Elborolossy Takes Houston Title

Egypt's former world No14 Omar Elborolossy took another significant step towards his return to the game's elite when he beat compatriot Mohd Ali Anwar Reda in the final of the BCD & SMH Houston Open to lift the PSA Tour trophy at the Downtown Club in Houston in the US state of Texas.

Since his Tour comeback a year ago after an 18-month break, the 31-year-old from Cairo has shown an impressive return to form - leaping from 306 to 43 in the world rankings, reaching four Tour finals this year, and now clinching his second title in six months.

After the experienced Elborolossy took the opening game, 18-year-old second seed Reda came back from 1-6 down to win the second to draw level.

Elborolossy hung in to win the crucial and closely-matched third game, for which both players fought particularly hard.

"Losing the third was like letting the air out of Reda's balloon, who seemed deflated in the fourth, and it was clear that he didn't have the same fight left in him anymore," said event spokesman Rashid Ali Khan. "Throughout the match both players played clean squash, making every effort to get to and play the ball."

Elborolossy earned his 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 victory in 54 minutes - afterwards thanking the tournament sponsors, volunteers and organisers, before dedicating the win to his wife (former player Salma Shabana, sister of world No1 Amr) and two children in Egypt.

The win takes Elborolossy's career haul to 14 PSA Tour titles (just two fewer than compatriot Amr Shabana) - and is likely to see the popular Egyptian return to the world's top 30 soon.

Final:
[1] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [2] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 (54m)