Since graduating from Harvard University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2014, Egypt’s Ali Farag has established himself as one of the most popular players on the PSA World Tour.
His captured his first title at the Open Du Gard in 2011 and swiftly followed that up with a crown at the Meersquashheroes Open a week later.
A lone title came in 2012 before the Egyptian had to wait over two years for his next piece of silverware at the PSA International Championship which was his maiden PSA M25 title.
Farag had a tremendous 2015 and appeared in four PSA World Tour finals, winning three of them. His final title, at the Irish Open, was the most prestigious of the lot.
He also had a superb run at the World Championship in November 2015 with fine wins over Max Lee and Simon Rösner being particular highlights. He eventually bowed out at the quarter-final stage to eventual winner Gregory Gaultier.
Farag broke new ground at the Motor City Open in January 2016, beating then World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and three-time World Champion Nick Matthew en route to a maiden PSA M70 title.
A semi-final finish at the Grasshopper Cup and a last eight placing at the El Gouna International on home soil rounded off the 2015/16 season for Farag, who was rewarded with a move in to the world’s top 10 in May, before the end-of-season PSA Awards saw him rewarded with both the Fan’s Player of the Season and Spirit of Squash awards.
Farag built on his breakout 2015/16 season by claiming one of the biggest wins of his career against Mohamed ElShorbagy to reach the final of the Al Ahram Open - played in front of the stunning Great Pyramid of Giza - but lost out to fellow Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad in the final.
Farag made it to the 2016 Al Ahram Squash Open Newgiza final but lost 3-0 to then-World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad.
Farag then went on to play in the final at the Suburban Collection Motor City Open to Ryan Cuskelly. Farag was also knocked out in the semi-finals of the Windy City Open to former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy.
The Egyptian also had two runner-up finishes to Frenchman Gregory Gaultier at both the Grasshopper Cup and Bellevue Classic.