Fathi
Flourishes In Mantis Marathon
Egyptian
teenager Karim Ali Fathi survived the longest match of his life
to win the
MANTIS
Open,
the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event at Nottingham Squash
Club in Nottingham, England.
It was
a surprise all-Egyptian climax between second seed Ali Fathi and
Zahed Mohamed, the No3 seed who made his breakthrough after
despatching unseeded Englishman Tom Pashley in the semis.
Left-hander Pashley had earlier ousted the event's top seed Raphael
Kandra, from Germany.
Underdog Mohamed built up a 2/1 lead, then suffered cramp in the fourth
as Fathi regained the upper hand to draw level.
"It
was neck and neck all the way in the decider," reported event spokesman
Josh Taylor. "At 10-10 it was still looking like it could go on
until one of them well and truly broke.
"In
the end Karim nudged it 14-12. This was a great spectacle that words
can't really describe - a true treat for a packed out Nottingham crowd!"
The
11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12 victory after 104 minutes not only marked
the fourth PSA World Tour title success of Ali Fathi's career, but also
his fourth of the year!
"That
was brutal, absolutely brutal," said the 19-year-old from Cairo. "He is
a really tough player and I had to stick to my game plan to win. At a
one hour 40 minutes, it is the longest match I have ever played. All
respects to him.
"I'm
really happy with that win - hopefully it will take my ranking up
again," continued the UK-based Egyptian. "Hopefully this will be back
bigger so I can come back and play again. After one-all, I thought I had
lost the match, but I fought and get back to win 3/2. Thanks to Mark
(Fuller) and the organisers."
1st
round:
[1] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-8,
11-5, 11-3 (24m)
Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [Q] Adam Murrills (ENG) 7-11, 9-11,
11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (65m)
Ollie Holland (ENG) bt Michael Harris (ENG) 7-11, 11-7,
9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (72m)
[3] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [Q] Rory Pennell (ENG) 11-3,
11-4, 11-5 (21m)
[4] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [Q] Douglas Leslie Kempsell (SCO)
11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (50m)
[Q] Richard Birks (ENG) bt Chris Fuller (ENG) 11-9, 11-6,
12-10 (42m)
Sebastiaan Weenink (NED) bt Declan James (ENG) 11-6,
12-10, 10-12, 11-7 (80m)
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Daniel West (ENG) 10-12,
11-2, 11-4, 11-7 (45m)
Quarter-finals:
Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [1] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-7, 6-11,
12-10, 11-9
[3] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt Ollie Holland (ENG) 11-5, 11-3,
11-6
[4] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [Q] Richard Birks (ENG) 11-5,
9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Sebastiaan Weenink (NED)
11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
Semi-finals:
[3] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt Tom Pashley (ENG) 11-8, 3-11,
11-6, 11-3
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [4] Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-3,
11-3, 11-8
Final:
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [3] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-5,
6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12 (104m)
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