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Tue 14th, Day FOUR: Men's
Second Round:
[8] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Stewart Boswell (Aus)
11/9, 11/6, 11/9 (46m)
[15] Laurens Jan Anjema
(Ned) bt Farhan Mehboob (Pak)
9/11, 11/7, 7/11, 15/13,
11/7 (87m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11/5, 11/4, 11/3 (28m)
[12] Peter Barker (Eng) bt Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/3, 11/3, 11/2 (59m)
[Q] Mohamed El Shorbagy
(Egy) bt [6] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
12/10, 11/6, 7/11,
10/12, 13/11 (81m)
Hisham Ashour (Egy) bt [10] Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
10/12, 11/7, 11/9,
11/9 (40m)
[1] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Borja
Golan (Esp)
12/10, 11/7, 11/4
(43m)
[9] Wael El Hindi (Egy) bt Omar Mosaad (Egy)
11/7, 7/11, 11/9,
11/8 (75m)
Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col)
11/6, 11/2, 11/3
(39m)
[3] James Willstrop (Eng) bt John White (Sco)
11/2, 3/11, 12/10,
11/9 (49m)
John announced his retirement at the
end of the match ...
Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt [13] Lee Beachill
(Eng)
11/9, 11/6, 10/12, 13/11
(80m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Shahier Razik (Can)
11/6, 11/6, 11/3
(39m)
[14] Adrian Grant (Eng) bt [Q]
Jorge Ferreira (Mex)
12/10, 11/2, 11/13,
11/2 (59m)
[7] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak)
11/1, 11/7, 13/11
(37m)
Alister Walker (Eng) bt Kashif
Shuja (Nzl)
8/11, 11/1, 11/5,
11/5 (47m)
[5] David Palmer (Aus) bt Jonathan Kemp (Eng)
11/6, 12/14, 11/7, 12/10 (53m) Women's First Round:
[5] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Raneem El Weleily (Egy)
11/3, 6/11, 14/12, 11/7
(38m)
[12] Kasey Brown (Aus) bt [Q] Low Wee Wern (Mas)
11/5, 11/13, 11/4, 13/11
(79m)
[3] Natalie Grinham (Ned) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
11/5, 11/6, 11/9 (35m)
[Q] Annie Au (Hkg) bt [16] Samantha Teran (Mex)
11/5, 11/4, 3/11, 11/5
(36m)
[7] Alison Waters (Eng) bt [Q] Latasha Khan (Usa)
11/9, 11/6, 12/14, 11/4
(36m)
[15] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (Eng)
11/5, 11/6, 11/5 (30m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt Louise Crome (Nzl)
11/7, 11/6, 11/2
(22m)
[11] Vicky Botwright (Eng) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
11/5, 11/7, 11/2
(21m)
[6] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (Mas)
11/7, 11/7, 11/4
(32m)
[14] Madeline Perry (Irl) bt Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
6/11, 11/8,
13/11, 11/5 (72m)
[4] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [Q] Alana Miller (Can)
11/5, 11/6,
11/2 (22m)
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bt [10]
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
11/9, 11/7,
8/11, 10/12, 11/5 (56m)
[8] Laura L-Massaro (Eng) bt Annelize Naude (Ned)
12/10, 13/11,
11/6 (33m)
[9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt
[Q] Line Hansen (Den)
11/6, 12/10, 12/10 (28m)
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt Sharon Wee (Mas)
11/6,
11/3, 11/2 (19m)
[13] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) bt
Lauren Briggs (Eng)
8/11,
6/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/6 (52m) |
Shorbagy does it again as 2004 champions fall ...
The biggest upset of day four came when world junior champion
Mohamed El Shorbagy beat 2004 World Champion Thierry Lincou
... also out is 2004 women's champion Vanessa Atkinson,
beaten by New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes ...
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[Q]
Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy)
bt
[6] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
12/10, 11/6, 7/11,
10/12, 13/11 (81m)
Shorbagy does it again
World junior champion Mohamed El Shorbagy is developing a taste
for Frenchmen - where Renan Lavigne fell yesterday, today it was
Thierry Lincou, the 2004 World Champion and the sixth seed who
succumbed to the Egyptian wunderkid.
Shorbagy took an unlikey lead from 10/6 down in the first, then
doubled the lead to set up the upset. Lincou fought back though,
taking the third, saving a match ball at 9/10 in an incredible
tense fourth, and saved two more as Shorbagy reached 10/8 in the
decider.
One more saved at 11/10 when Shorbagy was sure he deserved a
stroke, but finally the pressure told and it was the young
Egyptian advancing to the last 16 ...
 "I'm
so happy, this is the best win of my career!
"I just played every point one at a time today, I didn't even
think about the score until I got match-ball 10/9 in the fourth.
"After I lost in Wolverhampton I talked to Jonah and he told me
that I changed my game when it got to say 8-all, I got excited
and went for too many shots.
"So I knew I needed to be more patient at the end of games and
that's what I did today. I didn't expect to win the first when I
was 10/6 down but I got a lot of confidence from winning that.
"In the fifth I thought I'd won it, I should have got a stroke
in the front corner but they gave a let, you just have to take
it. Then he saved the next two match balls, I didn't lose them.
He didn't get a match ball today, but I was so happy when I took
that last one …"
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 "He
played a game I really don’t like, aggressive at the front,
taking the ball early… I’ve had a three/four month break, and
I’m not used to that anymore. I lack competition, my focus and
concentration was drifting in and out constantly…
"Because he played so fast, so aggressively, he put me under a
lot of pressure, getting and I became more and more tense, my
attacking shots were too loose, I was never able to relax, and
put the ball away.
"Shorbagy shows obvious great promises, he showed today the game
he could produce, he didn’t make many errors, which is amazing
at his age, he didn’t play a “junior game” at all, and he is top
10 material I think, at least…
 "I
shouldn’t have lost the first game, which was so close, I also
lose a very close fifth… It’s the second match in a few days I
lose in five long games… I miss tournaments, I miss competition,
hopefully, it’s going to come back…
"But I did try, and try, and try again, until the end. Well, it
was his turn…"
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[15]
Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt Farhan Mehboob (Pak)
9/11, 11/7, 7/11, 15/13,
11/7 (87m)
IMPRESSED, YET
NOT IMPRESSED…
Framboise reports
I do not often raise a negative voice, it’s been reproached to
me enough, but on this occasion, I must speak out… I’m not
particularly pro and against any player, I do appreciate LJ’s
game and personality immensely, and same for Farhan. No interest
in any of them winning or losing really.
I was placed close to the back glass, the match was played on a
traditional court, surrounded by Malaysian, Australian, and
French players. We are in the heart of a fantastic match, with
the two players at their best, both finding stunning shots, and
retrieving hell, at the end of the 4th…
LJ brilliantly saves one match ball at 10/8. Then a second one.
10/9. And the third. 10/10. Farhan finds yet again another
winner. 4th match ball, 11/10. Battle at the front court, drop,
redrop, and again, and again, with Farhan finding eventually a
stunning counterdrop, weird, with a funny trajectory, but still
stunning. The boy has won the match. We all saw it.
But no, the refs decide that the ball is down. The whole bunch
of players are whispering, “ball is good”, “oh my god, that’s a
shocker”, and again, and again. Farhan, his astonishment
overcome, goes back mentally in the match.
11/11. 12/11, first game ball for LJ, saved by Farhan, 12/12,
who sets up another match ball, his 5th, 13/12, and gets another
surprising call, a let, when the same bunch of players,
whispered stroke… Twice in a row, good one…
Completely disheartened, Farhan won’t stop shaking his head in
the fifth, still replaying the episode in his head again and
again, is playing too negatively, and LJ is taking all the right
decisions, playing the perfect choice, seizing all the
opportunities…
And as he’s done it so many times in his young career, Farhan
loses a match in five against a top seat player. To add insult to
injury, as he dropped his racquet after the match ball in
disgust, he was kindly awarded a “conduct violation for racquet
abuse”.
I won’t repeat exactly what my words were at the announcement,
as I know a lot of kids are reading this, but the words “mouth”,
and “shut” were involved, in no particular order…
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"Last time I played Shabana was in
Qatar last year, and I just couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t see
the ball, I couldn’t move, it was awful. But today, I’m happy
with my two first games, he played well too, only a few errors…
"I was able to mix defence and attack not too badly there, but
at the end of the games, he just played better than me, and
that’s why he is number one…
"I’m disappointed with the last game though, 11/3, I completely
lost my length, he played three winners, and before I knew it,
the match was over…
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[1]
Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Borja Golan (Esp)
12/10, 11/7, 11/4
(43m)
Shabana finding his form
Malcolm Willstrop reports
Borja Golan has been around for a long time, but his recent
achievements in the Internationaux de France suggested that he
would not go into his match with the three-time world champion
and undisputed world number one Amr Shabana short on confidence.
He began well, led 4/2 until Shabana's silky skills took over to
lead 9/5 and 10/7. Against Simon Rosner in the first round
Shabana had played a little fitfully and losing the control he
had established, he allowed the resolute and uncomplicated Golan
to get to a tiebreak before clinching the game 12/10.
Golan held Shabana to 5/5 in the first and 6/6 in the second
before the world number one turned the screw, easing to 10/7
before tasking a 2-0 lead. Golan was not doing much wrong, but
class, which is what Shabana represents, is irresistible.
With a 2-0 lead established, Shabana clearly thought any threat
from the in-form Golan had disappeared and he raced away with
the third to win it and the match 11/4.
Shabana is short on matchplay at this early stage of the season,
but the signs are that he may be able to play himself into the
championship in time to defend it vigorously. |
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[12]
Peter Barker (Eng) bt Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/3, 11/3, 11/2 (59m)
"I played well, I
did everything correctly, there was nothing amazing, a good
length…
"The score was each time tight at the start of each game, them I
would manage to make him work hard, and somehow run away to 11…
"I’m happy with my performance, and really looking forward to my
match against Ramy tomorrow on the glass court…"
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Treatment for a cut on the nose at 8/2 in the third ... |
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Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt [13] Lee Beachill
(Eng)
11/9, 11/6, 10/12, 13/11
(80m)
INJURED, YES, BUT NOT DEAD…
Framboise reports
God that Lee can hit a ball or that! Even back from surgery only
two months ago, and with a ligament still not that healed, the
former number one was still hitting the ball close to
perfection. And by the way, young people, if you want to know
what a return of serve should be, just observe Lee’s. The depth
is just astonishing, and puts you under pressure right from the
start…
Today, we had a patient and accurate Davide, who really put a
lot of pressure and speed onto the ball for the first two games,
only to slow down a bit from the middle of the third, due to the
hard work that Lee, even on one leg, was able to force on the
Italian.
It’s never easy to play an injured player, everybody knows that,
but one with as ball control and accuracy as Lee, makes the
challenge even tougher. The Englishman was able to take the 3rd
on the tie-break, much to my surprise actually, as it seemed
that he was down and out at the end of the second. And he nearly
took the fourth as well, saving four match balls, and honestly,
I believed he was going to take the game!
But at 11/11, Davide found a “Goughie” topspin, setting up his
fifth match ball, that was to be the one. A good victory for the
Italian, who’ll want to equal his best result in the event, as
in the quarters, a stage he reached in 2003 in Pakistan, after
beating Peter Nicol and then Greg Gaultier…
"I was surprised how well he succeeded to stay on court, surely
he mustn’t have had too much time on court. He made me work very
hard, when I thought that, after the second, things were going
to get easier, he managed to make me work much harder than I
would have expected…
"In order for my game to be effective, I need to be moving very
well, and to get a good pace, as I don’t have the shots.
"But if I was able to do so in the first two, I started slowing
down, because my energy level was getting lower and lower. And
as I wasn’t applying enough pressure on him, he was fine with
the pace, and was able to hit the ball extremely well…
"I’m so happy that I got the chance to win…"
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"If it had been anywhere else, I would have not gone, but here,
I wanted to have a go, and I don’t regret it for a minute, even
if it was a bit too early, and that I was struggling with my
movement.
"I’m pretty pleased with the way I hit the ball, if not too much
today, I certainly played the first round yesterday hitting as
well as I’ve ever did, and against Davide, if I’d sneaked in the
fourth, you never know, everything could have been possible…
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Women's First Round
Apologies for the limited women's coverage, but it's another
busy day, and the court allocations make it hard to cover them
sensible ... more briefs coming up ... |
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Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bt [10]
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
11/9, 11/7,
8/11, 10/12, 11/5 (56m)
Jaclyn jettisons Vanessa
New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes recorded one of her best ever wins
at exactly the right time, beating 2004 champion Vanessa
Atkinson in a thrilling five-game battle.
 "I've
played her in National League and similar events, but this is
definitely the first time I've beaten her in anything as big as
this so obviously I'm really pleased.
"I thought I played well to start with, but lost my game plan a
bit in the third and fourth, I was trying to attack too much,
but not in the right places. If you give her anything she'll
take it, her counter-drop in particular is awesome.
"I tightened up in the fifth, trying to make her work harder but
still going for it when I had the opportunity.
"I've played Grainger a few times … we'll see how we go …"
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[Q]
Annie Au (Hkg) bt [16] Samantha Teran (Mex)
11/5, 11/4, 3/11, 11/5
(36m)
[13] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) bt
Lauren Briggs (Eng)
8/11,
6/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/6 (52m)
"It's a good day
for Hong Kong squash, having two women in the last sixteen of
the World Open for the first time.
"Lauren's been improving and playing at home will have given her
a big confidence boost. Rebecca wasn't focussed in the first two
games, not fired up, and she made quite a few errors.
"Once she got into the third game her confidence grew and she
attacked more.
"Annie is playing well and is in good form, but it was still a
bit of an upset for her to beat Samantha. She didn't have
anything to lose, no pressure on her, she just played relaxed.
"They both have tough games tomorrow, Rebecca plays Nicol again,
and Annie plays Natalie Grinham, so they'll just go on there and
do their best, as always …"
HK National Coach |
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[1]
Nicol David (Mas) bt Sharon Wee (Mas)
11/6,
11/3, 11/2 (19m)
 "You
want to do as much as you can but you also have to play yourself
into the tournament, so first matches are never easy, especially
playing Sharon.
"It's just fabulous to have the men and the women together,
there's a fantastic atmosphere about the place with all the
players supporting each other, men watching the women and women
watching the men. It's going to be raw in the later stages, I
can feel it coming already …"
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[7]
Alison Waters (Eng) bt
[Q] Latasha Khan (Usa)
11/9, 11/6, 12/14, 11/4
(36m)
 "Latasha
played well the whole match, hitting it low and hard, I needed
to step up my movement, get onto the ball earlier but it was far
from easy.
"I'm looking forward to the glass court, these ones are bouncy
and don't take a length. I like the glass court here, especially
since I won the Nationals on it earlier this year. I hope I'm
still saying that tomorrow ..."
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[5]
Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Raneem El Weleily (Egy)
11/3, 6/11, 14/12, 11/7
(38m)
"Raneem is so
natural and can be very dangerous when she's playing well but
she makes a few errors here and there.
"I started well, got the balance of weight to the back and going
short right, but I was overhitting in the second, I didn't make
her move enough - it's hard on these courts though, it's so
bouncy.
"When I was down in the third I just thought I'd make her win
it, I wasn't going to give it to her. Coming back to win that
was crucial and she was a bit tired in the fourth."
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