Season Review : Mohamed ElShorbagy

Mohamed El Shorbagy

World Ranking: #2
Last season’s achievments:
U.S. Open, Everbright Sun Hung Kai Hong Kong Squash Open, Grasshopper Cup, British Open
Played: 54 – Won: 44 – Lost: 10 – Win Percentage: 81.5%

SquashPlayer Interview

Although he was unable to live up to the incredible standards of 2017-2018, Mohamed ElShorbagy still had a very good campaign this time round, winning four titles, including three Platinum events.

SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER

He started his season in San Francisco, but lost out in the final to Ali Farag. He quickly forgot about that, though, taking victory at the U.S. Open, defeating Germany’s Simon Rösner in the finale.

He only made one more final before the turn of the year, suffering premature exits at the Channel VAS, Qatar Classic and Black Ball Open. His success came in Hong Kong, where he defeated Farag in the final.

JANUARY TO JUNE

2019 started slowly, as he only made the final in one of his first three events. He lost out to Farag, once more, in the final of the Tournament of Champions, before falling in the last four of both the World Championships and Canary Wharf Classic.

ElShorbagy returned to winning form in Switzerland, as he got revenge on the man who had knocked him out of the last two events, compatriot Tarek Momen, beating the World No.3 in the final to win the Grasshopper Cup.

Shorbagy rounded out the season with victory at the British Open, as he claimed his third crown in Hull, before missing out on a third successive World Tour Finals title, losing out to Karim Abdel Gawad in the semi finals.

Shorbagy talks with SquashPlayer’s Ian McKenzie 

IM: Favourite shot?
ME: The forehand, crosscourt volley nick. I’d be a great doubles partner for Ramy [Ashour], as his favourite is the backhand one!

IM: Particular opportunities you look out for in playing this shot?
ME: I think players know I play the ball fairly hard on the forehand and when I hit it straight, they sometimes have to lift it and then I get an opportunity to go for it. Really, you try to force a weak ball before attacking, but as it is my favourite shot, I have the confidence to go for it, even if I am not in a perfect position.

IM: you hit it from in front of the short line?
ME: Yes and sometimes off the serve.

IM: How do you set up opportunities to attack? 
ME: I do look for the volley nick opportunities, but generally I concentrate on taking the ball early and unsettling my opponent.

However, to give you an example, there have been a number of ‘lefties’ on tour and generally you try to play to their backhands. Over the years, I have learned to do this to Peter Barker and LJ, and I tried to do it to Amr Shabana, but I couldn’t control the ball and he always switched me back to his forehand. He did this with all the players.

One of my shots is a straight kill length. So, when I get the ball on my forehand and play this shot straight, opponents have to get to it before it goes to the back of the court, because it is going to die. Often, they are forced to lift the ball and that is when I can go for the volley attack.

IM: You sometimes practice your forehand volley drop during a match while you are waiting for a decision. Why?
ME: That is because I was not happy with the length of my straight forehand. Sometimes, when there is a shot that is not working on the day, you want to do something different. I was just developing a little confidence on the volley by playing a few.

IM: When you practise that shot, is it solo or with a partner?
ME: Mainly I do it solo on that one.

IM: Who do you practise with?
ME: I mainly train in Bristol. I’m on court with my brother, Marwan, Hadrian Stiff, Todd Harrity, Youssef Soliman, Peter Creed (who has now moved to Bristol) and quite a group of players. I like it there; it’s a great city. I’ll be there for a few years yet.

IM: What would be an example of one of your favourite practices?
ME: A simple one is where we practise straight lengths and include a straight drop, drive, drive, drop. You can develop this further by allowing different shots from the drop. You can use a lob straight or crosscourt. The player coming in looks to volley drop, but has two options to cover.

IM: You are a strong hitter off a short swing. How did you learn to do that?
ME: I’m not sure. It was just something I had when I was younger. Maybe it was from a lot of solo practices. It is nice to have an unorthodox technique; sometimes it is harder for the other players to read it, as long as it is not exposed as a weakness. Every player has something different. It is just their technique.

IM: It is fast, but don’t you have to time it right?
ME: Well, even with a big swing you have to time it right. My swing is not big, but at the contact point I have an open racket face and I get it right.

IM: How do you get advice on your game?
ME: David Palmer is advising me and we speak before every match. He watches my matches, even if they are at 3am. It is very important to have that support. Not every day is going to be great.

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