance of Australia’s former World Champion David Palmer at his base in Orlando – but it was diving king Rodriguez who got the better of his powerful opponent, coming from a game down to seal the championship after a thrilling 112-minute encounter (9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3).

The victory sees Rodriguez claim his 1st ever PSA International 70 title, and the biggest tournament title of his career so far, to end what has been the most successful month of his career to date, having already broken into the top ten for the first time and reached his 1st ever PSA World Series semi-finals at the recent J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions.

“I’m really happy because this is one of my best months in my entire career. It’s something I’ll never forget and I worked so hard to win this tournament,” said Rodriguez.

“I’m making history now not only in Colombia but in South America by being the first Latin American to reach the Top 10. Winning this game and seeing my name on that wall with all those champions and former number ones – I’m speechless.

Final:
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (112m)

Semi-finals:
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 (96m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Max Lee (HKG) 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7 (79m)

Quarter-finals:
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 (80m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [4] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (61m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (85m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [5] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (88m)

1st round:
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 12-14, 11-4, 11-7 ret. (39m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5 (97m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (62m)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (42m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (31m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [7] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (62m)
[5] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [2] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-6, 11-5 ret. (11m)

El Welily and Elshorbagy secured Egyptian double at NYC!

January 24, 2015 • Tags: Alison Waters, Mohamed Elshorbagy, New York, Nick Matthew, PSA, Raneem El Welily, Tournament of Champions, USA, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

26-year-old Raneem El Welily and Egyptian 24-year-old compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy completed a memorable night for Egyptian squash in the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions.

El Welily taking the women’s title with a 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 victory over Alison Waters (ENG). “Winning the first tournament after losing that World Championship means a lot,” said Welily, referring to her loss at the World Open in 2014. “Back home, everyone is really happy!”

Elshorbagy taking the men’s title at Grand Central Terminal by coming back from 1 game down to beat 3 times World Champion Nick Matthew (ENG) 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10. “I wanted to win so badly and I’m proud to see my name join the illustrious list of previous Tournament of Champions winners,” said Elshorbagy.

Men:
Final:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (83m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (88m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (51m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 (52m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 17-19, 11-8, 11-9 (85m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Simon Rösner (GER) 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (66m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-13, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 (88m)

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-3, 5-11, 15-13, 11-6 (62m)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) w/o
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10 (55m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (60m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 7-11, 15-13, 11-6, 13-11 (94m)
[8] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (75m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7 (120m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Todd Harrity (USA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (37m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9 (59m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-6 (99m)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 12-14, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (76m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 14-12 (42m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 (49m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10 (79m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3 (31m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 12-10, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6 (70m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4 (66m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 11-3, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5 (68m)
[8] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (87m)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (47m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (51m)
[Q] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (37m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-1, 11-7, 11-2 (44m)

Women:
Final:
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [5] Alison Waters (ENG) 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (48m)

Semi-finals:
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11 (76m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 11-6 (44m)

Quarter-finals:
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [1] Nicol David (MAS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-1 (56m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [8] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 11-5, 10-12, 11-3, 12-14, 11-9 (65m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4 (28m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (72m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (47m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Annie Au (HKG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7 (21m)
[8] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (25m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-7, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7 (61m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-7, 15-13, 11-7 (39m)
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 12-10 (59m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (32m)

Waters and El Welily set up surprise TOC final!

January 24, 2015 • Tags: Alison Waters, Laura Massaro, New York, Nour El Sherbini, Raneem El Welily, Tournament of Champions, USA, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

3rd seed Raneem El Welily and 5th seed Alison Waters (ri) stunned higher-seeded opponents in the semi-finals of the Women’s J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions to set up a surprise final at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

The journey to the championship match had several ups and downs – and ended with a dramatic finish as Waters, the world No.5 from England, had to save three match-balls before claiming victory over 4th-seeded Egyptian Nour El Sherbini 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11.

In the 2nd semi-final El Welily eliminated Laura Massaro, the 2nd seed from England, in four games 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 11-6. “Each of us was playing well at different times,” observed El Welily, now in the 22nd Tour final of her career.

Both finalists will be making their debuts in the climax of the 2015 Women’s ToC – El Welily additionally also becoming the first Egyptian to make the women’s final.

Final:
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11 (76m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 11-6 (44m)

Elshorbagy eliminates champion Shabana in TOC semi!

January 23, 2015 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, New York, Nick Matthew, PSA, Simon Rosner, Tournament of Champions, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Egypt’s world No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy ended hopes of Amr Shabana retaining his J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions title with an impressive 3:2 victory over his 35-year-old fellow countryman. It was one of the most impressive matches ever seen at Grand Central Terminal in the competition’s 18-year association with the iconic New York venue.

Shabana was in sublime form throughout the contest, finding his range from the opening exchanges and pulling out all of his trademark winners to dazzle the capacity audience and give Elshorbagy, 11 years his junior, all sorts of trouble. But the younger man showed just why he is number one with a defying display of retrieving as he dug deep to complete a remarkable victory 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Elshorbagy twice went behind to the four-time World Champion but used all of his pace and six-foot-plus reach to keep himself in some of the most punishing rallies seen so far during the tournament and it paid dividends for him when, after levelling the match at two-all, he took the sting from the left-hander’s relentless attacking play and managed to find just enough in his locker to book his place in the final to face 2012 champion Nick Matthew.

Englishman Matthew ensured he remains in contention to claim a 2nd title in New York with a dominant straight games win (11-7, 11-9, 11-5) over Colombian diving king Miguel Angel Rodriguez – who had stunned world No.6 Peter Barker and world No.2 Gregory Gaultier to reach the event’s semi-finals for the first time.

“It was good fun out there tonight against Miguel,” said Matthew. While Matthew is celebrating the 63rd PSA World Tour final of his career, Elshorbagy is marking his 24th – but his sixth in the past five months! The final will be the duo’s 11th meeting since 2008, with the Englishman boasting a 6/4 advantage. But the Egyptian was the winner in their most recent encounter in November’s World Championship semi-finals.

Final:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (88m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (51m)

Rodriguez rocks Gaultier at Grand Central!

January 22, 2015 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, New York, Nick Matthew, PSA, Simon Rosner, Tournament of Champions, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

After beating world No.6 Peter Barker in a 120-minute encounter in the 2nd round, Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez pulled off the biggest victory of his career, with a thrilling 3:2 victory over French World No.2 Greg Gaultier in the quarter-finals of the 2015 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York.

The 29-year-old had failed to take a game off Gaultier from 6 previous occasions but this time he produced an excellent performance to down 2 times British Open Champion in emotional scenes.

“I’m really happy to be in the semi-finals and I’m going to enjoy it,” said Bogota-based Rodriguez. “For me Greg is the toughest player on tour as he’s very strong and it is so difficult to win rallies against him. I was very patient, but more offensive than I was against Peter and I felt like it all worked.”

Rodriguez sets up a semi-final match against England’s World No.4 and 3 times World Champion Nick Matthew, who came back from 1 game down to beat German fellow Simon Rosner in 66 minutes 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6.

“I have played Nick a few times before on tour but I have time to recover and rest so I’ll be ready for tomorrow,” the Colombian added.

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [4] Amr Shabana (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)

Shabana secures TOC semi-final spot!

January 21, 2015 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Mohamed Elshorbagy, New York, PSA, Tournament of Champions, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Defending champion Amr Shabana (ri) kept alive his hopes of repeating his last year’s J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions title, as he beat compatriot Tarek Momen (le), the World No.7, in an 85 minutes in 4 games 11-6, 17-19, 11-8, 11-9 in New Yorks’s Grand Central Terminal.

The 35-year-old 4-time World Champion, who became the oldest ever PSA World Series winner with his 2014 triumph, withstood a ferocious challenge from 8-year-younger Momen, to secure his semi-final spot after a nail-biting encounter.

Shabana will now take on another Egyptian, current World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy, in the semi-finals. Elshorbagy booked his place in the last 4 with a dominant 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 victory over World No.12 Borja Golan.

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [4] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 (52m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 17-19, 11-8, 11-9 (85m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [8] Simon Rösner (GER)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)

Diving King Rodriguez downs Barker in New York!

January 20, 2015 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, New York, PSA, Tournament of Champions, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

29-year-old Colombian World No.8 Miguel Angel Rodriguez became the 1st ever South American player to reach the quarter-finals of a PSA World Series event after wearing down England’s Peter Barker in a 120-minute titanic battle at the J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions.

Two of the fittest and most fluid movers on tour, the duo served up a titanic battle of attrition that was packed with lung-bursting rallies as they tried to break each other down but it was Rodriguez, the highest ranked South American player of all time, who managed to edge it, taking the match 11-6, 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7 and record his first ever win over the World No.6.

“This is one of the best wins of my career so far because it is the 1st time I have beaten him on the PSA Tour and also the 1st time I’ve made it to the quarter-finals at one of the major events,” said Rodriguez.

In the other action, only French World No.2 Greg Gaultier came up with a straight games win in round 2, while all other seeds needed 4 games in between 55 and 94 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [6] Borja Golan (ESP)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [7] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [8] Simon Rösner (GER)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-3, 5-11, 15-13, 11-6 (62m)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) w/o (injury)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10 (55m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (60m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 7-11, 15-13, 11-6, 13-11 (94m)
[8] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (75m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7 (120m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)

Top seeds into 2nd round in New York!

January 18, 2015 • Tags: New York, PSA, Simon Rosner, Stephen Coppinger, Tournament of Champions, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

All top 8 seeds have moved passed their opponents in the 1st round of the Tournament of Champions at New York’s Grand Central Station. German No.8 seed Simon Rösner (ri) faced the biggest problems as he needed 4 very intense games to shake of South African fellow Stephen Coppinger (le). Two of the most physically imposing players on the PSA World Tour, the duo tested each other to the brink in an mammoth 87-minute battle that saw them trading points in a continuous series of brutal, energy-sapping rallies.

There were also victories for Omar Mosaad, Mathieu Castagnet, Peter Barker and Miguel Angel Rodriguez while English qualifier Tom Richards pulled off the biggest upset of the day to knock out Alister Walker, the former world No.12 from Botswana, in straight games.

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[8] Simon Rösner (GER) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Tom Richards (ENG)