"I'm happy to make the final but I'm trying to take it day by and day and do my best. Playing in a final at Grand Central is an amazing experience”, Amr Shabana (ri) said after the victory (pic: Steve Line). Top-seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier and 4-time World Champion Amr Shabana will contest the final of the 2014 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions after impressive semi-final victories at Grand Central Terminal in New York.
Shabana (ri) , the World No9 from Egypt, defeated England’s 4th seed James Willstrop (le) with a great performance. Shabana, who impressed in his enthralling 4-game win over Willstrop, will also be hoping to end what has been a tough period of time for him – with injury and illness having interrupted his past few seasons – and win his first PSA World Series ranking event since 2011. “I’m really over the moon,” said Shabana after the 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory which takes the 34-year-old into his 46th Tour final.
In the 2nd semi World No2 Gaultier removed 3rd seeded Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy to set up a final in which there is more than a title at stake. “Becoming world No1 again by winning this match was a big goal for me,” said Gaultier after his 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12 win in 75 minutes. Gaultier’s victory over El Shorbagy will draw him level with Nick Matthew – but a triumph in the final would see the Frenchman surpass the Englishman to become World No1.
Today’s finals (head to head overall):
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [7] Amr Shabana (EGY) – (15:13)
Semi-finals:
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 (61m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12 (75m)
Quarter-finals:
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 (90m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [6] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-7, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5 (66m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [8] Daryl Selby (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (60m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 12-10, 11-6, 11-7 (57m)
