Manchester Open SFs: Lobban Holds Off Dessouky Charge To Reach Maiden World Tour Final 

World No.20 Greg Lobban advanced to his first-ever World Tour final after holding off a determined comeback from Fares Dessouky in a feisty encounter that included over 50 refereeing decisions at the Manchester Open. 

Lobban, who was being cheered on by a strong Scottish contingent who had made the journey south of the border, started the match strongly, maintaining a cool head despite a number of interference issues in the middle of the court. 

Meanwhile, his opponent, World No.18 Dessouky, grew in frustration as the first game progressed, engaging in numerous animated conversations with the referee, and Lobban subsequently moving a game up by an 11-6 scoreline. 

Dessouky grew more and more frustrated in a second game that Lobban took 11-9, receiving a conduct warning from the referee, but bounced back in the third with a string of scintillating winners. At 7-7 in the third, Dessouky was just points away from defeat, but he showed great character to win four consecutive points and take the match to a fourth game. 

The stop-start nature of the match only continued in the fourth, as both players were awarded strokes and no lets by the referee. As was the case in the previous game though, it was Dessouky, who produced the goods in the pressure moments, forcing a deciding game after Lobban wasn’t given a let after going to the Video Referee. 

A conduct stroke was awarded to Dessouky early in the fifth as the pressure continued to mount, with the pair moving to the latter stages of the encounter within a point of each other. However, it was Lobban who found a great length to move 10-8 up, before being awarded a stroke to seal his spot in the final at the first time of asking.

After the match, Lobban said: “I can’t imagine the people at home stayed tuned into that one because it was less about the squash and more about the physicality out there. It’s a real shame when it gets like that. When it gets like that it’s not nice for anyone to watch, it’s certainly not nice to play, but the crowd seemed to be getting into it – maybe not for the right reasons – but I won the last point, and that’s what matters. 

“I had to stay really physically and emotionally disciplined today. I was on the verge sometimes, but managed to just close it out. 

“I think that is the main thing that has got me through this week [my emotional awareness]. I think even in my first-round against Jonah Bryant, I had been watching him and I know he will be beating me very soon, and I just was hoping it wouldn’t be that one. Emotionally that was tough, but that is what has got me through the last few rounds on the biggest of stages.

“Although there were a lot of traffic issues, I’m really pleased with how I coped mentally.”

Result:

[7] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [5] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8 (87m)