In-form Rodriguez can’t wait for Dubai return
Colombian is in form of his life after beating World No. 1 in British Open final
Colombia’s World No. 14 Miguel Angel Rodriguez can’t wait to return to Dubai for next week’s PSA World Series Finals at Emirates Golf Club from June 5-9.
The 32-year-old is in the form of his life after beating World No. 1 Mohammad Al Shorbagy in the final of this month’s British Open to win not only his first World Series title but to also become the first winner from South America.
He will now be making his second appearance in Dubai after first reaching the year-ending tournament when it was staged at the foot of the Burj Khalifa two years ago. On that occasion he reached the semis before defeat to eventual winner Gregory Gaultier.
“It’s terrific for me, when I was a kid I always wanted to play in the tournament,” he said. “I remember Thierry Lincou and Amr Shabana playing in the tournament and when I was a kid the dream was to play in the World Series Finals too.
“I missed last year and at the beginning of the year I set a goal to make the finals and now I’m here.
Not easy
“I’m so happy and proud, it was not easy because I had Nick Matthew and Omar Mosaad in front of me in the standings and I had to wait for their results as well, but I made it and it’s like the cherry on the cake.”
The top eight men’s and women’s players in the Road to Dubai standings after the seven-stage PSA World Series qualify for Dubai.
Group matches are best-ofthree with the top two players from each group progressing to the semis where the usual bestof-five format will return for the knockouts.
“I like it,” added Rodriguez. “I think a separate format for this tournament is good.”
“No doubt we need best-offive in the World Series tournaments. Squash is all about strength and conditioning and it’s so tough. This is why we can’t switch to best-of-three because otherwise it will be very short game and sometimes when you are 2-0 down you can still win.
“But, I think for Dubai it’s a great opportunity and a great format to play best-of-three — it’s the last tournament of the season, you don’t get points, but I think it’s a reward for the top eight players that they reach that tournament and I’m very happy to be in Dubai again.”
Ironically, Rodriguez will kick off his campaign against Mohammad Al Shorbagy — the man he beat last time out in Hull — on day one of the tournament from 8.45pm. He will also face Nick Matthew and Tarek Momen in Group A.
Group matches from June 5-7 will take place from 3pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm and 5.15pm in Group B and 8pm, 8.45pm, 9.30pm and 10.15pm in Group A. The June 8 semis will start from 8pm, the same time the finals start on June 9.