SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open: Hesham Fights Back to Deny Elias and Reach Final

Mazen Hesham came back from 2-1 down to beat home favourite Diego Elias in the SmartCentres Florida Open semi-finals. 

Playing at his home club, Elias came into the match with an impressive record against the Egyptian, winning 12 of their 15 matches, including each of the last nine, but he was unable to add another win to that record, going down in 77 minutes on the glass court. 

Elias had taken the opening game in their last seven meetings, but it was a different story here, as Hesham executed his shots with aplomb throughout game one, winning it on a stroke after a controversial video review had brought up game ball. 

Elias continued to struggle in the early rallies of game two, but the errors crept into Hesham’s game at a crucial stage towards the end, opening the door for the Peruvian to level the score. 

That appeared to settle the No.1 seed down, as he raced into a 5-1 lead in game three, and while Hesham got back to 5-4, Elias halted his charge with an outstanding cross-court volley which hit the nick and rolled. 

He then hit a perfect forehand volley to bring up game ball moments later, and closed it out when Hesham hit then tin, but the Egyptian dug deep to claim game four and send us into a decider. 

The end to game four was somewhat controversial, with Elias wanting a let after contact between the two players, but his appeal came too late after playing on in the rally, and Hesham came out firing in game five. 

He was soon 9-5 up, and while Elias closed the gap to two points, that was as close as he got, with Hesham clinching victory on the following point to reach his first Gold event final since 2022. 

“I’m very, very pleased,” he said after his win. “I haven’t beaten Diego in God knows how long.” 

“It’s been a few years and he’s been at the top of the rankings for around the last two years. He’s improved so much, mentally and physically, and he’s such a nice guy outside of the court as well. 

“Inside the court, I think both of us were a bit feisty but that happens with this sport. We respect each other so much, and I was really pleased with how both of us fought and kept our composure at the end, and I was really lucky that it went my way. Other times, it wouldn’t go my way, but it happened today.” 

Discussing how he got back into the match after falling 2-1 behind, he added: “I told myself… if you’re going to win against these guys, it’s going to be so hard, they never give it to you easily, especially when I haven’t beaten him for a long time now. 

“He knows he can push against me, he knows he can make it tough and physical for me. I just had to stick in there and prove myself wrong that I can push these guys, and I can challenge them this year more than ever.” 

When asked what was going through his mind as Elias closed the gap in game five, he joked: “Typical Mazen, typical Mazen. You try to go too early too quick, and you always try to see the finish line. 

“I told myself that you have to stick in there and you have to keep working for it, as he can come back any time, so I’m really, really, glad I kept my mental focus in there. I had a few relapses, but this is the way it is and I’m very, very proud of myself for pushing today.”

Result: [4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [1] Diego Elias (PER): 3-2 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (77m)