Elshorbagy & El Sherbini Score Egyptian ToC Double

It was an Egyptian double in New York where world No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and world No.5 Nour El Sherbini claimed the 2016 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions titles after dramatic finals at the city's iconic Grand Central Terminal.

Elshorbagy, from Alexandria, defended his crown and extend his unbeaten run over England's Nick Matthew to four matches when he beat the 35-year-old 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6.

The pair have one of the most intense rivalries on the PSA World Tour and went head-to-head in a nail-biting 93-minute spectacle that saw Elshorbagy repeat his heroics against the Englishman in a repeat of last year's final.

Elshorbagy has been in superb form after capturing both the Qatar Classic and the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open in recent months and his latest victory sees him strengthen his lead on the PSA Road to Dubai Standings with a third consecutive PSA World Series title.

"It's a great start for me to 2016 and I'm glad," said 25-year-old Elshorbagy.

"Nick and myself always have such great battles. I told him after the match that it's always an honour to play him in a World Series final and I was really happy to get my second title here. I really enjoyed the match today and I look forward to having more great battles with him in the future.

"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. He had already beaten my brother [Marwan] and I didn't want him to beat both of us in the same tournament."

Meanwhile, the women's event saw Egyptian No.2 El Sherbini scoop the most lucrative title of her career to date after overcoming home favourite Amanda Sobhy. The three-time world junior champion claimed the winner's cheque in the biggest prize fund in the tournament's history after 2016 saw the prestigious event offer parity in prize money for the first time ever.

El Sherbini was in the form of her life after defeating 2014 winner Nicol David in the previous round and the 20-year-old played with a maturity beyond her years as she rose to claim an 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8 victory and capture her first ever PSA World Series crown.

"It's an unbelievable feeling, I can't express it," said El Sherbini after denying the event its first ever native US champion.

"Words can't describe how I'm feeling now. This one is really special and to win it is something that I'm never going to forget. I'm really glad that I won this year, I'm really happy."

ToC image courtesy of www.squashpics.com