Dubai: Egypt’s World No.3 Marwan Al Shorbagy has withdrawn from next week’s PSA World Series Finals due to a hamstring injury, meaning England’s three-time world champion Nick Matthew will make the final appearance of his career at Emirates Golf Club from June 5-9.
Defeat to German qualifier Raphael Kandra in the British Open’s Last 16 earlier this month saw Matthew finish ninth in the PSA World Series standings, which meant he missed out on a top eight place which would have seen him qualify for Dubai.
That match against Kandra looked set to be the last of the 37-year-old’s career as he entered retirement, but Al Shorbagy’s withdrawal has handed the Englishman one last chance to bow out in a blaze of glory.
Matthew replaces the Egyptian in Group A of the men’s tournament, which also contain’s Marwan’s older brother, World No.1 Mohammad and British Open champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez, while World No.4 Tarek Momen moves into Group A.
Momen switches places with three-time winner Gregory Gaultier, who moves into Group B to sit alongside World No.2 Ali Farag, Tournament of Champions winner Simon Rosner and former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad.
Group games will be best-of-three with the top two players from each group progressing to the semis where the usual best-of-five format will return for the knockouts.
Group matches from June 5-7 will take place at 3pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm and 5.15pm in Group B and 8pm, 8.45pm, 9.30pm and 10.15pm in Group A. The semis on June 8 will start from 8pm, which is the same time the finals will start on June 9.
For tickets go to https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/70345/atco-psa-dubai-world-series-finals and for more information visit www.worldseriesfinals.com
