It's new territory for Karim Darwish. Being world number one and up there to be shot at is very different from coming up on the rails and snatching the top spot at the tail end of the year.
But Darwish isn't making a bad job of it on the early evidence of the Super Series finals, for he repelled a splendid fight-back by his compatriot Wael El Hindi, the compatriot who beat him in four games in the final of the Petrosport Open in Cairo in July.
Now he won 11-6, 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5 in 72 minutes of well worked and intelligently crafted rallies, supplemented by wonderful movement, and great sportsmanship.
“He is one of my best friends,” said Darwish. “All credit to him for the way he came back at the end,” said El Hindi, though they didn't spare each other much when they were battling for advantage.
Once Darwish left the court to contest as decision and was told to “go back” by the referee, whereupon El Hindi came out instead to give his views on what had happened instead, causing amusement and consternation in about equal 
measure.
It was notable that Darwish, who used to appear too tense to do himself full justice, and sometimes still seems to, did smile on a number of occasions, which may hint at the mind-change which has helped him.
He seemed so much in control in the first two games that El Hindi, who was once warned by the referee about his comments, seemed to be growing frustrated.
But Darwish was a little looser early in the third game, and lost some of his accuracy, and from 3-2 up slipped to 3-7 down, helping El Hindi get back into the match. In the fourth game the man who had been the last player to make the cut into the Super Series finals began to look the more likely winner.
El Hindi led 6-2, and after Darwish got back to 7-7, the world number one was denied a chance to get to 8-8 by a let decision which surprised him so much that he dropped his racket and placed his hands on his head.
Darwish thought he should have had a penalty point. “Not quite”, said the referee, and suddenly Darwish had failed to take get game too, El Hindi finding three good winners to level at two games all.
But the pace remained high, and El Hindi was gradually feeling it, while Darwish's movement remained good. Darwish also won two amazing rallies, at 3-1 and 6-1, during which both men went up and back, retrieving and attacking, and which did much to restore the favourite's dominance.
After that it was just left to Darwish to speak to the crowd and to give thanks for his marriage last year, which appears to have lifted his squash to new levels. He may though be getting tired of repeatedly having to say so. Winning, though, Darwish has not tired of.
by: Richard Eaton