This time last week, Egypt’s Ali Farag was playing tennis in his off-season — blissfully unaware that he was about to get a call-up to the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series Finals in Dubai.
The 25-year-old from Cairo had seemingly missed out on a top eight finish in the season-long PSA Road to Dubai standings and wasn’t going to feature in the $160,000 (Dh587,682) year-ender at Dubai Opera from June 6-10.
However, eighth seed and fellow Egyptian Ramy Ashour withdrew from the tournament through illness last Wednesday prompting a last minute call-up for ninth-ranked Farag, who will now make his first appearance in the season-finale.
“I was just enjoying myself playing tennis and then all of a sudden I heard the unfortunate news about Ramy,” he said. “I only found out on Wednesday and had to fly on Sunday, so I only had four days to train and get myself fired up.
“Luckily I had been playing in the German league up to about two weeks ago so I was already in tournament mood.
“I’m happy to get in, this is my first visit to Dubai and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit as I have a cousin here, so this has given my family and I the perfect reason to all come over and reunite.”
Asked if the lack of time to prepare would actually benefit him because he would have less time to get nervous, he replied: “Well, I guess we’ll soon find out.”
Farag is in Group B alongside three former world No.1s in Mohammad Al Shorbagy of Egypt, England’s James Willstrop and defending champion Gregory Gaultier from France, who he kicked off against late on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to think too far ahead,” he said of any fairytale run. “I’m just going to play rally by rally and enjoy myself.
“Last year Cameron Pilley [of Australia] was the last to get in and he ended up reaching the final, so maybe it’s good luck to get in the last spot.
“I’m very excited,” he added. “It has always been a dream of mine to play in the World Series Finals as I grew up watching this event on TV. I used to watch Nick [Matthew] and Greg [Gaultier] and want to be just like them so it is an honour to be competing now alongside them, and it’s something I will never take for granted.
“I’m only 25-years-old so I hope to have many more chances to come here. There is no pressure on myself, I’m just going to enjoy myself and make the most out of the experience. If it doesn’t pay off this year maybe it will in one of the following years.”
Besides meeting his cousin, with whom he will share iftar, the traditional breaking of the fast during Ramadan, Farag is also keen to meet the rest of Dubai’s Egyptian community.
“There is a huge Egyptian squash following here, I already feel at home with the welcome I’ve received from people in Dubai and the organisers but with the Egyptians here as well I feel even more at home.”
Fasting due to Ramadan during the tournament also wouldn’t be a problem, he said, because most of his matches are late in the evening.
“We’re used to it, we go to bed late and wake late during Ramadan and most of my games are late at night anyway, which suits me. This will be my first tournament during Ramadan and what a first event for it to be.”
Fixtures (Wednesday)
3pm Serme vs Gohar
3.45pm Gawad vs Matthew
4.45pm Al Welily vs Waters
5.30pm Marwan Al Shorbagy vs Rosner
9.30pm Al Sherbini vs David
10.15pm Gaultier vs Willstrop
11.15pm Massaro vs Perry
00.00am Mohammad Al Shorbagy vs Farag
