[2] Ali Farag -02- (EGY) def [4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Championship Score: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
Championship recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
Tremendous accomplishment for Ali Farag. Like all the top-seeds at this year’s Qatar Classic, the World #2 enjoyed a 1st-Round Bye. Regardless, his draw was far more difficult than the rest of the field. While other top-seeds faced opponents who had played Round-1 matches, Ali was not so lucky.
He started the tournament by battling another well-rested top-seed, World #9 Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt. Next, he dispatched the World #11 Saurav Ghosal of India. In the Quarterfinals, he defeated 2016 Champion and the World #10 Karim Abdel Gawad. Yesterday, he won a 61-minute clash with the World #4 and 2017 Finalist Tarek Momen. And finally tonight, he captured his second career Platinum title with a 3-game victory over the World #5, Simon Rösner.
Truly one of the toughest draws any champion could endure. If Farag continues to string together challenging victories like these over the next few months, he will most likely achieve his goal of attaining the World #1 ranking this season.
Clearly, Mohamed Elshorbagy has plenty to say about that. If the current World #1 and US Open Champion rekindles his confidence in Hong Kong and Egypt, it will be tough for Ali to wrestle that top-spot away. Time will tell. An exciting 2018-19 season awaits.
A remarkable 12-months for Simon Rösner
Last year in Doha, the German Tree Chopper finally cleared a hurdle he’s struggled to leap most of his career – defeating the sport’s top-players in Platinum Quarterfinals. In the Round of 16, he earned one of his biggest wins over defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad. He then upset Marwan Elshorbagy to make his Platinum Semifinal debut. The scab was ripped off, and he has played lights-out ever since.
Last January, he won his first career Platinum title at the Tournament of Champions — defeating Gregory Gaultier in the Semi’s and Tarek Momen in the Final. He reached the Semifinals of the PSA World Tour Finals for the second year in-a-row. And earlier this month, Simon earned wins over Miguel Angel Rodriguez and Ali Farag to reach the championship match of the US Open.
In just 1-year, he’s graduated from a top-15 “foil” for the sport’s best-known talent — to top-5 mainstay and a marquee name.
Ali Farag vs. Simon Rösner | A Budding PSA Rivalry
Tonight was the 9th meeting between these two Platinum Champions. Simon Rösner still leads their overall head-to-head, with five victories – including his win just 3-weeks-ago in the US Open Semifinals. They’ve now played twice in championship matches. Ali Farag has won both.
► Nov 2018 – Qatar Classic (F) – Ali Farag | Score: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
► Oct 2018 – US Open (SF) – Simon Rösner | Score: 4-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 (54m)
► Jun 2018 – World Tour Finals (RR) – Simon Rösner | Score: 7-11, 11-9, 11-3 (40m)
► Feb 2018 – Swedish Open (F) – Ali Farag | Score: 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5 (51m)
► Mar 2017 – Windy City Open (QF) – Ali Farag | Score: 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (52m)
► Nov 2015 – World Championship (R3) – Ali Farag | Score: 7-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 (78m)
► Oct 2015 – US Open (R1) – Simon Rösner | Score: 7-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-4 (69m)
► Aug 2008 – Sky Open (Qualifying) – Simon Rösner | Score: 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 (37m)
► Aug 2006 – Heliopolis Open (Qualifying) – Simon Rösner | Score: 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (23m)
Each player’s announcer introduction for tonight’s Championship match…
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[2] Ali Farag -02- (EGY)
Tonight, this 26-year-old is competing in his 4th career Platinum Final. Remarkably, he’s reached the Semifinals or Final in 7 of the last 8 Platinum events; and last June, made his first appearance in the championship match of the season-finale at the PSA World Tour Finals. Last season, he captured his first Platinum title at the US Open, where he and Nour El Tayeb became the first married couple in history to win the same major championship on the same day.
Now a 26-time Finalist on Tour, he owns 12 PSA titles, and just last week – reached the final of the St. George’s Hill Classic in Weybridge. With one of the toughest draws again this year in Doha, he’s had to overcome the World #9, World #11, World #10, and World #4 to reach tonight’s championship match. From Egypt, please welcome the reigning Egyptian National Champion and #2 Player in the World, Ali Farag.
▲ FF — def [4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER) | Score: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
▲ SF — def [3] Tarek Momen -04- (EGY) | Score: 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4 (61m) | RECAP
▲ QF — def [6] Karim Abdel Gawad -10- (EGY) | Score: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (45m) | RECAP
▲ R3 — def Saurav Ghosal -11- (IND) | Score: 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (39m) | RECAP
▲ R2 — def Mohamed Abouelghar -09- (EGY) | Score: 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (68m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
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Announcer Corner | Ali Farag’s Best Platinum runs to date:
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Nov 18 (W) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 18 (SF) – US Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jun 18 (F) – PSA World Tour Finals
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Apr 18 (F) – El Gouna International
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Feb 18 (SF) – Windy City Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jan 18 (SF) – Tournament of Champions
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Nov 17 (F) – Hong Kong Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 17 (W) – US Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Mar 17 (SF) – Windy City Open
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[4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER)
At 30-years-old, this 11-time German Nationals Champion and World Games Gold Medalist is competing in his 3rd Platinum Final in just 9-months. And his remarkable run began right here in Doha; where last year, he reached the Semifinals of a PSA Platinum event for the very first time. It was a breakthrough performance. Two months later, he captured his first Platinum title at the Tournament of Champions. By June, he climbed to a career-high ranking of World #5. And at the PSA World Tour Finals, he reached the Final-4 for the second year in a row.
He carried that confidence into the new season, where last month, he reached his second Platinum Final at the US Open, defeating two fellow top-6 players to reach the championship match. From Germany, please welcome the #5 Player in the World – The German Tree Chopper – Simon Rösner.
▲ SF — def [8] Diego Elias -13- (PER) | Score: 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (31m) | RECAP
▲ QF — def [7] Paul Coll -08- (NZL) | Score: 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (63m) | RECAP
▲ R3 — def Tom Richards -30- (ENG) | Score: 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 (45m) | RECAP
▲ R2 — def George Parker -49- (ENG) | Score: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (36m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
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Announcer Corner | Simon Rösner’s Best Platinum runs to date:
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 18 (F) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 18 (F) – US Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jun 18 (SF) – PSA World Tour Finals
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jan 18 (W) – Tournament of Champions
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 17 (SF) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jun 17 (SF) – PSA World Tour Finals
