Diego Elias Wins Pittsburgh Open 2023 Title

Diego Elias maintained his impressive streak to take the Pittsburgh Open title, defeating Marwan ElShorbagy in straight games at the Rivers Club. 

Elias, who’s already won the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions title and the Sturbridge Capital Motor City Open crown this year, hasn’t lost a match since the Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open decider in December as he made it a hat-trick of titles in 2023. 

The win in Pittsburgh will also see the Peruvian Puma rise to a career-best of World No.2 in the PSA World Rankings on Monday to crown his sensational form. 

Elias and ElShorbagy had met four times this season before today’s final, with their last encounter the ToC decider in New York, and it was ElShorbagy who started the brighter in the opening game in Pittsburgh. 

With some long, testing rallies, Elias eventually pulled clear as he claimed the first game 11-5. 

Elias made a blistering start to the second as he opened up a six-point cushion over ElShorbagy. Although it seemed the game was running away from the Egyptian, he managed to claw his way back into the contest, but errors and the accuracy of Elias saw the Peruvian take a vital two-game lead after winning 11-7.

The match was then sewn up with a clinical display in the third, with Elias emphatically victorious 11-2 to cap off an impressive performance to notch his third straight tournament triumph. 

“I’m very happy with my performance today,” Elias said.

“It was a very tough match with Marwan (ElShorbagy) – the start was very important I felt and I’m just very happy with the result.

“I think all the hard work before this tournament is paying off – I did a lot of work for this and I’m incredibly proud of myself for winning three tournaments in a row.

“I had to be very strong mentally at the start. I knew I was in for a long match, but I stayed solid and patient and at the end it paid off.”

Elias and ElShorbagy head to Egypt next for the Black Ball Squash Open, which takes place between March 2 – 7, at Black Ball Sporting Club. Action from Black Ball will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV. 

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Result: Pittsburgh Open Final

[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt [3] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 (36m)