Nick Matthew (in red) plays a shot during his semi-final match against Spain’s Borjan Golan at the Qatar Classic at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday.
By Armstrong Vas
Doha: Reigning world champion and third seed Nick Matthew of England will clash with fifth seed Mohamed Elshorbagy in the final of the $150,000 Qatar Classic PSA World Series Tour event here today.
Yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, the Englishman overcame the challenge of seventh seed Borja Golan of Spain while Elshorbagy emerged on top against fourth seed Karim Darwish in the all-Egyptian clash.
In the first semi-final, the 22-year-old from Alexandria took 35 minutes to overcome the challenge of compatriot Darwish, 10 years his senior, in straight games to make it to his second successive final in Qatar.
“Very happy to win and winning 3-0 as well is a big bonus as I know I will be fresh now for the final. I had a game plan against him (Darwish) and I had to try to maintain it the whole match, which normally you can’t but I did it for most of the match, and I am really happy about that,” said Elshorbagy.
For Elshorbagy, it was his third win in 11 meetings against the World No. 5, having enjoyed a meteoric rise up the world rankings since joining the PSA in 2006 as a 15-year-old.
Yesterday, Elshorbagy was keen to make amends to the last two reverses he suffered in Kuala Lampur and Philadelphia this year at the hands of Darwish.
Elshorbagy, a product of the renowned Millfield School in England and was coached by legendary figure Jonah Barrington, won the first game 11-7 to take early control over the proceedings.
Darwish, the former World No. 1 who has maintained an unbroken presence in the world top 10 since October 2007, had no clue as to what struck him yesterday in Doha and he never recovered from the first game loss.
Elshorbagy, who is also a student at University of the West of England in the UK, continued in the same vein to win the next two games at 11-5 and 11-6 to book a place in the final.
In the second semi-final, Golan who had defeated top seed and defending champion Gregory Gaultier in the quarter-finals on Wednesday could not sustain his giant-killing act.
The 30-year-old from Santiago de Compostela, Spain went down in straight games in a match which went on for 47 minutes.
Matthew, recently crowned world champion in Manchester, had the proceedings well under control and ruled the three games which he won with ease.
The 33-year-old started off by pocketing the first at 11-8 and extended his lead with a 11-6 win in the second. He finished off the challenge in the third at
11-5. THE PENINSULA
