First blood to Shabana
as Greg limps out
Just as he did three times yesterday, Amr Shabana took a game on extra points, recovering from 8/10 down to take the lead against Gregory Gaultier in the first of the Franco-Egyptian semi-finals.
The Frenchman quickly bounced back though, racing to a 7/2 lead in the second, and levelling as Shabana let the last few points go. Gaultier then raced through the third, but then it was Shabana's turn to fight back, quickly establishing a lead in the fourth, and although Gaultier clawed a few points back at the end it was soon all square.
The Egyptian continued in the ascendancy in the fifth, leading 6/2 when an accidental collision led to Gaultier injuring his ankle in a fall. The Frenchman took a few minutes to recover, but on the resumption it was clear he wasn't able to compete, and after two points he opened the court door and offered his hand to his opponent ...
Amr Shabana
"I felt that the court was very true, when you were playing the right shot at the right time, it was a very true shot. But in the second and the third, I was too anxious to play well, and against Greg, when you play even a good shot, but at the wrong time, he’ll be on top of you, and I felt caged in.
"Then in the fourth, I decided to come back to basics, and that’s what I did. In the fifth, I stuck to my game plan, and he was just coming back into the match, we started to rally, and then, that happened…
"I feel terrible, Greg is one of my best mates of the tour, we are always together. I know it could have been the other way around, and I feel really bad. But it’s not just for this tournament, it’s our livelihood, I just hope that he’ll be ok…"
Ramy sets up All-Egyptian final
The second semi-final produced the final all the crowd wanted as Ramy Ashour blitzed the first two games against Thierry Lincou. The Frenchman threatened to repeat his comeback of yesterday as he pulled a game back and took a 5/3 lead in the fourth.
Ramy was having none of it though, as he reeled off the next eight points to book himself a rematch of last week's Hurghada final - and last year's Kuwait final - with his compatriot.
"I felt that the court was very true, when you were playing the right shot at the right time, it was a very true shot. But in the second and the third, I was too anxious to play well, and against Greg, when you play even a good shot, but at the wrong time, he’ll be on top of you, and I felt caged in.
"Then in the fourth, I decided to come back to basics, and that’s what I did. In the fifth, I stuck to my game plan, and he was just coming back into the match, we started to rally, and then, that happened…
"I feel terrible, Greg is one of my best mates of the tour, we are always together. I know it could have been the other way around, and I feel really bad. But it’s not just for this tournament, it’s our livelihood, I just hope that he’ll be ok…"
Amr Shabana & Ramy Ashour Dream Finals 