Egypt’s World No.1 Ali Farag displayed a masterful performance to claim his second FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships title after defeating defending champion and World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy.
This was the second time this season that the two players were meeting in a final after ElShorbagy claimed the first plaudits of the year at the China Squash Open in Shanghai, however, Farag made sure to right those wrongs as he downed ElShorbagy in Philadelphia.
The 2017 champion, who had just watched his wife narrowly miss out on taking the title in the previous match, was in spellbinding form to take the first game, 11-4.
Farag, who defeated Peru’s World No.7 Diego Elias in straight-games yesterday, again continued to dominate to take a crucial second game and halt a potential comeback from the usual resilient ElShorbagy.
In the third it was all straight-forward for the World No.1 as he comfortably saw out an 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 victory in 40 minutes to end the Bristol-based Egyptian’s unbeaten start to the season.
“It feels amazing,” said 27-year-old Farag afterwards.
“To be winning not only a major, but the U.S. Open which is one of the most prestigious tournaments we have on the calendar, it feels amazing. It’s a good day for the family, I can’t be too disappointed but there is no-one I hate more in this building than Nouran Gohar right now! I’m kidding, both Nouran and Nour played an amazing match and how squash should be played.
“Obviously I’m very proud with how I played as well, Mohamed has had an unbelievable start to the season, to be unbeaten in 12 matches in a row – I was one of the victims – to get the win today feels amazing.
“Every court is different, it was quite bouncy, Mohamed played with a smart strategy today. I’ve said before that I’m at my most comfortable when Mike [Way] is around, we set a game plan and I’m glad I stuck with it.”
U.S. Open FINAL
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-0 [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 (40m)
