El-Shorbagy prevents French double at British Open

World number one Mohamed El Shorbagy narrowly denied France both British Open titles when he came back from the brink of a four-game defeat to beat defending champion Gregory Gaultier in Hull, northern England, on Sunday.

The Egyptian had already taken away Gaultier's world number one ranking earlier this year, and this match saw him recover from a 7-8 deficit in the fourth game before completing a gutsy 11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5 triumph.

El Shorbagy had been suffering from a hamstring injury for much of the tournament, yet painstakingly fought through the discomfort.

His victory gave Egypt their second British Open winner in three years, following Ramy Ashour's 2013 success.

Earlier, Gaultier's compatriot Camille Serme caused a sensation by becoming the first Frenchwoman ever to win the British Open, beating Laura Massaro, the former titleholder from England, 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8.

For a long time it looked as though Gaultier was going to complete an amazing double for France, a country with no great tradition in squash.

But after playing well for three-quarters of the contest, Gaultier appeared distracted by tight and difficult refereeing decisions, and his error ratio went up at important moments.

- Barrington target -

As this happened, El Shorbagy played with even greater determination, consistency and patience, and changed the character of the contest in the deciding game.

"So many famous players have won this title, including my coach Jonah Barrington who won it six times," said El Shorbagy, referring to the Anglo-Irishman who was a squash superstar in the 1960s and 1970s.

"I've just told him on the phone what's happened, and said that I've only got to win it another five times!"

Both men's finalists were warned by the referee in the first game –- El Shorbagy for "taking his opponent's space" and contributing to a collision which sent Gaultier flying, and Gaultier for coming off court to complain.

Gaultier then accidentally hit El Shorbagy on the leg in the second game, earning him another warning, and in the third El Shorbagy took a knock to the head, causing him to leave the court for five minutes to recover.

But the entertainment made even more riveting viewing than the conflict.

Gaultier appeared to be moving El Shorbagy about successfully as he got to within three points of the title at 8-7 in the fourth game.

But crucially, Gaultier hit down in the next rally, conceded a penalty stroke in the rally after that, breaking a string in the process and being obliged to change his racket.    

El Shorbagy then got to game point at 10-8 with what appeared to be a doubtful pick-up, but which was hard for the referee to see, after which Gaultier drove the ball down again to allow the Egyptian to gain parity at two games all. Gaultier was never as prominent again.

"Greg was playing so well," said El Shorbagy. "He was killing me in the second and third games and I didn't know what to do. I just hit hard and told myself not to give up."

Earlier, Serme was was too physically fresh and tactically astute for home hope Massaro, despite having never broken into the world's top four.

It was possible Massaro was feeling the effects of her 77-minute victory from matchpoint down against Nicol David, the legendary titleholder, on Saturday but the sixth-seeded Serme capitalised boldly and commendably.

"I only came here to go further than the second round, which was all I managed last year," the 26-year-old Serme, from Creteil, near Paris, said with a laugh.

"And now this is so big for me, such a big title. I can still hardly realise it."
Source: AFP