World Tour Finals 2024

PHOTO ALBUM

Finals

[2] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [1] Nour ElSherbini  7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-10 (57m)

[1] Ali Farag  3-0 [3] Mostafa Asal  11-5, 5-2 retired (17m)

Gohar and Farag Lift Xbox PSA World Tour Finals Trophies

Women’s World Champion Nouran Gohar and Men’s World No.1 Ali Farag have won the 2023-24 Xbox PSA World Tour Finals after contrasting matches with Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal.

Defending champion Gohar continued her sensational form as she overcame El Sherbini 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-10 to win her third Xbox PSA World Tour Finals trophy and her fifth successive PSA title.

Gohar’s incredible form has seen her win 25 matches in a row, while she has now won the Black Ball Open, El Gouna International, PSA World Championships, British Open and Xbox PSA World Tour Finals titles in succession, beating El Sherbini in the final of the last four of those events.

The 26-year-old has now become the first woman to win the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals on three occasions, while it is the 28th PSA title of her career.

“At 9-7 [in the fourth] I didn’t want that match to end because I was really enjoying myself on court today,” said Gohar.

“The crowd made it extra spicy out there. Any squash player can relate to this, when they’re hitting their marks, they’re feeling good and they have an amazing crowd, that’s all you want. Thanks so much to Haitham [Effat, Gohar’s coach] for today. He made a huge difference, especially when I was 1-0 down and Nour was playing really well. I love coming back to Seattle, it’s one of my favourite cities.

“It really helps to feel like you’re home. Shabana [Khan, tournament promoter] and the team have done an amazing job, and it’s the cherry on top for an amazing season. It’s my fifth title in a row, and I couldn’t have dreamt of this, to be honest.”

Farag’s match against Asal was cut short after the latter retired injured mid-way through the second game, ending his run of three straight Xbox PSA World Tour Finals triumphs.

Asal initially sustained the injury in his Group A clash with Farag on day two of the tournament as he lunged for a ball, and despite battling through to reach the final, he was never 100 per cent physically.

It meant Farag was able to avenge his British Open final defeat to the World No.2 a fortnight ago to lift the eighth title of what has been a superb season for the 32-year-old from Cairo, who has now lifted 41 PSA titles in his career.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” said Farag.

“You go through periods of demotivation and tough personal stuff, but I’ve had an incredible year and I have an incredible family, Nour and Farida, touring the world with me. I’m doing the thing I love the most, touring the world and meeting incredible people. I’ve met some incredible promoters like Shabana and YSK.

“I’ve been coming back here every year for the past eight or nine years and it’s home to me now. The family takes such good care of us and we couldn’t be more grateful for them. I really look forward to coming back next year.”

 

Semi-Finals

[1] Ali Faragv [2] Paul Coll (NZL)
[3] Mostafa Asal2-0 [7] Tarek Momen 11-3, 11-5 (26m)

[2] Nouran Gohar2-0 [6] Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-9, 11-7 (36m)
[1] Nour El Sherbini2-0 [3] Hania El Hammamy 11-9, 11-9 (32m)

The world’s top two players across both the men’s and women’s events will contest the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals title deciders after Egyptian quartet Ali Farag, Mostafa Asal, Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar all triumphed in their semi-final-matches tonight at Bellevue’s Boys and Girls Club Hidden Valley Field House.
World No.1 Farag got the better of New Zealand’s World No.3 Paul Coll to reach the final of this event for the second time in his career and first time since 2018.
Farag and Coll were meeting for the sixth time this season and Farag levelled the head-to-head record at three wins apiece courtesy of an 11-10, 11-6 win over the Kiwi. He will now take on World No.2 Asal less than two weeks after losing to his compatriot in the British Open final.
“Paul and I just exchanged a couple of words, saying how great of a season we’ve both had,” said Farag.
“We’ve both been getting to the latter stages of events and it’s not easy. It takes a toll on your body and mind, and it takes a whole team behind you to keep you motivated. Even though it was the second to last match of the season, we both pushed really hard.
“Ever since it [the World Tour Finals] has been in my home town, I’ve been losing in the semis or the group stages. That’s thanks to Mostafa Asal, as he’s been the one who has been beaten me. The World Tour Finals is at the back end of the season, so you have to drag yourself up and play your best squash against the best players in the world.”
Asal has become the first man in the history of the Xbox PSA World Tour Finals to reach four finals in a row after he stormed to victory over World No.8 Tarek Momen.
Asal has won the previous three title deciders he has competed in at the season-ending event – beating three different opponents in Mohamed ElShorbagy, Paul Coll and Diego Elias – and he will have the ability to add a fourth title to his trophy cabinet following an 11-3, 11-5 win. If Asal wins tomorrow he will become only the second man since the great Jansher Khan to lift the prestigious trophy on four occasions.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s my fourth final at the World Tour Finals and you’re playing the best eight players since the start of the season,” said Asal afterwards.
“You are playing former World No.1s and current World No.1s and it’s incredible for me. I’m writing history, but I’m taking it step by step, putting all the trophies on the side and focusing on tomorrow. This is how to be a great champion and this is the advice that I want to give to all the youngsters.”
The women’s final will also be a repeat of the British Open title decider, with World No.1 El Sherbini and World No.2 Gohar defeating World No.3 Hania El Hammamy and World No.5 Nele Gilis, respectively.
It marks El Sherbini’s fifth successive victory over El Hammamy, who was last year’s runner-up. El Sherbini achieved the victory with 11-9 wins in both games and she will now look to add a third Xbox PSA World Tour Finals trophy to her collection after triumphing in 2018 and 2022.
“I don’t feel like I’m the underdog against Nouran,” said El Sherbini.
“I’ve gone one step better than last year and I want to end the season in a good way. She’s been doing great the last three tournaments, but I’ve also been doing well the whole season.”
Gohar has become the first woman to reach four successive finals at this tournament after the 26-year-old beat Gilis 11-9, 11-7 to extend her unbeaten run to 24 matches.
Gohar is in red-hot form having won her previous four tournaments and has beaten El Sherbini in three of those finals, including the British Open final a fortnight ago. A win over El Sherbini tomorrow would make Gohar the first woman to win this event on three occasions and would extend her unbeaten run to 25 matches.
“Not many players start off that great, I’m known for being a good starter, so all credit to Nele,” said Gohar.
“It shows how high the level of squash is that she has been playing this week. She has been playing incredible matches and she has such a great fighting spirit. I have a huge respect for her.”

Day THREE : Semi-Final lineups confirmed

Day TWO : Top seeds secure semis spots

Day ONE : Let the Pools begin

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