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SUN 31-Aug, Day EIGHT:
THE FINALS
First time lucky for
Shorbagy,
Ten in a row for Nicol
[2] Mohamed
Elshorbagy (Egy) 3-2 [1] Gregory Gaultier
(Fra)
11/9,
11/2, 4/11, 8/11, 11/4 (97m)
[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 Nour El Tayeb (Egy)
11/4,
12/10, 11/8 (39m)
First time lucky for Shorbagy
 Mohamed
Elshorbagy claimed the Hong Kong Open title in his first
final, beating Gregory Gaultier, who was appearing in his fifth,
in a dramatic climax at Hong Kong Park Sports Centre.
The Egyptian took the better starts, leading 5-1, Gaultier soon
levelled but from 9-all it was Shorbagy who took the crucial
points and te lead.
A few decisions and discussions at the start of the second
seemed to get to Gaultier, and the second was quickly over 11/2
as Shorbagy doubled his advantage.
 The
Frenchman regrouped though, and from 3-all in the third pulled
clear to get one back.
From 5-all in the fourth it was again Gaultier who accelerated
away, amidst a few lets, disputes and discussions, and with 11-8
the decider was set.
 Shorbagy
made a great start to the fifth, helped by some Gaultier errors,
and at 6-0 the Fenchman went flying over his opponent, but after
a few minutes' treatment on his ankle he was back on court.
He came back determined enough, but the lead was too much, the
closest he got was 4-7 before Shorbagy pulled away again to
claim his second title in a week.
“It feels great," said a delighted Champion. "It’s just
really nice to see the work pay off like that, first in Malaysia
and then backing it up here in Hong Kong has just been
marvellous for me.
 “It
was very hard to refocus after his injury in the fifth,
especially as he came back very strongly.
"At 7-4, he told me he was going to come back and ruin this
match. I said, no, you’re not going to. This was the mental war
of the game. I’m happy as it fired me up and then I came back
and won four points straight to win 11-4.
 "I
just can’t describe how I feel right now. It’s my first final
here and I’m just really happy I was able to win it in my first
time. It’s such a prestigious event and to follow players like
Jansher [Khan], [Amy] Shabana and Nick [Matthew] is something
I’ll remember for the rest of my life, that I was able to win it
when I was 23.
“I would call this the most important trophy I’ve won right now.
"I have big plans for myself this year and starting it like
this, by beating the World No. 1, is huge for me and my
confidence. I want to keep it going for sure. I’m hungry for
more titles. I want to keep it going.
and Ten in a row for Nicol
 Nicol
David extended her unbeaten run in Hong Kong to TEN
tournaments and FIFTY matches, in a women's final that, while it
was over in three games, was far from easy for the world number
one.
 True,
David steamed away with the first, but Nour El Tayeb,
appearing in just her second World Series final, pushed David
all the way in the next two games, leading for most of the
second but failing to take either of her two game balls, and
only at 7-all in the third did David finally put paid to the
young Egyptian's challenge.
 "I’m
really pleased to win 3-0 and win in Hong Kong again," said
David.
"Nour is an up and coming player and she never gave up,
especially in the second when she really pressured me and played
exactly to her game plan. I had to really focus and work hard to
take four points in a row to win that game.
"It was crucial to win the second and not give Nour confidence
and play her rhythm because she’s proven why she’s in these
finals. I knew I needed that second game and then took it on
full speed in the third game.
"I lost last week in Malaysia, but I always enjoy it here in
Hong Kong and it's especially nice to win here again after last
week's disappointment.
"I'll head home to Malaysia now, this is a good boost for my
preparations ahead of the Asian Games coming up in South Korea."
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