Top-ranked El-Sherbini needed only 55 minutes to beat second-ranked Joelle King of New Zealand 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 16-14, and 13-11) in the women’s final of the Washington Open.

“I’m feeling really good after a tough match, Joelle played really, really well. She surprised me a little bit, I think she played very good squash today,” El-Sherbini said after the game.

“I think I wasn’t 100 percent focused on my game plan and then was up and down the whole match, but I’m happier now that I won.”

“Today is the only day I can celebrate, and then I need to try to forget this week and focus on next week’s Windy City Open. So, a small celebration today and then I’ll try to regroup and focus for next week.” The Egyptian squash star added.

Meanwhile, top-ranked Mohamed El-Shorbagy needed 69 minutes to beat Welsh star and World No. 2 Joel Makin 3-1 (11-5, 11-9 and 11-8) in the men’s final of the Washington Open.

“I’m really proud of how I performed here. It’s been a good week for me to win like this. I wanted to try and win three love as well to send a message that I’m trying to come back again,” El-Shorbagy said.

“I’m definitely going for the number one spot. I want to go for it one more time in my career. I know I have it in me. I know I can do it.”

“To be out for four months and come back in your first event, I definitely didn’t feel comfortable at the beginning of the tournament, losing the first game,” the Egyptian squash star added.

“I would say it was my best performance of the tournament, because I had to raise my level. If I played Joel in the semis, I would probably have had to raise my level in the same way,” El-Shorbagy. 

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)