Amr Shabana
![]() Amr Shabana reacts during his 2009 Kuwait Open semi-final match. | |||||||||||||||||||
Nickname(s) | The Maestro | ||||||||||||||||||
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Country | Egypt | ||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Cairo, Egypt | July 29, 1979||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||
Turned Pro | 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||
Retired | August 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Left Handed | ||||||||||||||||||
Racquet used | Eye Rackets | ||||||||||||||||||
Men's singles | |||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 1 (April, 2006) | ||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | No. 10 (July, 2015) | ||||||||||||||||||
Title(s) | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tour final(s) | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||
World Open | W (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) | ||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated on: July 2015. |
Amr Shabana (Arabic: عمرو شبانة) (born 20 July 1979 in Cairo) is a former professional squash player from Egypt. He won the World Open in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, and reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2006.
He represented the winning Egyptian team in the 1999 Men's World Team Squash Championships held in Cairo and the 2009 Men's World Team Squash Championships held in Denmark. Shabana's accomplishments in professional squash lead many to regard him as one of the greatest players of all time.
Career overview
The talented left-hander from Cairo first showed his promise when he was the runner-up (to compatriot Ahmed Faizy) in the British Under-14 Open in January 1993. Four years later he reached the final of the British Under-19 Open, where he again lost to Faizy.
A PSA member since 1995, Amr claimed his first Tour title with the help of Bryan "Griffin" Knight in July 1999, winning the Puebla Open in Mexico. Seven days later he grabbed his second, the Mexico Open, again by beating Australia's Craig Rowland in the final.
Amr Shabana crowned a remarkable year in 2003 when, as ninth seed, he forced his way through a star-studded field in the World Open in Pakistan. He dispatched title-holder David Palmer, the third seed, in five games in the third round. He then went on to take out Palmer's Australian team-mate Anthony Ricketts in the last eight. After defeating Karim Darwish (the Egyptian No 1) in a four-game semi-final, Shabana clinched the historic title by beating Thierry Lincou in the final 15–14, 9–15, 15–11, 15–7, to become Egypt's first winner of the sport's premier title.
But after a disappointing following year, in which his only final appearance was in the British Open Squash Championship in England, losing to David Palmer in four games 10–11 (4–6), 11–7, 11–10 (3–1), 11–7, Shabana stormed back to the top of his game in 2005. Over a short period, he acquired a new coach, Ahmed Tahir; a new manager, the former Egyptian international Omar Elborolossy; and a wife, Nadjla. "All I have to worry about now is playing my matches – everything else is looked after for me now", said Shabana.[1] And the effect was plain to see as a week after winning the Heliopolis Open in his home town Cairo, the seventh-seeded Shabana beat David Palmer and James Willstrop, before defeating Anthony Ricketts in the final to claim the St Louis Open crown in the United States.
The next event saw the in-form Egyptian brush aside all opposition in the Hungarian Open in Budapest, winning his third title in as many weeks after beating Grégory Gaultier in the final. But the World Open in Hong Kong confirmed his renaissance beyond doubt. Seeded five, Amr crushed fourth seed Lee Beachill in the quarters, Peter Nicol in the semis, and, in his third successive straight games victory, powered past David Palmer 11–6 11–7 11–8 in the final to become the first player since the heyday of the Khans to win the World Open title for the second time.
The new year brought continuing rewards for Shabana with victories in the Canadian Classic in January, followed by the Tournament of Champions in New York in March, and the Bermuda PSA Masters in April – bringing his PSA Tour title tally to 12, and then in April 2006, Shabana became the first Egyptian player to reach the world number 1 ranking.
In 2007, Shabana was crowned world champion for the third time in five years at the World Open in Bermuda and later in January 2009, Shabana's 33-month reign as World No. 1 was ended by his countryman Karim Darwish.
In 2014, Shabana became the oldest professional to win a World Series title by defeating Gregory Gaultier in the finals of Tournament of Champions.
On the 27th of August 2015, Shabana announced his retirement from competitive professional squash.[2]
World Open final appearances
4 titles & 0 runner-up
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 2003 | Lahore, Pakistan | ![]() | 15–11, 11–15, 15–8, 15–14 |
Winner | 2005 | Hong Kong | ![]() | 11–6, 11–7, 11–8 |
Winner | 2007 | Bermuda | ![]() | 11–7, 11–4, 11–6 |
Winner | 2009 | Kuwait | ![]() | 11–8, 11–5, 11–5 |
Major World Series final appearances
British Open: 1 final (0 title, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 2004 | ![]() | 14–16, 11–7, 13–11, 11–7 |
Hong Kong Open: 4 finals (4 titles, 0 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 2006 | ![]() | 13-11, 3-11, 11-5, 13-11 |
Winner | 2007 | ![]() | 11-13, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11 |
Winner | 2008 | ![]() | 11-9, 13-15, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3 |
Winner | 2009 | ![]() | 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 5-2 (rtd) |
Qatar Classic: 3 final (1 title, 2 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 2007 | ![]() | 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 |
Runner-up | 2008 | ![]() | 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 |
Runner-up | 2010 | ![]() | 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 |
US Open: 4 finals (2 titles, 2 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 2006 | ![]() | 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 11-9 |
Winner | 2009 | ![]() | 11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 12-14, 11-8 |
Winner | 2011 | ![]() | 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4 |
Runner-up | 2014 | ![]() | 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 |
Career statistics
![](../I/m/Amr_Shabana_Kuwait.jpg)
Listed below.
PSA Titles (30)
All Results for Amr Shabana in PSA World's Tour tournament
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No. | Date | Tournament | Opponent in final | Score in final | Minutes played |
1. | July 4, 1999 | Puebla Open | ![]() |
11–15, 15–7, 15–7, 15–9 | Unknown |
2. | July 11, 1999 | Mexico Open | ![]() |
8–15, 15–7, 15–4, 15–13 | Unknown |
3. | January 23, 2001 | El Ahly Open | ![]() |
15–12, 15–12, 17–15 | 57minutes |
4. | June 29, 2003 | Spanish Open | ![]() |
15–13, 13–15, 15–14, 8–15, 15–13 | 1 h 24 min[3] |
5. | December 21, 2003 | World Open | ![]() |
15–11, 11–15, 15–8, 15–14 | 1 h 13 min[4] |
6. | September 12, 2005 | Helioplis Open | ![]() |
11–10(2–0), 2–0 (ret) | Unknown |
7. | September 20, 2003 | St. Louis Open | ![]() |
11–10(2–0), 11–8, 11–7 | 56 min[5] |
8. | October 2, 2005 | Hungarian Open | ![]() |
6–11, 11–2, 11–7, 8–11, 11–5 | 1 h 6 min[6] |
9. | December 4, 2005 | World Open | ![]() |
11–6, 11–7, 11–8 | 40 min[7] |
10. | January 14, 2006 | Canadian Classic | ![]() |
11–9, 11–8, 11–5 | 37 min[8] |
11. | March 3, 2006 | Tournament of Champions | ![]() |
11–6, 11–9, 11–4 | 40 min[9] |
12. | April 8, 2006 | Bermuda Masters | ![]() |
9–11, 11–6, 11–7, 2–11, 11–8 | 1 h 5 min[10] |
13. | October 22, 2006 | Hong Kong Open | ![]() |
11–10(3–1), 3–11, 11–5, 11–10(3–1) | 48 min[11] |
14. | December 20, 2006 | Saudi International Open | ![]() |
11–7, 11–9, 11–4 | 1 h 13 min[12] |
15. | January 23, 2007 | Windy City Open | ![]() |
11–8, 11–8, 11–10(5–3) | 53 min[13] |
16. | March 2, 2007 | Tournament of Champions | ![]() |
7–11, 11–3, 8–4 (ret) | 26 min[14] |
17. | October 28, 2007 | Saudi International Open | ![]() |
11–5, 11–5, 1–11, 11–9 | 50 min[15] |
18. | November 3, 2007 | Qatar Classic | ![]() |
11–4, 8–11, 11–6, 11–5 | 52 min[16] |
19. | November 11, 2007 | Hong Kong Open | ![]() |
10–11 (1–3), 11–3, 11–6, 11–10 (3–1) | 1 h 1 min[17] |
20. | December 1, 2007 | World Open | ![]() |
11–7, 11–4, 11–6 | 42 min[18] |
21. | April 27, 2008 | Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open | ![]() |
11–9, 11–7, 13–11 | 52 min[19] |
22. | November 23, 2008 | Hong Kong Open | ![]() |
11–7, 13–15, 8–11, 11–2, 11–3 | 1 h 16 min[20] |
23. | August 1, 2009 | Malaysian Open | ![]() |
5–11, 11–9, 11–6, 11–4 | 51 min[21] |
24. | September 6, 2009 | US Open | ![]() |
11–7, 11–2, 7–11, 12–14, 11–8 | 57 min[22] |
25. | October 18, 2009 | Hong Kong Open | ![]() |
11–8, 9–11, 11–3, 5–2 (ret) | 48 min[23] |
26. | November 7, 2009 | World Open | ![]() |
11–8, 11–8, 11–5 | 50 min[24] |
27. | October 7, 2011 | US Open | ![]() |
11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4 | 51 min[25] |
28. | January 8, 2012 | World Series Finals | ![]() |
6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 | 1 h 31 min[26] |
29. | January 6, 2013 | World Series Finals | ![]() |
4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 | 57 min [27] |
30. | January 24, 2014 | Tournament of Champions | ![]() |
11-8, 11-3, 11-4 | 42 min [28] |
Note: (ret) = retired, min = minutes, h = hours
PSA Tour Finals (Runner-Up) (11)
![](../I/m/Amr_Shabana_Trophy.jpg)
No. | Date | Tournament | Opponent in final | Score in final | Minutes played |
1. | May 17, 1998 | Italia Open | ![]() |
Unknown | Unknown |
2. | May 3, 2003 | Pakistan Circuit | ![]() |
12–15, 7–15, 2–6 (ret) | 22 min[29] |
3. | November 6, 2004 | British Open | ![]() |
11–10(6–4), 7–11, 10–11(1–3), 7–11 | 1 h 29 min[30] |
4. | January 25, 2005 | Windy City Open | ![]() |
7–11, 8–11, 4–11 | 40 min[31] |
5. | January 30, 2005 | Dayton Open | ![]() |
6–11, 10–11(1–3), 2–11 | 28 min[32] |
6. | November 16, 2006 | US Open | ![]() |
5–11, 11–7, 4–11, 9–11 | 1 h 1 min[33] |
7. | April 11, 2007 | Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open | ![]() |
3–11, 5–11, 10–12 | 34 min[34] |
8. | February 16, 2008 | Canadian Classic | ![]() |
2–11, 9–11, 11–8, 8–11 | 38 min[35] |
9. | April 20, 2008 | Hurghada International | ![]() |
10–11(0–2), 11–9, 7–11, 11–9, 10–11(0–2) | 1 h 17 min[36] |
10. | October 31, 2008 | Qatar Classic | ![]() |
4–11, 5–11, 3–11 | 29 min[37] |
11. | October 18, 2014 | US Open | ![]() |
11–8, 9–11, 3–11, 3–11 | 45 min[38] |
Singles performance timeline
Terms | |||||||||||||||
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W-L | Win-loss | NWS | Not a World Series event | ||||||||||||
NG50 | Not an International event | NH | Not held | ||||||||||||
A | Absent | LQ/#Q | Lost in qualifying draw and round number | ||||||||||||
RR | Lost at round robin stage | #R | Lost in the early rounds | ||||||||||||
QF | Quarterfinalist | SF | Semifinalist | ||||||||||||
SF-B | Semifinalist, won bronze medal | F | Runner-Up | ||||||||||||
F | Runner-up, won silver medal | W | Winner |
To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded.
Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | Career SR | Career W-L |
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PSA World Tour Tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
World Open | 3R | Not Held | 3R | W | QF | W | SF | W | SF | W | SF | QF | QF | QF | QF | A | 4 / 14 | 55–10 | |
British Open | A | 1R | Absent | 1R | F | A | 1R | SF | QF | SF | Not Held | QF | A | QF | A | 0 / 9 | 16–9 | ||
Hong Kong Open | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | NH | QF | NH | W | W | W | W | QF | QF | QF | QF | A | A | 4 / 13 | 31–9 |
Qatar Classic | Not Held | A | 2R | 1R | NH | 2R | 2R | W | W | A | F | 1R | NH | QF | NH | A | 2 / 9 | 20–7 | |
PSA Masters | NH | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | QF | Absent | Not Held | SF | SF | A | Not Held | 0 / 7 | 10–7 | |||||
Tournament of Champions | Absent | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | SF | W | W | A | 2R | QF | SF | QF | A | W | SF | 3 / 12 | 30–9 | |
North American Open | Not Held | Not World Series | Absent | QF | SF | SF | QF | QF | Not Held | 0 / 5 | 13–5 | ||||||||
Kuwait PSA Cup | Not Held | 1R | A | NH | F | W | NH | F | 2R | NH | QF | Not Held | 1 / 5 | 16–5 | |||||
US Open | Absent | NH | A | 1R | 1R | A | F | QF | NH | W | A | W | QF | A | F | A | 2 / 8 | 22–6 | |
Saudi International | Not Held | 2R | W | W | QF | 1R | Not Held | 2 / 5 | 13–3 | ||||||||||
Pakistan International | 2R | Not Held | QF | NH | QF | QF | QF | NH | NWS | Not Held | NWS | NH | 0 / 5 | 9–5 | |||||
Win Ratio | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 6 | 1 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 1 / 8 | 3 / 8 | 5 / 8 | 3 / 6 | 3 / 8 | 0 / 7 | 1 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 5 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 18 / 93 | NA |
Win–Loss | 3 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 8 / 6 | 6 / 5 | 13 / 7 | 13 / 4 | 26 / 5 | 35 / 3 | 23 / 3 | 25 / 5 | 22 / 7 | 16 / 6 | 13 / 6 | 13 / 5 | 14 / 3 | 3 / 1 | NA | 233–78 |
[39] Note: NA = Not Available
See also
References
- ↑ "QATAR CLASSIC 2008" (PDF). qatarsquash.com. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ "Four-time World Champion Amr Shabana Retires - Professional Squash Association". psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ↑ "Shabana wins Egyptian duel in Seville". Squashplayer.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Amr Shabana - First Egyptian World Champion". Squashtalk.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Final from St Louis". Squashtalk.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Sahabana sneaks by Gaultier". Squashtalk.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Double title for Shabana as Nicol takes it all". Womens World Open Official Website. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "2006 Canadian Classic result". Squashtalk.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Shabana & Atkinson win Tournament of Champions titles". Squashplayer.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Shabana wins Super Show". Squashsite.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "World number ones takes Hong Kong title". Squashsite.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Shabana Beats Gaultier to Confirm No. 1 Status". Squashtalk.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "The last match". Squashsite.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Shabana takes two". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Saudi showdown". Atcosquash.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Top seeds take Qatar crown". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Three in a row for Nicol and Amr". Squashsite.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Shabana makes it three". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ Steve Cubbins, Framboise Gommendy. "Shabana's turn". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "SFour each for Nicol and Shabana". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "David & Shabana shine in KL". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "Magnificent Shabana takes US Open". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ Steve Cubbins, Framboise Gommendy. "Five and counting for Shabana & David in Hong Kong". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "It's four for Shabana". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "Amr Shabana Is US Open Champion". www.psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
- ↑ "Shabana Wins PSA World Series Finals Crown". www.psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
- ↑ "Shabana Retains World Series Finals Crown". www.psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ↑ "Shabana Wins 2014 Tournament of Champions". www.psaworldtour.com. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
- ↑ "Darwish grabs crown as Shabana bows out". Pakistan Daily Times. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Palmer's British Hat-trick". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "White hot in cold Chicago". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Nicol back on top in Ohio". Squashplayer.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Gaultier claims US Open title". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Ramy & Nicol takes Kuwait crown". Squashsite.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "Ramy retains against rusty Shabana". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ Framboise Gommendy. "Ramy wins a thriller". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "A first major for Karim". Squashsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ↑ "DAVID COMPLETES FIRST U.S. OPEN THREE-PEAT; ELSHORBAGY ROLLS OVER SHABANA". usopensquash.com. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
- ↑ http://www.psaworldtour.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,13121~58,00.html
External links
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amr Shabana. |
- Amr Shabana profile from PSA (archived)
- Amr Shabana profile from SquashInfo
- Page at Squashpics.com
- Article from Al-Ahram Weekly On-line (Jan 2004)
- 20 Questions With Amr Shabana at Squashsite.co.uk
- All About Amr Shabana at Squashsite.co.uk
- Kaleidoscope Almost Famous by Amr Shabana at Squashsite.co.uk
- Amr's Profile at El Ahram Weekly
Sporting positions | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Jonathon Power |
World No. 1 April 2006 - December 2008 |
Succeeded by Karim Darwish |
Awards and achievements | ||
Preceded by Thierry Lincou |
PSA Player of the Year 2005-06 |
Succeeded by James Willstrop |