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Windy City Open 2024 Presented By The Walter Family QF: Farag Beats Gawad in Three to Reach Semis
World No.1 Ali Farag booked his spot in the Windy City Open semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Karim Abdel Gawad.
The pair were going head-to-head for the 25th time on the PSA Tour, with Farag recording his 15th win and his sixth in a row, less than two weeks after winning their last match in Houston.
The top seed had not been at his best early on in his round-three win over Leonel Cardenas, but it was a different story here, as he flew out into a game-one lead, taking it 11-2 on a backhand squeeze which was too tight for Gawad to get back.
At 8-3 in up game two, it looked as though Farag might be heading for a quick finish, but the ever-dangerous Gawad had other ideas.
Two tins in a row from the Farag racket opened the door for the World No.5, who sensed his opportunity and increased the tempo, drawing level at 8-8.
He levelled once more at 9-9 with a ridiculous forehand boast, which hit the front wall just fractions above the tin and died, and then brought up game ball with an equally brilliant forehand flick.
Even Farag was in awe of his opponent’s shot, wrapping his arms around him in an affectionate hug as the players met mid-court.
The players shared an embrace and a smile, but there would be little more for Gawad to smile about from there on in.
Farag saved game ball on a stroke and then took the game himself moments later, benefitting from a 12th unforced error from the Gawad racket.
Game three was somewhat of a procession in the end, with a soft backhand kill bringing up six match balls and ending a lengthy, lob-laden rally in which Farag had his opponent on strings.
The serve return from Gawad went down into the floor to give Farag the win, and speaking after the match, the World No.1 was pleased with his performance.
“Karim is such a dangerous player and for the first game and a half I didn’t put a foot wrong,” he said after the match.
“I was trying to get in front of him, play as accurately as possible and close down the angles. I did that very well up until 6-1 and then I hit two errors, which I don’t think were the wrong shots, but then you get a little nervy and when Karim gets going he can hit winners out of nowhere.
“All of a sudden you find yourself at 8-8, but thankfully I got that one because it would have made a big psychological difference.
“You don’t want to give Karim any chances. I kept my foot on the gas, sometimes he played really well and I couldn’t be upset with myself, it was just a case of keeping going, and I think I did that well in the third.”
Result:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 12-10, 11-4 (36m)
