El Sherbini and Shorbagy Claim 2016 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Titles

New York, NY – January 14, 2016. Seventh seed Nour El Sherbini ended the magic carpet ride that had been Amanda Sobhy’s journey through the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, but not before these two newly minted stars of women’s squash threw down the gauntlet on the glittering glass court in front of a sold out crowd in Grand Central Terminal’s vaunted Vanderbilt Hall.

“Nour came out firing from the very start,” said Sobhy, the hometown favorite. who fell behind in the first game early on and never caught up. The second was nip and tuck all the way through with the lead exchanging hands every few points until Sobhy evened the match by winning the game 11-9.

In the third, El Sherbini once again raced out to an early lead, scoring the first five points and then taking an 8-4 lead. Just as she had done all week, the American stepped up to quicken her attack, and hitting the ball to better length in the back of the court, evened the score at eight all. At that point, it was anybody’s game. A tinned boast at 10 all by Sobhy gave her Egyptian opponent the lead which El Sherbini converted to a game win on the very next point.

A nerveless El Sherbini, coached by three time ToC champion Amr Shabana, again shot out to a commanding lead at 6-1 and then 8-4 in the fourth. Sobhy, whose competitive will is one of her great strengths, fought back to 7-8. Her 20-year-old opponent was unfazed and allowed Sobhy just one more point before laying claim to one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.

“Nour was at the top of her game tonight,” said Sobhy after the match. “She was able to keep her position in front for most of the match and made almost no errors.” Completely spent after the match, the 22-year-old Long Island native acknowledged that,” This has been one of the best weeks of my life – getting to the finals here, with the incredible support of the crowds at every match.”

Immediately after winning the biggest title of her career to date, the youngest-ever ToC champion whose steely court composure belies her years, was charmingly at a loss for words when asked how she felt. “I don’t know what to say. It’s weird and amazing and incredible,” said El Sherbini with a huge smile.

Amazing and incredible could also describe the men’s championship match that followed between defending champion and world no. 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and three-time world champion Nick Matthew. Theirs is a compelling rivalry and coming into the ToC finals, the Egyptian had a slight edge – 8-7 – in career match wins against the Englishman. The two strongest- willed competitors on the PSA Men’s World Tour did not disappoint the standing room only crowd as they battled for 91 minutes to earn the right to hoist the ToC trophy..

Matthew, at 35 the oldest player on tour, was still on the comeback trail after a surprise knee surgery in June that took him out of commission for six weeks during the important summer training season. ”My goal for this week was primarily to prove that I am still a contender,” Matthew said. The proof was on the court as he struck first to win the opening game 11-8.

ElShorbagy, who had briefly lost his hunger for the game this past fall after experiencing the sustained pressure of being the top ranked player for a year, had returned to the ToC with his passion restored and it was on full display in the second game as ElShorbagy took command to win it 11-6. The third was anybody’s game with the lead exchanging hands several times until ElShorbagy closed it out at 11-8. Matthew roared back in the fourth, taking a 7-3 lead and winning the game 11-6. Matthew took a quick early lead at 2-1 and 4-1 in the deciding game, but ElShorbagy was not to be denied as he stormed back and out to a 6-4 and then went up 10-5 before claiming his second ToC crown with an 11-6 fifth game victory.

In his remarks during the trophy presentation, the two-time ToC champion said, “I think that’s the best I’ve seen him play so far this season and I’m really glad to see him back at his best again because the game needs him and he is very important for the game. I want to congratulate him for his great performance” The just-turned-25 year old added, “But I knew that I had to beat Nick tonight. He had already beaten my brother Marwan and I didn’t want him to beat both of us in the same tournament.”

Results – J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
January 14, 2016
Women’s Finals
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) def Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-5, 9-11,12-10,11-8 (46 mins)

Men’s Finals
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v. [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, , 6-11, 11-6 (91 mins)

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