Ramy Ashour Wins Second World Series Finals Title

Egypt's world No3 Ramy Ashour celebrated his 50th appearance in a PSA World Tour final in sensational style, beating compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy in an electrifying climax of the Power Courts World Series Finals in Richmond, Virginia, to claim the flagship title for a second time.

Ashour, champion in 2007, came through 15-17, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 in a titanic 63-minute tussle which was full to the brim of thrilling rallies which delighted the crowd at the prestigious Westwood Club.

It was the first time that two Egyptians have met in the final of the PSA World Series title decider and Cairo-based Ashour, whose past four months have been injury plagued, said he was privileged to take on his Alexandrian compatriot with the title on the line.

"I'm really, really proud to win such a prestigious event," said Ashour.

"Everyone would love to win this event and I really pushed myself and focused from the first point of the week until the last point of the week which gives me a lot of confidence mentally.

"It's been a great week overall and I think my performances were good and I was really proud that both of us were in the final today.

"It's the first time that there's been two Egyptian in the World Series Finals final and this kind of success can help uplift spirits back home in Egypt," added Ashour, who now boasts 33 Tour titles.

"We've gone through a lot of turmoil in recent years. It's still not over but it's getting better and better. We do what we can to raise the flag through squash and doing our best and we have faith that very soon things will be in a much better state than they were before."

It was Elshorbagy who took the opening game in a nail-biting 17-15 tie-break but that challenge forced Ashour to raise his game and the former world No1 and two-time World Champion responded to produce some of his best squash to see off his younger challenger.

"It was a brutal match and both of us were really hungry to win that opening game and it's credit to him that it went his way," Ashour said.

"He deserved to win that game and I had to come back with a different plan from the second game and thankfully it worked.

"It definitely wasn't easy. He's very explosive and catches you off guard so you have to be on your toes and you have to really dig-in and make sure that every point counts and I'm happy to have won."