[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 3-1 [1] Ali Farag (EGY) 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 (56m)
I’m so glad to say goodbye to the Ragging Bull and hello to the Joker. Today, we saw a very mature performance from the young Egyptian. Well, after he realised that it was the final of a Gold PSA event, and not a forking exhibition match at Alhy Club!
Four errors in 5 points to start the game, I kid you not, then being penalised rightly with three strokes, ending with an unnecessary between the legs shot exhibition style at 8/5!
It’s only when he got himself down gameball 10/6 that he seemed to connect the brain to the racquet. And he is a bit lucky that Ali lost a bit of accuracy at the point, offering him the last three points on a plate, three unforced errors. 12/10 to the Joker in 13m.
When I saw the stats of that game, Mostafa having given away 8 points – EIGHT POINTS – and still won the opener, I knew Ali was in trouble tonight.
A 9m game followed, onesided to the Joker, Ali looking reactionless to his opponent’s attacks. 4/1, 7/2, 8/3, and 11/5.
If the World number one had a miserable number of winners in the first two games, 2 only each game, he soon changed that to a round 10 winners, finding a better length, and being more assertive and up the court, 3/1, 4/2, 8/4, 11/7 in 13m.
Some lovely rallies in the fourth, but from 3/3, Mostafa is just a couple of points in front, and Ali will play catch up the rest of the match, making three errors and conceding 2 strokes within 7 points. That was the confidence boost the Joker needed to close matters in 13m, climbing up the backwall in celebration, Mash’Allah…
Ali
I think I really played well in the first game, I was in control. I maybe rushed a little bit at the end of the game at 10/6 up. I made three errors but I thought they were the right shot to play.
And then, the second, I’ve never seen a ball go so dead so fast. And I didn’t deal with it. And that’s probably the disappointment of the match. He delt with the dead ball much better than me in the second. Every straight drive he was cutting it off and whenever I crosscourted, he was there. I started using height in the third, and I started shooting with him as well, but as I said, I didn’t deal with it quick enough, that’s the disappointement as I said.
I was already two love down, I lost a whole game before dealing with it, and when it turns into a shooting game with Mostafa, and you are 2/0, you know you are on the wrong side of the coin, really.
I’m very proud of myself with the way I played and fought, and more importantly, I’m very proud of Mostafa with the way he is becoming, and the way he is maturing, and the way he is playing the game.
When he is THAT good and at the same time, so mature, he is so entertaining to play, and so annoying to play against.
But as a friend and as a Teammate on the Egyptian National team, I’m very proud of him and very happy for him.
Mostafa
“It’s an incredible moment. To be back winning another title has boosted me up for sure for El Gouna tournament and the World Championships.
“I really want to thank everyone in my team, my family, and of course my coach James Willstrop in Pontefract. They’ve done an amazing job for me and changed my squash life as well. So, I want to thank everyone, especially my family.
“I’m glad to be playing squash as it should be. It’s a pleasure to play with Ali. He’s an incredible player and an incredible athlete, so this season has been unbeatable to. So to beat him tonight is an added bonus for my career. I wish him all the success for sure.
“I’m going straight away to El Gouna tomorrow with my team, my uncle and my coach tomorrow. I’ll enjoy the vibes there.”
