Egyptian World #6 Karim Abdel Gawad admits that the
prospect of playing in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza
- one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - at next week’s
Al Ahram Squash Open NEWGIZA will be like a dream come true.
 Gawad,
who last month reached a maiden World Series final at the Cathay
Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, will begin his
tournament against a qualifier away from the showpiece glass
court, and the Alexandria-born 25-year-old says that will give
him extra motivation as he looks to achieve a quarter-final
berth, which will secure him a place on the glass court.
"I'm very, very excited, I have been dreaming of playing
there for 14 years," said Gawad.
"I remember being 10 years old, being in the crowd watching and
just wanting to hit at least one shot on that court more than
anything else.
"The first round for me isn't on that court, so that's a big
pressure and a big incentive.
 "I
really want to win that first match so I can make it to the
glass court. I will do everything I can to make it to that venue
because it is such a motivation.
"I remember watching Amr Shabana and Gregory Gaultier playing
there in 2006, and the whole crowd was behind Shabana.
"Shabana lost and I remember being crazy about him at that time
and I was so disappointed that he lost that I didn’t watch any
more of the tournament." |
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