[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-1 Iker Pajares (ESP) ย 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (83m)
What Iker covered today on court is quite impressive. Marwan was in great form today. He nearly didn’t argue – only one conduct warning for descent, that’s nothing for my Marwan – was positive in his attitude, his squash. I love watching him because he is like a cat with several mouses, sending them in different directions, different pace, height, strength… you think he is playing slow and baoum, out of nowhere, a long drop shot that dies at the front while you are pinned on the backdoor….
Mean. Mean Marwan.
No, seriously, the man doesn’t have the brio and the explosion of energy that his brother expresses, but his brain has even more colours to chose from. The skills of Marwan are completely underplayed, he is in my view one of the most underrated players on the Tour at the moment.
What to say about Iker. One of the nicest guys on Tour. He doesn’t give you any point. He works till he falls or cramps or die. Or win. He didn’t win today but after the blackout break (about 12, 15m), he took a game, and that was completely due to him. He could/should have won the first game, he was up game ball, 10/9, but the experienced Marwan managed to make the court very big for a few long time (overall game was 25m), 12/10 Marwan, turning point of the match I feel.
Marwan and Iker were neck to neck in the second up to 8/8, like in the previous game, very heavy rallies at that point, and Marwan again, 11/8, in control of the rallies there again.
We thought we were going for a 5th when Iker managed to take the 3rd and was up 3-0 in the fourth. But Marwan closed up the angles, slowed down the pace a bit, and varied his shots again, 4/4. Iker was to score another point, 5/4, but that was the last one he would, 11/5 in 11m for Marwan… 3/1, very entertaining match indeed.
Iker
I feel recently, last few months, I have to improve my squash. I feel physically very good, I don’t get very tired on court, I feel I can keep pushing, keep pushing, but my squash is just not good enough.
My shots seem to touch the side wall more than my opponent’s, and that makes me lose the crucial rallies, or at least, lose advantage.
I like playing Marwan a lot. He is a great player, one of the best in the business, he always tries to go through the interference, he doesn’t stop too much. I accept he is going to take a lot of space on court, and I don’t mind because when you do the same to him, he doesn’t complain. Some players who block you then cry when you are doing the same to them. Marwan accepts it. He blocks, but when you block him, he doesn’t say anything. So it’s always a very fluid match.
I always enjoy playing Marwan, it’s always a big lesson, specially in the backhand side. I try to keep up with him, but he is probably the best, or at least, one of the best in that area.
I played better than the last time I played him in NZ, so a lot of positives from today.
๐ฃ๏ธ "What a PUNISHING line" ๐ฏ@maelshorbagy with a ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ winner ๐#OptasiaChampionship pic.twitter.com/4CzuXWgJSk
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) March 27, 2025
Marwan
โIt was my first time ever [having a break due to a power outage]. You just have to adapt, and Iker and I were just looking to keep ourselves warm and our bodies okay. You have got to be prepared for anything to happen, especially in our sport.
โI had a 5-2 lead in the third, but Iker came back pretty well, he changed a little bit what he was doing. After losing that third, I needed to regroup myself because he had a very quick start in the fourth game as well.
โI believed I could still make a way back into the match and get my rhythm back to win the match.โ
