El Shorbagy
Wins Colombian Open Crown
Mohamed El
Shorbagy
became the first Egyptian winner of the Colombian Open trophy after
outlasting Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema in a marathon final of the PSA
World Tour International 35 event at Club El Nogal in Bogota.
Top seed El
Shorbagy dropped the first game after a series of unforced errors, but took
control of the second to draw level.
The
20-year-old from Alexandria, competing in his first event in Colombia, moved
ahead after winning the third, but again lost concentration in the fourth as
second seed Anjema forced a decider.
"The final
game was highly emotional," said event spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz.
"Crowd favourite Anjema came onto the court cheered by the tribune. Winning
shots and unforced errors were committed by both players looking for precision."
Anjema, the
world No12, forced the game into a tie-break but it was El Shorbagy - ranked
three places higher - who ultimately prevailed, winning 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 2-11,
15-13 in 77 minutes.
"Great match,
great level, great champion," said Santacruz.
A downcast
Anjema said: "Losing a final so close in the fifth is painful. It hurts a lot.
But at the same time I cannot be that frustrated because I feel I put in a good
performance and I hit a bit of bad luck in the end. This invisible coin in life
sometimes falls your way and sometimes the other way. Today was Shorbagy's way.
We played hard and fair and although I lost today, I enjoy playing well."
El Shorbagy
was celebrating his third PSA Tour title success of the year - and his second in
a row after surviving a 15-13 fifth game: "What can I say after this brutal
match. I came into this match knowing he had an advantage over me as he trained
in the high altitude this summer so I needed to play clever squash to overcome
that.
"In the first
game he was just too good for me. When it came to 1/1 and 8-8 we were both
absolutely dead at that time and I knew this game would make a lot of difference
so I gave it a big push. And the fourth, I didn't try - I just thought I would
take the risk and save my energy for the fifth.
"This is
actually the first time I have left a game, but I guess that's what the altitude
can do to you. We both just gave it all in the fifth and when I was 9-5 down, I
just didn't want to give up - I wanted to win so badly, so I gave a huge push
and kept telling myself I need only six points and I can do it.
"He had only
one match point and I had all the rest - and every time I was match point up he
used to hit a stunning winner. He is such a great guy and such a great player
that was our first meeting and I'm sure we're going to have a lot of more hard
matches. The way he takes the loss only champions can take it that way.
"I loved the
place here - it was just amazing and it was such a great experience to play in
the high altitude," concluded the new champion.
Top Seeds Make
Colombian Open Final
A new
Colombian Open champion is assured after Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema
beat two-time champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the semi-finals of the
PSA World Tour International 35 event in Bogota to set up a final
against Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy at Club El Nogal.
Colombian
number one Rodriguez, the defending champion based in Bogota, was bidding to
make the final of his country's premier event for the fourth time since 2006.
But second
seed Anjema, the world No12 from The Hague, was too strong for the
recently-injured 25-year-old fourth seed, winning 11-3, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 in 57
minutes to reach the 27th Tour final of his career.
"I am very
proud of myself - I did not expect the result due to the injury I had,"
explained Rodriguez afterwards. "On the other hand, of course, I wanted to do
great at home with my home crowd.
"Laurens was
very patient and I think we really played a great squash today. It is a good
start of the season and I am looking forward to next upcoming tournaments."
El Shorbagy,
the top seed competing in his first event in Colombia, faced third seed
Alister Walker, the former Englishman playing in his first championship
since taking on the country of his birth, Botswana.
It was the
pair's first meeting, with the world No9 from Alexandria surviving the loss of
the second game, and two tie-break games, to win 11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 12-10 in 53
minutes.
"The first
tournament of the season is always tricky," said Walker, ranked 21 in the world.
"However I can't be upset with how I played but perhaps somewhat frustrated with
opportunities missed in the third and fourth games today. I could have had
either and maybe ought to have!
"Mohammed
played more consistently than in his previous round with fewer errors and came
up with some big shots at ten-all in both of the last two games. It was a good
game and I enjoyed playing. The Colombian crowd got very involved which made for
an exciting event with a promising final tomorrow. I am sure I'll be back
playing this event in the future."
El Shorbagy
was delighted to have reached his fourth PSA Tour final this year: "It's my
first time playing Alister, I think we both played well - it was a good fair
match," explained the 20-year-old.
"Today is
finally my first day that I felt fine on court so I am happy about that.
Tomorrow is the last day of the tournament and there are two things I hate in
this sport - which is losing after being 2/0 up, and losing in a final. So I
know I am going to be giving it my all tomorrow, as I am sure LJ will as well!"
Rodriguez
Rallies Into Colombian Open Semis
Local hero
Miguel Angel Rodriguez held off the quarter-final challenge of Brazilian
rival Rafael Alarcon in the Colombian Open in his home city of
Bogota to reach the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 35
event at Club El Nogal.
Fourth seed
Rodriguez, the Colombian number one who won his country's premier title last
year for the second time, had to battle for 67 minutes to overcome 34-year-old
Alarcon.
In a clash
described by tournament spokesman Juan Carlos Santacruz as a "sensational
match played by Rodriguez and Alarcon in five vibrant games", the Colombian
triumphed 11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 11-2, 11-6 to reach the last four for the fifth
time since 2006.
Rodriguez, the
world No30, will now face second seed Laurens Jan Anjema after the
Dutchman, ranked 16 places higher, despatched Finland's Henrik Mustonen
12-10, 11-0, 11-4 in just 28 minutes.
Alister
Walker,
the former Englishman making his first Tour appearance for his country of birth,
secured his anticipated place in the last four after a four-game win over New
Zealander Martin Knight.
After a series
of unforced errors early in the match, third seed Walker - now flying the flag
for Botswana - recovered to defeat Knight 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10 in 54 minutes
to set up a meeting with Egyptian favourite Mohamed El Shorbagy.
The world No9
from Alexandria, making his Tour debut in Colombia, had to fight back from a
game down to overcome rising Hong Kong star Max Lee 3-11, 12-10, 11-9,
11-9 in 50 minutes.
Walker Waltzes
Into Colombian Open Quarters
Alister
Walker,
the former Englishman making his first PSA World Tour appearance for his
country of birth, cast aside Colombian teenager Andres Felipe de Frutos
to reach the quarter-finals of the Colombian Open, the PSA
International 35 event at Club El Nogal in Bogota.
Wildcard
player De Frutos was making his Tour debut - and, aged just 17, was the youngest
player ever to compete in the long-established Colombian Open.
But third seed
Walker, the former England international now flying the flag for Botswana,
needed just 22 minutes to overcome the rising Colombian star 11-3, 11-3, 11-7.
New York-based
Walker, ranked 21 in the world, will now face Martin Knight for a place
in the semi-finals. Knight, the world No46 from New Zealand, battled for 69
minutes to overcome Australian qualifier Matthew Karwalski 12-10, 6-11,
11-9, 11-1.
Miguel
Angel Rodriguez
led local interest into the last eight after beating Mexican Cesar Salazar
11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2 in 56 minutes. The No4 seed from Bogota, returning from
the injury which ruled him out of last week's world team championship in
Germany, will now line up against Rafael Alarcon.
The top-ranked
Brazilian brushed aside Gonzalo Miranda, a qualifier from Argentina,
11-7, 11-4, 11-4 in 22 minutes.
Top seeds
Mohamed El Shorbagy and Laurens Jan Anjema secured their
quarter-final berths in contrasting styles. Egyptian El Shorbagy, the
20-year-old event favourite, defeated Mexican Arturo Salazar 12-10, 11-4,
11-8, while second-seeded Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema needed four games
to see off Czech champion Jan Koukal 11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 11-3.
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