MUMBAI: World number five Ramy Ashour of Egypt capped an inspired week in India by winning the $152,500 PSA Masters squash title here on Thursday.
Ashour beat the fourth-ranked Nick Matthews of England 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 in the final that lasted an hour and 19 minutes at the Bombay Gymkhana here.
The victory brought the 22-year-old Ashour closer to becoming the world number one when the Professional Squash Association s latest rankings are announced in January.
Ashour beat his world champion compatriot Amr Shabana in the semi-final to avenge his defeat in last month s World Open final in Kuwait City.
This has been a good visit to Mumbai, said Ashour. I was focused the whole week and just concentrated on doing well.
I tried to keep my game simple and return everything that was hit at me.
Matthews dropped his first game in the tournament when Ashour, using his considerable reach to good effect, took the opener 11-6 in 15 minutes of long, hard-fought rallies.
Matthews built up a comfortable 10-4 lead in the second game before the Egyptian reeled off five points to make it 9-10.
Matthews finally won the game 11-9 after the referee overruled Ashour s request for a let-ball.
Ashour clinched the third game at 11-9 and raced to 10-7 in the fourth when Matthews saved two of the three match points before a backhand from the Egyptian passed him.
I don t think we did justice to the final, said Mathews. We both played rubbish squash, it was a terrible match, but he played the big points better than me and won.
It was Ashour s fourth win in seven matches against Matthews, and the second in succession after the North American Open final in February which the Egyptian won in five games.
