[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [5] Karim Gawad (EGY) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)
Clinical.
Mostafa didn’t have to force too much his talent today as Karim was never allowed to play his magic, Mostafa was far too much in control of the middle of the court to permit the former World Champion to be a real threat today.
Maybe in the middle of the third, the crowd hoped for the “coming back King” to perform; at 6/5, it was still possible. But Mostafa had watched the previous match between Joel and Youssef, and didn’t want a three love to go on! So, the Joker/Bull just put the foot on the pedal and scored the following 6 points, to close game and match 11/6 in the longest game of the match, 17m [first game 9m, second game 11].
Mostafa : “First of all, Karim is such a legend, for me, for my family, he’s the only current professional I have played with since I was like 11. He was like the first player who my mum and dad asked to have a hit for just two, three, four points with me when I was younger.
“This is something I really appreciate about Karim, he is such a humble guy. He’s a World Champion and former World No.1, so all credit to him.
On his upcoming semi-final with Joel Makin, he added: “Joel is a physical player, today was a really tough one against Youssef. Neither me or Karim could warm up, because we didn’t know whether it was going to go to a fourth or fifth game or not.
“It’s definitely going to be a huge battle, and full respect to Joel, for sure.”
