El Shorbagy fires British Open warning

Egyptian squash player overcame a “scary” opener against Willstrop to progress.

KINGSTON UPON HULL: Mohamed El Shorbagy served up a warning that he intends to achieve the last of his three main goals this season by winning the British Open for the first time.

The world number one from Egypt did that with a 11-7, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7 win in a “scary” first-round match against the former world number one from England, James Willstrop.

El Shorbagy felt it was scary because he had been given a freakishly awkward start against an opponent of exceptional calibre, as a result of Willstrop having fallen outside the seeding positions during a recovery from a hip injury.

“I got a shock when I saw that draw,” El Shorbagy admitted, “It was scary and I had to completely alter my preparations. I had to be prepared for a final in round one.

“But I feel like I dealt with it okay. I set myself the goals this season of becoming world number one, becoming world champion, and winning the British Open. I’ve achieved one and not the other [becoming world champion] so I really want this, and I feel I’m playing well enough to do it.”

Indeed El Shorbagy played solidly enough now to be considered the unofficial favourite as well as the top seed.

Previously, many had considered that to be either Ramy Ashour, the world champion who withdrew with an Achilles injury, or Nick Matthew, the three times former British Open champion who is trying to play through an enduring ankle injury.

El Shorbagy next plays Borja Golan, the former top-10 player from Spain, while Matthew faces Gregoire Marche, a member of the French team which a week ago won the European team title for the first time. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th,  2015.

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