Ramy Ashour

Ramy Ashour
Full name Ramy Mohamed Ashour
Nickname(s) Cairo King
Country  Egypt
Residence Cairo, Egypt
Born September 30, 1987 (1987-09-30) (age 24)
Cairo, Egypt
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 78 kilograms (170 lb)
Turned Pro 2004
Retired Active
Plays Right handed
Coached by Ashraf Hanafi
Anthony Hill
Ahmed Matan
Racquet used Dunlop Biomimetic Max
Men's singles
Highest ranking No. 1 (January, 2010)
Current ranking No. 4 (January, 2012)
World Open W (2008)
Last updated on: January 1, 2012.

Ramy Mohamed Ashour (Arabic: رامي عاشور‎) (born September 30, 1987, in Cairo, Egypt) is a professional squash player from Egypt. He reached world No. 1 in January, 2010, after beating Nick Matthew in the final of the 2009 Saudi International Squash Tournament.[1] At 22 he became the youngest player to achieve world No. 1 since the Khan era,[2] having previously been the first two-time World Junior Squash champion. In addition, he has also won numerous titles including the World Open.

Contents

Career Overview

Ashour won his first major international title in 2004, when he became the youngest player ever to win the Men's World Junior Squash Championship at just 16 years old. He also led Egypt to a second-place finish in the team event in 2004, losing to Pakistan in the final. In July 2006, he became the first player in history to win the World Junior Championships twice. He defeated his junior compatriot Egyptian Omar Mosaad. He also led Egypt to 2–1 victory over Pakistan in the final of the team event. By his victories, Egypt captured the first three positions in the individual players event and the team event title which was a feat no team has ever accomplished in the history of the tournament.

Ashour reached his first major final at the Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Squash Open in 2006 where he lost to the eventual world number one fellow Egyptian Amr Shabana. En route to the final, he beat World number 10 John White, world number 3 Thierry Lincou and World No.2 David Palmer.

Ashour won his first major professional title in January 2007, when he defeated David Palmer (11–7, 11–3, 11–4) in 32 minutes for the Canadian Squash Classic. In April 2007, Ashour won both the Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open, the richest squash event in the world, by defeating his Egyptian compatriot Amr Shabana, 11–5, 11–3, 12–10, in 34 minutes, after a 10-6 deficit in the third, and then won the Qatar Classic in Doha by again dispatching David Palmer with a score of 8–11, 11–9, 11–9, 11–6, in 66 minutes.

Also in 2007, Ramy won the ATCO Super Series Finals event, held in August, by competing against other top points winners of the season. Only the top 8 players are invited to this prestigious event. The only player to go undefeated in his first 3 matches, Ramy then met French sensation Grégory Gaultier in the final. After a 62 minute battle, Ramy took the title 3–1 (12–10, 11–8, 4–11, 11–4).

To quote squash legend and writer Malcolm Willstrop, "Ramy Ashour is something else - his movement is better than anyone in the game, and allied to his unique racket skills and vision, he lights up the sport. Not only that but his modesty, and engaging smile make him a rare commodity."

The season ending 2009 Saudi International Open saw Ashour beat Nick Matthew in a final where the winner would become the next world No. 1. Ashour won the 110 minute battle (his longest ever on the PSA tour) in a grueling 5 game match.[1]

Ashour's older brother, Hisham Mohd Ashour, also plays on the PSA tour and has a career high ranking of No. 13 in the world; achieved in April 2011.

After losing his world number one ranking to English rival Nick Matthew in June 2010, Ashour reached the final of the new World Series Australian Open in August, then battled to a 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 win in 90 minutes over Gregory Gaultier in the Hong Kong Open final two weeks later to ensure his return to the top of the rankings in September 2010. But despite again slipping behind Matthew in the first 2011 rankings, Ashour started his New Year campaign in brilliant style, winning the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions title for the second time since 2008 after overcoming the Englishman in the New York final. It was his comeback tournament after recovering from a 2010 hamstring injury. But a month later he was again back in a World Series final at the North American Open in Virginia – but this time it was Matthew who prevailed in an epic five gamer. Ramy came back however at the 2011 Australian Open, defeating defending champion Nick Matthew in another epic five gamer. Their rivalry continued as they played for their country in the WSF 2011 World Team Squash Championships in Paderborn, Germany. Ramy (and Egypt) went on to win that encounter. Ramy further consolidated his push towards world #1 defeating Nick Matthew again at the 2011 Rowe British Grand Prix 3 games to 1.

Career statistics

Listed below.

PSA Titles (22)

All Results for Ramy Ashour in PSA World's Tour tournament

Legend
PSA Platinum Series /
PSA Series Final /
PSA World Open (12)
PSA Gold Series (0)
PSA Silver Series (5)
PSA Star Series (4)
PSA Super Satellite (0)
PSA Satellite (1)
Titles by Major Tournaments
World Open (1)
British Open (2)
Hong Kong Open (1)
Qatar Classic (1)
Kuwait Open (2)
No. Date Tournament Opponent in Final Score in Final Minutes Played
1. November 21, 2004 Athens Open Andrew Whipp 13–11, 12–10, 7–11, 7–11, 11–9 1 h 15 min[3]
2. January 12, 2007 Canadian Classic David Palmer 11–7, 11–3, 11–4 32 min[4]
3. January 29, 2007 Dayton Open John White 8–11, 7–11, 11–16, 12–10, 11–2 1 h 12 min[5]
4. April 11, 2007 Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open Amr Shabana 11–5, 11–3, 12–10 34 min[6]
5. April 17, 2007 Qatar Classic Open David Palmer 8–11, 11–9, 11–9, 11–6 1 h 9 min[7]
6. August 12, 2007 Super Series Finals Grégory Gaultier 12–10, 11–8, 4–11, 11–4 1 h 2 min[8]
7. January 16, 2008 Tournament of Champions James Willstrop 11–7, 13–11, 11–9 40 min[9]
8. February 16, 2008 Canadian Classic Amr Shabana 11–2, 11–9, 8–11, 11–8 38 min[10]
9. April 20, 2008 Hurghada International Open Amr Shabana 12–10, 9–11, 11–7, 9–11, 12–10 47 min[11]
10. October 19, 2008 World Open Karim Darwish 5–11, 11–8, 11–4, 11–5 1 h[12]
11. February 28, 2009 North American Open Nick Matthew 11–8, 13–11, 10–12, 5–11, 11–8 1 h 31 min[13]
12. April 04, 2009 Hurghada International Open Gregory Gaultier 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 47 min[14]
13. December 10, 2009 PSA Masters Nick Matthew 11–6, 9–11, 11–9, 11–9 1 h 19 min[15]
14. December 18, 2009 Saudi International Open Nick Matthew 11–7, 7–11, 11–9, 9–11, 11–8 1 h 50 min[1]
15. March 20, 2010 CIMB KL Open Karim Darwish 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 51 min[16]
16. August 29, 2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open Gregory Gaultier 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 1 h 30 min[17]
17. September 20, 2010 Rowe British Grand Prix James Willstrop 11-7, 3-11, 11-3, 11-5 40 min[18]
18. November 02, 2010 Kuwait Open Amr Shabana 9-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-1 45 min[19]
19. January 27, 2011 Tournament of Champions Nick Matthew 11–3, 7–11, 11–9, 11-7 52 min[20]
20. May 19, 2011 Hurghada International Open Karim Darwish 11-9, 9-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-3 1 h 20 min[21]
21. August 14, 2011 Australian Open Nick Matthew 12-14, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 77 min[22]
22. September 25, 2011 Rowe British Grand Prix Nick Matthew 1-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 66 min[23]

Note: (ret) = retired, min = minutes, h = hours

PSA Tour Finals (Runner-Up) (13)

No. Date Tournament Opponent in Final Score in Final Minutes Played
1. October 22, 2005 Athens Open Hisham Mohd Ashour 11–7, 2–11, 10–12, 7–11 37 min[24]
2. January 29, 2006 Dayton Open John White 5–11, 3–11, 6–11 Unknown
3. March 11, 2006 COAS International Mohammed Abbas 4–11, 11–9, 5–11, 7–11 Unknown
4. October 22, 2006 Hong Kong Open Amr Shabana 11–13, 11–3, 5–11, 11–13 48 min[25]
5. October 28, 2007 Saudi International Open Amr Shabana 5–11, 5–11, 11–1, 9–11 50 min[26]
6. April 27, 2008 Kuwait Open Amr Shabana 9-11, 7-11, 11-13 52 min[27]
7. September 06, 2009 U.S. Open Amr Shabana 7-11, 2-11, 11-7, 14-12, 8-11 57 min[28]
8. November 07, 2009 Kuwait Open Amr Shabana 8-11, 8-11, 5-11 50 min[29]
9. January 28, 2010 Tournament of Champions James Willstrop 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 2-11 49 min[30]
10. February 27, 2010 North American Open Nick Matthew 9-11, 14-16, 4-5 (ret) 48 min[31]
11. August 15, 2010 Australian Open Nick Matthew 14-16, 7-11, 10-12 Unknown[32]
12. October 24, 2010 El-Gouna International Open Karim Darwish 14-16, 3-11, 1-5 (ret) 52 min[33]
13. February 26, 2011 North American Open Nick Matthew 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 6-11 1h 23 min[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Steve Cubbins, Framboise Gommendy (December 18, 2009). "Dream final it really was". Squashsite. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/saudi/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-24. 
  2. ^ "Ramy Ashour confirmed as new world number one". http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/10_jan_rankings.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 
  3. ^ "Ashour Takes Athens Title In PSA Tour Debut". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/fisher_athens.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  4. ^ "Ramy. Full stop. Change paragraph". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.org.uk/pcc/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  5. ^ "Ramy's revenge in Dayton". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/dayton07.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  6. ^ "Ramy and Nicol take Kuwait cronws". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.org.uk/kuwait/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  7. ^ "Ramy makes it a double". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.org.uk/qc/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  8. ^ "Ramy reigns supreme in Sportcity". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.org.uk/ssf/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  9. ^ "Ramy joins ToC elite". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/toc_2008.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  10. ^ "Ramy retains against rusty Shabana". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/canadian_classic08.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  11. ^ "Omneya and Ramy retains Hurghada titles". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/hurghada/2009pics/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  12. ^ "Ramy Ashour & Nicol David share world honours in Manchester". World Squash 2008 Official Website. http://www.worldsquash2008.com/news/finals.aspx. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  13. ^ "Ashour outlasts Matthew in North American open final". Squashplayer.co.uk. http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/resultspage.asp?Key=1976#Reports. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  14. ^ "Ramy retains Hurgada Title". Squashplayer.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/hurghada/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  15. ^ Framboise Gommendy. "Ramy is the Master". Squashsite. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/psamasters/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-24. 
  16. ^ "Top seeds take KL titles". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/kl2010.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  17. ^ "Today at the Hong Kong Open". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/hk/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  18. ^ [http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/britishgrandprix10.htm "Ashour Beats Willstrop To Deny English British Grand Prix Win"]. Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/britishgrandprix10.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  19. ^ "Ramy Soaring". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squash.me.uk/kuwait/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  20. ^ "Ramy joins ToC elite". tocsquash.com. http://www.tocsquash.com/News/awesome-ashour-wins-second-tournament-of-champions-title.html. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  21. ^ "Contrasting wins for Ramy and Raneem". tocsquash.com. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/hurghada2011.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  22. ^ "Ramy Ashour wins Australian Open". psaworldtour.com. http://www.psaworldtour.com/news/20110814/ramy-ashour-wins-australian-open_2281852_2419867. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
  23. ^ "The Dream Final". quashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/bgp/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
  24. ^ "Older brother prevails". Squashsite.co.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/athens2005.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  25. ^ "World number ones take Hong Kong titles". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.org.uk/hk/today.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  26. ^ "Saudi showdown". Atcosquash.com. http://www.atcosquash.com/today2007.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  27. ^ "Shabana's Turn...". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/kuwait/today08.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  28. ^ "Magnificent Shabana Takes US Open". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/us_open_09.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  29. ^ "It's four for Shabana's". worldopensquash.com. http://www.worldopensquash.com/2009_kuwait.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  30. ^ "It's James at last". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/toc/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  31. ^ "Matthew wins North American Open 2010". squash.socialgo.com. http://squash.socialgo.com/magazine/read/matthew-wins-north-american-open-2010-_743.html. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  32. ^ "Matthew shows why he’s number one". squash.me.uk. http://squash.me.uk/test/?p=1446. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  33. ^ "Darwish takes title as Ashour limps out...". squash.me.uk. http://www.squash.me.uk/elgouna/today.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  34. ^ "Mighty Matthew masters Ashour to retain Richmond title". Squashsite.org.uk. http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/northamerican2011.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Karim Darwish		 World No. 1
January 2010 – June 2010
September 2010 - January 2011		 Succeeded by
Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew
(1976) Geoff Hunt · (1977) Geoff Hunt · (1979) Geoff Hunt · (1980) Geoff Hunt · (1981) Jahangir Khan · (1982) Jahangir Khan · (1983) Jahangir Khan · (1984) Jahangir Khan · (1985) Jahangir Khan · (1986) Ross Norman · (1987) Jansher Khan · (1988) Jahangir Khan · (1989) Jansher Khan · (1990) Jansher Khan · (1991) Rodney Martin · (1992) Jansher Khan · (1993) Jansher Khan · (1994) Jansher Khan · (1995) Jansher Khan · (1996) Jansher Khan · (1997) Rodney Eyles · (1998) Jonathon Power · (1999) Peter Nicol · (2002) David Palmer · (2003) Amr Shabana · (2004) Thierry Lincou · (2005) Amr Shabana · (2006) David Palmer · (2007) Amr Shabana · (2008) Ramy Ashour · (2009) Amr Shabana  · (2010) Nick Matthew · (2011) Nick Matthew
Professional Squash Association: Top ten Egyptian male squash players as of January 2012
1. Ramy Ashour (4 ) · 2. Karim Darwish (5 ) · 3. Mohamed El Shorbagy (6 2) · 4. Amr Shabana (8 2) · 5. Omar Mosaad (13 2)
6. Hisham Mohd Ashour (14 1)  · 7. Tarek Momen (18 2) · 8. Mohammed Ali Anwar Reda (29 1) · 9. Mohammed Abbas (35 3) · 10. Omar Abdel Aziz (40 2)