Karim Darwish looks to regain number 1 ranking
After wrestling the number one world ranking away from fellow countryman, Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash pro Karim Darwish spent almost all of 2009 on top of the world of squash. But he has since seen the
number one ranking passed to another Egyptian – 23-year-old Ramy Ashour.
It's been a difficult year for Darwish who, before last weekend's
El Gouna International Open, had only won a single tournament in 2010, and had seen his world ranking drop to fifth.
But with his long and impressive competitive history, there can be no counting him out.
At the end of October, at the HH Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah Trophy, Kuwait Open, he'll get the chance to prove himself again- and just maybe, if he's lucky, face his rival Nick Matthew in
the final.
Early success
Darwish, now 29 years old, had a steady rise up the pro rankings since he entered in 1999 and has stayed in the world's top 20 since September of 2001.
Darwish had long remained in the shadows of one of his most bitter rivals, Shabana, and after splitting their first four meetings Darwish failed to beat Shabana for three straight years
between 2003 and 2006, losing six times in a row.
In April of 2006 Shabana claimed the number one ranking for the first time, and held it for more than two and a half years.
It was during the 2008 Saudi International in Saudi Arabia that Darwish upset Shabana in the quarter-final effectively handing him the number one ranking after Shabana had held it for
33 months.
After defeating Frenchman Gregory Gaulthier in the final of the Saudi International, Darwish was jubilant about his success.
"This is the greatest moment of my career," he said “I've been working really hard all my life to reach this moment - thank god I should do it in this, the richest tournament ever, and in front of a crowd
like this."
Defence of the number one ranking
Although he retained the number one ranking the entire year, 2009 was a difficult season for Darwish as Ashour, and England's Nick Matthew began to emerge as contenders for the number one ranking.
In Februrary of 2009 Matthew beat Darwish in the final of the Case Swedish Open, and it wasn't until September that Darwish clawed his way to another final winning his only tournament of the year by beating
Gaulthier, once again, in Darwish's home town at the Sky Open in Cairo.
"This is the first big tournament I've won in Egypt," Darwish said after his victory in Cairo. "I had no pressure for this tournament. But then, when I came to the final, I had full confidence in myself,
and really wanted to win.
"I think Greg and I played a good game, but the difference came probably from my motivation to win. I lost last year, and I really didn't want to lose this year. And winning a tournament is such a great feeling!"
In November of 2009 Darwish once again lost in a final to Matthew – this time at the Qatar Classic. The defeat led to Ashour claiming the number one ranking to start 2010 before Matthew claimed it six
months later.
Moving forward – Success in 2010
Darwish began 2010 on the right foot by winning the Motor City Open, but later suffered final defeats to both Ashour and Matthew.
Recently, at the El Gouna International Open in Egypt, Darwish and Ashour met for the 13th time competing in the tournament final. This time it was Darwish who was victorious as Ashour was forced to retire
after sustaining an injury.
The victory was Darwish's 18th PSA tour victory as he looks to claw his way back to number one in the world rankings.
"I was really focusing in the first and second games," said Darwish after winning. "I had a feeling I was going to make it tonight, all my shots were sharp and I was feeling confident.
"I'm really happy to win this tournament - it's an important one for me.”
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