Windy City Open 2024 Presented By The Walter Family QF: Hesham Beats Elshorbagy in Another Five-Game Thriller

Mazen Hesham came out on top of another five-game thriller with Mohamed Elshorbagy, winning 3-2 in 81 minutes to reach the Windy City Open semi-finals. 

Hesham had beaten Elshorbagy 3-2 in Houston last week, his second straight win over ‘The Beast’ after losing their previous 11 encounters, and he made it three in a row with another dramatic victory here in Chicago. 

As he did in their Texas encounter, Elshorbagy made a flying start, needing just eight minutes to win game one, utilising the straight drive to good effect throughout. 

At 9-7 up in game two he seemed in complete control, looking measured and composed, but Hesham proved how dangerous he can be, fighting back to win four points on the bounce, capped with a brilliant backhand drop cross court, drawing gasps from both the crowd and commentary box. 

Despite being level on the scoreboard, errors plagued the Back Falcon’s game and they ended up costing him in game three. 

With the ball having gone soft and neither player able to find much rhythm, the players went toe-to-toe before Elshorbagy brought up two games balls, letting out a huge cry of emotion after a backhand flick to make it 10-8. 

Hesham saved the first but not the second, registering his 18^th error of the match on a leisure-centre boast that clipped the tin. 

Determined to avoid another five-game epic, Elshorbagy made a solid start to game four by moving 3-1 up, but Hesham would not go away, squaring things up at 7-7. 

There was then drama at 8-7 when Hesham tinned a backhand with his hand in the air appealing to the referee, but his blushes were spared by confirmation from the video referee that Elshorbagy’s ball had clipped the out line. 

The World No.7 won the next two points to bring up two game balls, but Elshorbagy saved both, scrambling around the court with the crowd holding its breath.

A dramatic tie break ensued as Hesham brought up another game ball after another long rally, but was this time denied by the ball taking a funny bounce off the door. 

The next opportunity was Elshorbagy’s but a match ball came and went on a stroke, before Hesham finally brought an end to the game, taking it 14-12 on an Elshorbagy backhand that went out. 

As if there wasn’t enough drama to end game four, there was more to start game five, with the video referee once again required to determine whether an Elshorbagy pickup was good. 

The cameras appeared to show a double bounce, but the players agreed to play a let as the match approached the 70-minute mark and tensions rose. 

A rush of blood from Hesham saw him waste his extra review, immediately regretting his request for what was an obvious stroke, but he was quickly 6-4 up nonetheless. 

He continued to apply terrific pressure on Elshorbagy in opening up an 8-5 lead, but that lead had gone in the blink of an eye, as the No.4 seed got back to 9-9. 

A forehand winner from Hesham sent Elshorbagy tumbling and gave the Black Falcon match ball, which he clinched after another video review awarded him a stroke. 

“Today was really hard, mentally and physically,” Hesham said after his win. 

“It’s really hard to beat Mo twice in a row, and I only played him last week, so I knew he would come at me really hard to get his revenge. What a fight, man. The guy keeps fighting until the last minute.

“It was really hard to close it down and win the last match. It went my way in the last few points, I was really lucky in the end, but I tried to keep my head in the game and stay steady. I was itching to go short. 

“Thankfully, I played the right shots at the right moments, and I could get the win my own way. 

Discussing the mouthwatering tie break in game four, Hesham added: “I had two balls in a row which bounced funny! 

“It was a weird tie-break, but I played the big points well, I kept my composure and I made sure if I was going to lose it, he would have to beat me. 

“For a guy like me who was almost not going to play again because of the injuries, any day on court is a happy day. I hate losing, but I’m a much better loser now. I hope this can keep going for a bit and I enjoy my squash more and more.” 

Result: 
[7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [4] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-2: 4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9 (81m)