2021 Platinum Reports REPORTS

SF: Superb Fares back in the final

SF: [7] Fares Dessouky (Egy) 3-0 [3] Tarek Momen (Egy) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (47m)

Fares Dessouky on fire as he beats Tarek Momen in straight games to return to the final 

The Black Ball Champion said he was very tired for the match when he spoke to PSA after his three love victory against World Champion Tarek Momen… Well, from where I was standing, he looked in fine form.

Both players looked very good to be honest. I was impressed by Tarek’s tactical game, and by the very few errors he made: two in the first game, one in the second, non in the third. Very high quality indeed.

But whatever Tarek was throwing in the ring, Fares seemed very casually finding answers. It is also true that Tarek kept mentioning to the ref how he felt shut out constantly. “I just want to play squash. Every point, I’m shut out. I just want to play fluid squash, I’m not asking for much” he stated at the end of the two first games. He seemed really troubled by his opponent movement.

First game, extremely close after a good start from the Momenator, 3/0, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, 7/7, with Fares just finding some lovely shots at the business end of the 16m game, 11/8. 8 winners for Fares, 6 for Tarek.

The second sees again a good start from the World Champ, 2/0, 3/1, but again very close, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5. Tarek the nose ahead, 7/5, back level 7/7, again Tarek 9/7, looking good. But Fares just cannot be contained, and he scores four points in a row, 11/9, Tarek making his only error of the game on game ball….

15m second game, 3 errors Fares at the very start of the game, Tarek 1 on game ball.

The third, well, hard to stop a young Egyptian with 2 games in the bag to be honest. Still Tarek did try very hard, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 but Fares way in front 7/3, 8/4. A last big push from the Momenator, he’s come back from 2/0 down before, he knows he can do it, 6/8, it’s all possible.

But it’s match ball for the BlackBall Champion, 10/6, saved by a stroke, the second one is the one, 11/7, 12m last game..

Tarek: I feel I missed a great opportunity tonight. I’m world number 3, and the number one, and number two are out. I was so unlucky recently with an injury, I managed to come back, I’m here and I feel I cannot defend my chances because of his movement and the space he takes to play his shots…

I thought I was playing very well today…. How many more chances will I have, I see the clock ticking…

Fares: “I am feeling tired actually. Today I was a bit exhausted. It was a mental game and even if I lose, I was going to give it 100% and I would learn from that lesson, for sure.

“It was not very easy. Every game I was down by two and I had to come back to win the games. He is a very tough opponent. Tarek is very fast and very accurate, very talented. I am really glad to be through that’s for sure.

“I ‘m going to watch the next semi yes. I will not think about the plan, I will think about that tomorrow morning so I give myself a bit of relaxation time. I can think about the positives and not think about tomorrow’s match. If I think about the match a lot then I will be exhausted for tomorrow. I need to see the physio today, Derek Ryan, and I have to thank him for all he has done.”