"It was long and a tough game - both gave everything," said champion Gaultier, now with 24 PSA titles to his name. "Mohamed was always ahead in the match but I managed to come back to win 3/2. France’s World No2 Greg Gaultier survived ‘one of the toughest matches I ever played’ to beat Mohamed Elshorbagy and retain the Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas title at Alameda Park in Toluca, Mexico.
It was the climax the crowd surrounding the all-glass court was hoping for – one featuring the event’s top two seeds and one which went the full distance.
Event favourite Gaultier reached the final – the 52nd of his career – after ending the brave run of unseeded Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the semi-finals (11-5, 11-5, 11-7).
Second-seeded Egyptian El Shorbagy faced top-ranked Spaniard Borja Golan in the other semi in what was the pair’s 7th meeting in the past 5 years. The 22-year-old from Alexandria extended his head-to-head tally to 5/2 after beating the 3rd seed 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5.
In the final, El Shorbagy, looking for his 1st win in 6th meetings with the Frenchman. In the end the top seed exerted his authority, ultimately closing out the match 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 after 79 minutes to keep the title in his grasp.
Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 (79m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (50m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Borja Golan (ESP) 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (56m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (46m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 (113m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 (85m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (28m)
1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (27m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 (31m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 (42m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 (50m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (45m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 16-14 (55m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-13, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-2 (55m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)
