[4] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [7] Karim Abdel Gawad 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (51m)
[1] Ali Farag 3-1 [9/16] Gregoire Marche (Fra) 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (53m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-1 [3] Tarek Momen 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (47m)
🗣 "The first thing I told him as soon as I won was: 'I finally beat you!'"@maelshorbagy reacts to his win over @TkMomen at the @BlackBallSquash 🎥 pic.twitter.com/LUhKo3UGX4
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) December 18, 2021
Marwan Elshorbagy said
“I don’t have the best record against Tarek. The first thing I told him when I won is that ‘I finally beat you!’.
“Every time I lose to him, I go back and try to work something out. We have the same coach here in Egypt so he can give me some advice, but I worked a lot of times with tactics with Nick [Matthew] a few times and I’m glad it worked today. He messaged me this morning and said you’re a different animal than any time you’ve played him, so. It’s just that positive message gave me a lot of confidence today. I know I’ve worked hard in the last period, I’ve worked on my game a lot.
“Tarek is an incredible athlete and he has been inside the top three for a long time. Watching him last night- wow – to be able to do that. The way he plays, how fast he plays and how long he can play that for, he’s one of the fittest players on Tour and I have so much respect for him. To win today means a lot, he made me suffer a lot because every time it was a disappointment so to beat him today is a good day.
“I’ve struggled mentally a lot in the last few events and the last few events I went to, I really didn’t want to be there. I was trying to find an excuse not to go there, but I took a break after Qatar, stayed by myself and then as soon as I went back on court, I was really hungry. I was just telling my team that I’m finally wanting to go and compete again. I’m glad I won, I was positive and I’m just happy.
“We played a great match on this court in March, which I won 11-9 in the fifth but he has improved so much since then. He’s playing like a World No.1, he’s not there yet but he’s improved a lot. Everyone on Tour has so much respect for him because of where he came from and I think we had it easy compared to him.”
🗣 "Mostafa has been playing at the top level for a couple of years now and he's only 20."@AliFarag looks ahead to a mouthwatering semi final battle with @mostafasal_ at the @BlackBallSquash 🎥 pic.twitter.com/JZc9yO6Eiw
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) December 18, 2021
Ali Farag said
“I’m super proud of winning today.
“I don’t think I found my best performance and all credit to Greg, he didn’t let me settle. In the beginning I was too passive and my straight drives on the backhand side were too passive, they weren’t putting any pressure on him. I wasn’t winning that battle, so then I started opening up the court too much. I played to his strengths, but credit to him because he didn’t let me play to my strengths. I had to start firing myself up somehow, so I started yelling at myself and picked up the pace and I think I found my way from that point on.
“I would have loved to have played more straight to be honest, but with Greg, opening up the court too much, he is too good at this. He can run all day with you but I’m very proud to find a way to win.
“Mostafa is a top player, we saw how well he played today to get someone with Karim’s calibre in three takes a performance and a half. Mostafa has been playing at the top level for a couple of years now and he’s only 20, which is a testament to how good he is. I have to be on my metal tomorrow.
“I’m just focusing on the next match and not get too far ahead of myself. Mostafa is a huge challenge in itself and then if I win then I focus on the final, but for now I just have to focus on the task at hand.”
Mostafa Asal said
“Karim is my favourite player, he’s my idol. When I was 12-years-old, I was always had so many emotions for him and we are both from the same city and have played so much training and practice. He’s a big brother and I have so much respect for him.
“Me and Karim read each other’s game very well, the tactics are very different. I’m happy that I made it physical and happy with my performance. Yesterday, I was so upset with the referees and to be treated like this isn’t good for a human being. I’m glad that today is much better and the refs are much better. I’m trying to be World No.1, so I’m happy to play like this and. With my performance. There weren’t many decisions today and I’m happy there’s a change today.
“Both Ali and Gregoire are tough. You saw Greg beat Mazen and Ali is playing really well, he’s World No.1 and World Champion, he’s everything so it’s a tough match between them. I’m getting to my room for some FIFA and be ready for tomorrow.”
