Mostafa Asal said he was missing the “unique challenge” posed by retired rival Ali Farag, after the world No 1 dismantled Victor Crouin on Thursday to coast into the Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open semi-finals.
Frenchman Crouin inflicted defending champion Asal’s most recent defeat, in California in October, but he could not live with the Egyptian in Hong Kong.
It took Asal only 39 minutes to win 3-0 as the tournament moved to a glass court for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals at the entry plaza of Ocean Park.
Asal beat Farag in the Hong Kong final 12 months ago. After he again overcame his compatriot to win his first world title in May, Farag shocked the sport by quitting at 33.
“I miss him a lot. I wish I could have had him for two more years,” Asal said. “He’s the toughest opponent I’ve had; I took so much experience and faced so many challenges from playing him.
