“10/10 in the 5th, and it’s two strokes for Ali”.. What a match...
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) 9-11, 2-11, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 (84m)
To be honest, I am not sure what happened in this match. And I’m sure if you ask Tarek, and even probably Ali, they won’t really know either. How Tarek was that dominant, and how Ali got out of jail.
To be honest, Tarek played out of his skin today. And Ali had to find something extra special in his game to match it up..
Close start, 2/2, 3/3, Ali dominates the middle of the game, 6/4, 7/5 but it’s back to level, 7/7, 8/8. Funny break as the big night butterflies invading the court. None of the players that keen to kill them – boy did Karim AG went for them and squashed the poor things! – so it took a while to Tarek to sort it out – Ali keep wide away from them, bless him!
Ali trying to lob Tarek off, but Tarek finds a way to close that first game 10/8, 11/9, in 15m. 6 winners each, 2 strokes each, errors make the difference, 1 for Tarek, 3 for Ali.
The second makes us think the match is going to be over soon, 4/0, 8/1, 11/2 with Tarek’s accuracy at the back such that Ali cannot find any real length or width, and it’s quickly over in 8m.
The third, well, Tarek dropped a bit, it would have been very hard to keep the same level of squash, it was absolutely perfect, Ali gives it a big push, mentally more than anything else.
From 2/4 down, Ali looks at his support camp after every point, with his clinch fist, as to say, ‘See, I’m not dead yet, I can still win a point’. Enormous rallies from that point to 8/4, the fist calms down, return to normal as Ali takes confidence in his squash and in the fact he can win that game, which he does, 11/5 , 13m, no errors, 7 winners for only 4 for Tarek.
The last two games are just classics…
Fourth, a bit on an edge for Ali in the middle, from 2/2, 3/3, zoom to 7/4 but Tarek ‘veille au grain” keeps on his hills, and it’s 7/7, 8/8. A huge rally at that point, ending with Tarek having to strike the ball behind his back. His ball is called down. He is adamant it’s up and asks for a review. A few minutes pass, and unfortunately, the system – due to poor internet – is not working. Huge frustration for Tarek.
Add insult to injury, he gets a no let the next point and a stroke for Ali in the next, setting up a game ball, 10/9. The game ball, well I had Karim Darwish and Nour in the front row jumping up literally in that one, thinking it was won… It finally was. Incredibly, Ali had levelled it back to 2/2, 11/9, 23m of a huge battle. 7 winners each, 1 stroke for Tarek and 2 errors, the reverse for Ali, 2 strokes and 1 error.
I think both players will remember and relive that last game for the years to come. Every rally or nearly is hard fought. 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4. Ali is suddenly playing the best he has done all match, while Tarek is still going for fantastic shots. Incredible level of squash.
6/4, 7/5, 10/6 match ball. Out of the blue, and within seconds, Tarek levels the gap. He is in the zone, and Ali doesn’t see where the winners are coming from, and before we know it, it’s 10/10. It’s all possible.
And don’t ask me how it got there, but it’s two strokes to finish, confirmed by the video ref on the 5th match ball, 12/10.
Tarek sadness, despair and frustration equals Ali’s utter joy, delight and pride.
I am very very very very proud of what I have achieved tonight .
I didn’t start the game badly, but by the end of the first, and then the entirety of the second game, he was standing in front of me. He did so for the whole game really, and I couldn’t get the ball back in the deep corners.
I have to say thanks to Karim Darwish and Nour in my corner. You know, some days, some people make the difference. Today, looking at my brother who I haven’t seen for a while, he gave me the energy which made all the difference and I am really happy to be through.
Tarek played really well when he was down. He was attacking really well and he played both points so well. He got me edgy, so I started to force myself and that is when he was able to catch me off guard.
At 10-10, I told myself that it was not lost, and that we were still all even. All credit to Tarek, he never makes it easy but I am over the moon with the win, and to be in another final here in El Gouna.
I have played Karim in so many finals in Egypt and I have never won one. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to turn that around but it is always great against Karim. It is always enjoyable to play against him.
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
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