Mohamed ElShorbagy On The British Open And The World No.1 Spot

Three-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy comes into the British Open knowing that a fourth win would see him move back to the summit of the world rankings.

ElShorbagy will be looking to write the wrongs of his 2022 tournament, when he lost in the second round to Germany’s Raphael Kandra. That was match where he thought the worst about his time on court.

“When I lost at the British Open last year, that’s when I thought.. ‘Am I good enough anymore?’ It was the first time I had questioned myself really. Then, when I started coming back again to who I am, I never thought about that again because I have been there [at the top] very long, and I have won big titles,” the Englishman said.

“You go through moments in your career that are very important, and I do feel that [defeat to Raphael Kandra in 2022] was one of the most important. Losing that match last year, that was very important because it made me make a lot of changes. A year later, I am fighting for World No.1, I am fighting for all the big titles, I am a contender.

“I am really proud of this, but let’s hope I can do well there [at this year’s British Open]. All these things are in the past now, I know I have played a good season, but it is in the past. The season can easily turn to a bad one if I don’t continue as well. I have built up to this part of the season, to give me a chance to be World No.1, and if I could get it here in England, it would be amazing. The perfect place to get it, definitely.”

ElShorbagy is part of the older generation at the top of the world rankings. He has had the best season of those in that bracket, with Ali Farag, Paul Coll and Karim Abdel Gawad among those struggling compared to previous years.

The new generation, including Mostafa Asal and Diego Elias, bring about a new challenge, and it is one that the former World No.1 is relishing at this stage of his career.

“My own generation has not done very well this year, for different reasons. Ali [Farag] has been injured, he is still making his way back. [Karim Abdel] Gawad is starting to make his way back, Paul [Coll] is not playing as well as he did last year. So it is a very different time for me to compete against players who are not my generation.

“Diego [Elias] is in his prime. 26-years-old is literally his prime. [Mostafa] Asal is in his prime too, but earlier because he is 21-years-old. He will have a long prime to his career, and he will continue to get better. I am very proud to be competing with these two for World No.1. I would like to be World No.1 over them because I have been World No.1 over different generations. I have challenged myself against different generations and I was able to get to World No.1 in each generation I have challenged.

This is a very different one, a much younger one for me. If I become World No.1, it would be amazing! They have the edge in terms of youth, I have the edge in terms of experience. I would say it is the biggest strength of my career, in terms of the mental side of the game. I have always been able to find ways to come back. When I was down, I came back and when I lost the World No.1 spot, I came back. 

“This is just another story, me trying to come back again. I had a little doubt in myself last season when I lost at the British Open. Once I came back to who I am, whenever I was myself, I never doubted myself. 

“I remember people doubted me when Gawad started doing really well and he took the World No.1 from me. I came back the season after and got back the World No.1. Ali took the World No.1 and people doubted me, and I came back again. Last year, people were saying I was finished, and yet here I am fighting for World No.1 again. Have I ever been worried about what people have said? Never, because I have always done it. If someone is going to take me out of the British Open, then hopefully it will be on a good day, where I am playing well. 

“My greatest strength, it has always been trying to compete with me for a whole season, from September to June. Players do fall off at the end of the season when they are tired. We are coming to that part of the season, the latter end of it. It is nice to be in that competition with Diego and Asal. The three of us have played way more matches than anyone, and it is nice to be competing with these two. Playing to the latter stages, at the end of the season.”

This will be ElShorbagy’s first experience of playing in the British Open as an English player, having changed his nationality from Egypt in June of last year.

Although the crowd have never been against him at the British Open, he is very much looking forward to featuring on home soil at the sport’s oldest event for the first time.

“It means a lot to be there at the British, playing for England. I really want to do well, it is going to be a very special year for me. I am really excited to get started. The English crowd has always been amazing whether you are playing for England or against England,” he explained.

“I played the British for so many years and I have never had a bad experience. I have played it since it was at the O2 Arena. Then all of it in Hull, always a great crowd, great experiences. Hopefully it will be another great experience this time.”

This year’s British Open will take place between April 9-16 at both the Edgbaston Priory Club and the Rep Theatre in Birmingham. Matches held on the glass court at the Rep will be streamed LIVE on SQUASHTV, while the semi-finals and finals will be shown live on broadcast channels around the world.

Visit the tournament website for information and tickets at www.allambritishopen.com, and you can also follow the event on Twitter: @BritOpenSquash.