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Kuwait World Open 2009
01-07 November |
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World Open 2009 ...
01-07 November, Kuwait |
Sat 7th Nov, FINAL:
[4] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt
[3] Ramy Ashour (Egy)
11/8, 11/8, 11/5 (50m)
It's four for
Shabana
Amr Shabana claimed his fourth World Open title with a
comprehensive victory over defending champion Ramy Ashour in
the final in Kuwait.
It was the type of performance we've come to expect from the
'Prince of Cairo' when it really matters, and only in the
first game did Ashour seriously threaten.
Shabana took an early lead in the opening game, 4-1, and
although Ashour struck back to lead 6-4 Shabana was not to
be denied, playing fast, accurate squash to take the game,
while Ashour persisted with his tactics of going short
whenever the chance arose.
Shabana was dominating those exchanges at the front though,
making far less errors than his young compatriot, and
although many rallies ended in lets, Shabana was reaping
dividends from that area of the game.
He took the initiative in the next game as well, 6-2. Ashour
closed the gap, but try as he might he couldn't get on level
terms. Towards the end of the second they exchanged three
consecutive two-shot rallies, first Ashour slammed a serve
into the nick, Shabana returned the favour, then Ashour
tinned as he attempted the trick again.
Ashour's frustration showed as he was issued with a conduct
warning for ball abuse as he lost the second. The third game
saw the same pattern, Shabana opened up to 5-2, Ashour
closed to 5-4, then the three-time champion pulled away
again, fittingly finishing the match with another service
return into the nick.
2003, 2005, 2007 and now 2009, he really does like the 'odd'
years, doesn't he ... and he joins Geoff Hunt, Jahangir and
Jansher Khan as the only players to win four or more titles.
 "I
felt nervous before the match, and I'm sure he was feeling
the same. The final always feels different. And playing such
a great player like Ramy, you don't know what to expect.
"It was a very mental match - I felt I had to take it point
by point. I was really focussed. I think it was just my day
- I'm 100% sure he's going to get days when it's all him!"
"Winning four world titles, to join those others, it's a
dream. You don't think about it - you just dream about it -
it will take a month or two for it to sink in."
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worldopensquash.com
previous World Open coverage |
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Thu 5th Nov, Semis:
[4] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [11] James Willstrop (Eng)
11/5, 11/9, 6/11,
11/9 (79m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
11/5, 11/9, 12/10 (52m)
It's another
all-Egyptian final
Amr Shabana, champion in 2003, 2005 and 2007, reach
another odd-year World Open final as he won a tough
four-game encounter with James Willstrop. The Englishman,
bidding for his first appearance in the final, found the
Egyptian too hot to handle in the early stages, but came
back to take the third, and at 9-all in the fourth a decider
looked on the cards.
But the experienced Egyptian held his nerve to claim the
final two points to make the final once more.
"It was an unbelievable match - it was a privilege to have
played James today," said Shabana. "I have tremendous
respect for James, it's hard to play him - he covers the
court well for a big guy. I was tremendously keen for it not
to go to five games. I could see he was not giving up. It
took all my patience."
 His
opponent will be defending champion Ramy Ashour, who
overcame world number one Gregory Gaultier in the second
semi-final.
Ashour's shotmaking saw him take the first game with some
comfort. The Frenchman struck back to lead 8-4 in the second
but couldn't hold off another surge from Ashour. Leading 9-8
Gaultier slipped and needed a three-minute injury timeout,
but Ashour took three points in a row to double his lead.
Gaultier led again in the third, 5-2, but again Ashour came
back, mixing sublime winners with amazing retrieving.
Gaultier saved one match ball at 10-9 but could do nothing
with the second as Ashour advanced to a second consecutive
final.
"I was on my form from the start," said an exuberant Ashour
afterwards. "I really wanted to win this - I was really keen
to reach the final. I try to enjoy every shot I play."
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Wed 4th Nov, Quarters:
[11] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [8] Thierry Lincou
(Fra) 11/9, 11/5,
11/5 (48m)
[4] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [9] Wael El Hindi (Egy)
11/1, 11/5, 11/9 (39m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [7] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/8, 11/3, 9/11, 11/8 (52m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [5] Nick Matthew (Eng)
8/11, 11/8, 2/11, 11/6, 11/4 (83m)
Race hots up
for 'PSA Player of the year' |
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David Barry PhotoGallery
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Willstrop's run
continues in quarters
The quarter-finals featured three Egyptians, three
Englishmen, two Frenchman but - for the first time ever - no
Australian.
 First
up was James Willstrop versus the 2004 champion
Thierry Lincou. After a competitive first game, won 11/9
by Willstrop, Lincou slipped in the middle of the second and
appeared to be favouring a knee he's had problems with for a
while. Willstrop took full advantage, taking the next two
games 11/5, 11/5 to move into the semi-finals.
"That was a good solid game," said Willstrop. "He's one of
the toughest opponents mentally - but I just managed to keep
on top of him. If I'd come off the pace, it could have let
him in."
His
opponent there will be three-time champion Amr Shabana,
who continued the impressive form he's shown of late with a
straight-games win over fellow Egyptian Wael El Hindi,
11/1, 11/5, 11/9, to reach a fifth World Open semi-final in
a row.
"You have to play perfect squash against Wael," said
Shabana, "and I had a bit of an advantage as I have played
on the court all week and this was his first time. We know
each other well - he's almost like family. In fact we are
rooming together here in Kuwait - It's sometimes tough to
beat the other guy when it's like this."
A second Egyptian place in the semis was booked when
defending champion Ramy Ashour beat Peter Barker
in four. Ashour was in scintillating form in the first two
games, but Barker wouldn't let him get away in the third as
he pulled one back, much to Ashour's annoyance. The
Egyptian's shotmaking skills paid dividends at the end of
the fourth as he finished that game off in style.
"I was in the zone for the first two games, but then let
things slip in the third," admitted Ashour. "But I was
really glad with the way I played in the fourth - I really
kept it tight to the wall. I think I did my job today."
 Ashour
will meet new world number one Gregory Gaultier for a
place in the final. The Frenchman won a see-saw match
against Nick Matthew, both players enjoying long
spells of total dominance, but it was Gaultier who got the
better of the final stages, coming from 2/1 down to win the
last two games convincingly.
"The third game was rubbish - I lost my focus," said
Gaultier. "I decided to put that third game in the garbage
and start again. I knew it was possible - everything is
possible. I just had to keep my focus. Once I got the lead
in the fifth, I kept my head down. I knew I could beat him -
and in the end I could see that Nick was getting slower. So
I pushed myself.
"Squash is such a mental game - it's always such a mental
battle between us, but today I was stronger."
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 "As
I warmed up on court, I felt a sharp pain in the calf, right
before starting. I kept on wondering if I should stop, if I
wasn’t making it worst by keeping on playing, and that
affected my mental preparation, not to mention my movement.
Also, I just couldn’t get used to the floor, it was my first
match on there, and that sharp pain, I just couldn’t settled
in the beginning, especially as everybody knows I’m a bit of
a nuisance with my attention to details thing!
"And I guess that’s what explains my wary start, I wasn’t
aggressive enough. It has to be stressed that James yet
again tonight played out of his skin, another stunning
match, bravo to him really… He played very tight, and
prevented me from playing too fast.
"And as the pain in the
calf settled, it’s the recurring pain in the knee that came
back in the middle of the second, and at the start of the
third… As if James needed that… He played beautifully well
tonight, he was in devastating form I thought, and I didn’t have the weapons to fight him…
"Of course, very very disappointed. It’s rather frustrating,
because I feel good in my squash, I’m enjoying it
tremendously since the World Teams, I’m having good matches,
but that pain that keeps appearing and disappearing at will…
Rather annoying…"
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Tue 3rd Nov, Day Three:
Salmiya Club:
[8] Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt [15] Alister Walker (Eng)
11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6 (53m)
[7] Peter Barker (Eng) bt [21] Hisham Ashour (Egy)
11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (57m)
[9] Wael El Hindi (Egy) bt [25] Tarek Momen (Egy)
10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (61m)
[5] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt [20] Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (35m)
Green Island:
[11] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [1] Karim Darwish (Egy)
11-7, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9 (58m)
[4] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [22] Daryl Selby (Eng)
11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (44m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [14] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [13] Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (42m) |
 Willstrop downs Darwish
The second
session, at Green Island, got off to a delayed start due to
bad weather - at one point it looked as though the matches
would be moved to the Salmiya Club - but quickly turned sensational as James
Willstrop downed top seed Karim Darwish in four games.
No surprises in the
final three matches as three-time champion Amr Shabana,
defending champion Ramy Ashour, and new world number
one Gregory Gaultier all came through safely enough.
 "He
was quite dominant in the third and fourth games and put me
under a lot of pressure, he didn't give me a lot of chances
- he's one of the best players in the world at getting the
ball into the back corners."
"I think I coped with the court problems pretty well -
though I'm not sure other sportsmen would have done so. The
issue was dealt with as well as it could be by all
concerned."
"I think I must be back to where I was after my injury
problems, if I can beat the best player in the world ..."
England edge ahead in first session
You'd expect six Egyptians in the last 16, but how about
five Englishmen being there too ? In fact, it's not until
you get to the last match of the day that you find a match
featuring neither an Egyptian or an Englishman ...
First winner today was 2004 Champion Thierry Lincou,
seeing off Alister Walker in four games, 11/2, 11/8, 4/11,
11/6.
"I had a bit of a loss of concentration, especially in the
third - I didn't push mentally to keep the pace up,"
explained the former world number one from Marseille. "And
when you let the pace go, he's dangerous player.
"I've heard him referred to as the English Egyptian - and
it's true, he plays like an Egyptian. Ali beat Shabana a few
weeks ago - he's capable of beating anyone."
 Peter
Barker became the first Englishman through, avenging
yesterday's defeat of Adrian Grant by Hisham Ashour. Barker
won 11/6, 11/5, 8/11, 11/9 to mark claim his first World
Open quarter-final appearance.
"I feel relieved most of all - happy, yes, but more
relieved," explained the left-hander afterwards. "Somehow, I
just couldn't relax - I played well in the first two games
but then let him get back in the third.
"But it's great to be in the quarter-finals of the worlds
for the first time - after all, that's where it all happens.
There are eight players remaining so one of us has got to
win it - so let's hope it's me! The pressure's off, but I'm
not going to relax. I played my best squash in the first two
games so I hope I can replicate that tomorrow."
Nick Matthew joined Barker in the quarters with a
quickfire 11/6, 11/3, 11/2 win over Cameron Pilley to end
Australian interest.
The first Egyptian went through to the quarters when Wael
El Hindi took on yesterday's biggest giant-killer Tarek
Momen. The youngster took the first, but El Hindi was in no
mood to allow another upset, winning 10/12, 11/6, 11/7, 11/6
in one minute over the hour.
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DAY OF UPSETS…
Egypt's
Hisham Ashour grabbed the headlines normally given
to his younger brother Ramy, the defending champion,
when he upset 10th seed Adrian Grant.
 The
27-year-old from Cairo - who was close to exiting the event yesterday when he fought
back from 0/2 down to beat English outsider Chris Simpson -
was in devastating form today as he despatched the world
No10 from London 13-11, 12-10, 11-9 in 44 minutes, saving
game balls in the first two games.
Cameron Pilley ensured Australian interest in the
last 16 when he beat
16th seed Mohamed El Shorbagy in a significant upset
in today's second round.
It was only a year ago that El Shorbagy, the world
junior champion, romped through to the quarter-finals of the
World Open as a qualifier
in his maiden appearance in the event.
The 18-year-old from Alexandria, the brightest prospect in
the game today, took a two game lead against Pilley before
the tall Aussie began his fightback, eventually winning
9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 in 68 minutes. It was a
distraught El Shorbagy that left the building immediately
after the game.
DAVID
OUT...
 The
last sixteen
will not include veteran Australian star David Palmer
for the first time since 1998 after the two-time world
champion crashed out of the Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009.
David was unable to convert game balls in the first two
games and failed to exploit an early lead in the third
before going down in a rare straight games defeat.
AND THE LONGEST MATCH...
England's Daryl Selby survived the longest match of
the tournament so far when he upset Malaysia's 12th seed
Azlan Iskandar 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 in a
135-minute marathon. |
David Barry PhotoGallery
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 "I
didn't believe I could win today - I didn't expect this
performance".
"It's a huge win for me, but it's my second best - as I beat Gregory
Gaultier last year in Egypt! But it has the same taste."
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"I'm really disappointed - I've
struggled with my form for the last couple of tournaments. I'm
struggling to play at the standard I'm used to.
"I'm just not getting enough match practice - and I need to try and
rectify this if I am going to carry on. I don't get the chance to
work with my long-time coach Shaun (Moxham) and I need to make a
decision about this.
"I didn't hit the ball well this morning - and normally I can deal
with that. I can't get myself out of trouble like I used to be able
to do.
"There are still three big tournaments left this year, so we shall
see how I do. I want to keep going until next year's Commonwealth
Games and the 2010 World Open in Saudi."
David Palmer |
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World Open
2009, Kuwait |
Round Two
02 Nov
top 4 on glass tonight |
Round Three
03 Nov |
Quarters
04 Nov |
Semis
05 Nov |
Final
07 Nov |
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY)
11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 11-1 (40m)
[29] Saurav Ghosal (IND) |
[1] Karim Darwish
11-7, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9 (58m)
[11] James Willstrop |
[11] James Willstrop
11/9, 11/5, 11/5 (48m)
[8] Thierry Lincou |
[11] James Willstrop
11/5, 11/9, 6/11,
11/9 (79m)
[4] Amr Shabana |
[4] Amr Shabana
11/8, 11/8, 11/5 (50m)
[3] Ramy Ashour |
[11] James Willstrop (ENG)
11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (33m)
[28] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) |
[8] Thierry Lincou (FRA)
7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1 (45m)
[18] Stewart Boswell (AUS) |
[8] Thierry Lincou
11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6 (53m)
[15] Alister Walker |
[15] Alister Walker (ENG)
11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 (69m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) |
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY)
11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (37m)
[24] Omar Mosaad (EGY) |
[4] Amr Shabana
11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (44m)
[22] Daryl Selby |
[4] Amr Shabana
11/1, 11/5, 11/9 (39m)
[9] Wael El Hindi |
[12] Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (135m)
[22] Daryl Selby (ENG) |
[6] David Palmer (AUS)
14-12, 12-10, 11-7 (45m)
[25] Tarek Momen (EGY) |
[25] Tarek Momen
10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (61m)
[9] Wael El Hindi |
[9] Wael El Hindi (EGY)
11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (39m)
Amr Swelim (ITA) |
[21] Hisham Ashour (EGY)
13-11, 12-10, 11-9 (44m)
[10] Adrian Grant (ENG) |
[21] Hisham Ashour
11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (57m)
[7] Peter Barker |
[7] Peter Barker
11/8, 11/3, 9/11, 11/8 (52m)
[3] Ramy Ashour |
[3] Ramy Ashour
11/5, 11/9, 12/10 (52m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier |
[19] Olli Tuominen (FIN)
11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (31m)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) |
[17] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK)
11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5 (52m
[14] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) |
[14] Laurens Jan Anjema
11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)
[3] Ramy Ashour |
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
12-10, 11-8, 11-3 (39m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) |
[20] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 (68m)
[16] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) |
[20] Cameron Pilley
11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (35m)
[5] Nick Matthew |
[5] Nick Matthew
8/11, 11/8, 2/11, 11/6, 11/4
(83m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier |
[27] Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
11-2, 11-3, 11-6 (30m)
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) |
[31] Tom Richards (ENG)
7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 (53m)
[13] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) |
[13] Ong Beng Hee
11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (42m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier |
[32] Julian Illingworth (USA)
11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (50m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) |
Sun 1st, First Round
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Mansoor
Zaman (PAK)
17-15, 11-4, 11-7 (30m)
[29] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
0-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (56m)
[11] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG)
13-11, 11-7, 11-0 (35m)
[28] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX)
11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (25m)
[8] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Yasir Butt (PAK)
11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
[18] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [Q] Scott Arnold (AUS)
11-8, 12-10, 11-6 (39m)
[15] Alister Walker (ENG) bt Mark Krajcsak (HUN)
11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5 (49m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt
[30] Shahier Razik (CAN)
11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 (71m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (ENG)
11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (32m)
[24] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
11-9,10-12,11-6,9-11,11-8 (62m)
[12] Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)
11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (39m
[22] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (38m)
[6] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Julien Balbo (FRA)
11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (39m)
[25] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Ben Ford (ENG)
11-9, 11-3, 11-6 (22m)
[9] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt Stephane Galifi (ITA)
9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 (85m)
Amr Swelim (ITA) bt [26] Joey Barrington (ENG)
11-8, 12-10, 11-9 (53m)
[21] Hisham Ashour (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG)
6-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (54m)
[10] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Chris Ryder (ENG)
11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (36m)
[19] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL)
11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
11-7, 11-2, 12-10 (37m)
[17] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Simon Rosner (GER)
11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (34m)
[14] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN)
15-13, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [23] Miguel Angel Rodriguez
(COL) 11-5, 11-6, 15-13 (57m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Jorge Ferreira (MEX)
13-11, 0-0 rtd (11m)
[20] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
11-6, 11-4, 12-10 (39m)
[16] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Nafiizwan Adnan
(MAS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (25m)
[27] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA)
15-13, 11-6, 6-11, 11-2 (85m)
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] John Rooney (IRL)
11-6 rtd (12m)
[31] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Arthur Gaskin (IRL)
11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-0 (36m)
[13] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8 (68m)
[32] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL)
11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (46m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO)
11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)
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NOT
TOO HARD FOR SOME…
2004 champion Thierry Lincou eased into the second
after a convincing11-5, 11-7, 11-3 victory in 32 minutes
over Pakistan qualifier Yasir Butt…
 English
team-mates Peter Barker and James Willstrop
also survived testing first round.
Barker, the No7 seed from London, faced qualifier Nicolas
Mueller a 20 years old rising squash star from Switzerland,
while Willstrop, a former world number two who is fighting
back to the top of his game after ankle surgery earlier in
the year, beat English qualifier Robbie Temple 13-11, 11-7,
11-0.
England's fifth seed Nick Matthew had the easiest
path through to the second round when his Irish opponent
John Rooney was forced to retire injured at the end of the
first game - after just 12 minutes.
Julian Illingworth, the world No33 who claimed an
unexpected slot as the last of the 32 seeds after the withdrawal of top-ranked
Spaniard Borja Golan, took full advantage of his opportunity
by becoming the first US player to reach the second round
of the World Open in its
33-year history.
The New York-based 25-year-old beat experienced New
Zealander Kashif Shuja 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 in 46 minutes to
set up a second round meeting with second seed Gregory
Gaultier, the new world number one from France.
Egyptians dominated the remainder of the evening on
the all-glass court. Top seed Karim Darwish defeated
Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman 17-15, 11-4, 11-7 in 30 minutes -
while three-time champion Amr Shabana, who boasted a
33-month reign at the top of the world list, beat English
qualifier Shaun le Roux 11-6, 11-5, 11-6.
But defending champion Ramy Ashour had the easiest
ride, winning the first game then being handed the match
when Mexican opponent Jorge Ferreira realised
during the knock-up preceding the second game that the knee
injury picked up during the match would not allow him to
continue.
... HARDER FOR
OTHERS...
Cheered on by a packed partisan, local wildcard player
Abdullah Almezayen played the game of his life - and was
three points away from a stunning upset against Egypt's 24th
seed Omar Mosaad.
Indian number one Saurav Ghosal suffered the
indignity of losing the first game without scoring a point -
but refocused and battled back to beat French qualifier
Mathieu Castagnet 0-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 after 56 minutes.
... AND THE UPSETS
Frenchman Renan Lavigne was delighted to provide the
second upset of the day - on his 35th birthday! The world
No38 from Marseille reproduced the same skills that took him
to a career-high No17 five years ago to beat Canada's 30th
seed Shahier Razik 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 in 71 minutes.
Lavigne now plays England's rising star Alister Walker,
the 15th seed who beat Hungary's Mark Krajcsak 11-6, 11-6,
6-11, 11-5.
Omar Abdel Aziz was revelling in the support the
locals gave him in his 11-5, 11-6, 15-13 upset over Miguel
Angel Rodriguez, the 23rd seed from Colombia.
For the « New Italians », there were contrasting
fortunes - Amr Swelim and Stéphane Galifi have recently switched allegiances to play under
the Italian flag. Swelim upset an out-of-sorts Joey
Barrington, the 26th seed from England bidding to reach the
second round for the second year.
The former Egyptian, still based in Cairo, beat Barrington
11-8, 12-10, 11-9 in 53 minutes - and will now meet Egyptian
Wael El Hindi. It was ninth seed El Hindi who beat former
Frenchman Galifi 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 in an
ill-tempered match which lasted 85 minutes.
A match which took 85 minutes of playing time - yet also
featured a two-hour 'blood injury' break while Davide
Bianchetti was taken to a local hospital - saw the Italian
ultimately prevail 15-13, 11-6, 6-11, 11-2 over French
qualifier Yann Perrin in the final match of the day at the
Salmiya Club.
AND WHAT ABOUT
THE NEW NUMBER ONE…
 Frenchman
Gregory Gaultier celebrated his first day as world
number one
with a convincing straight games victory over Scot Alan
Clyne on an all-glass squash court at the Green Island
Resort.
Gaultier, seeded to reach the final for the third time in
four years, was in commanding form as he despatched Clyne
11-2, 11-5, 11-7 in just 27 minutes. |
"He's a good player - much more
experienced than me. And that was clear in the last few points -
perhaps in the future I will be able to deal with those situations
better.
"But overall I am very happy with today.
This event has been great for squash in Kuwait - and it has also
helped me get more personal sponsorship which will allow me to
travel to more events on the world tour."
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"Yann's racket caught me on the chin,
and I had three stitches to stop the bleeding.
That wasn't as painful as the anti-tetanus injection in my backside
- which seems to be restricting my movement."
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"It was a good first round match - I
was really focussed and well-prepared. I knew it was his first time
in the World Open and I was confident I would get through. "But he
gave me a good run, so I'm really pleased to have won 3/0."
"When I got back from Hong Kong, there was a lot of media interest
at home - which was nice - and I tried to do everything possible. "I
have been aiming at this number 1 spot for the past two or three
years - I feel really confident being number one.
"It's a relief that I have finally achieved this goal. Now I'm not
running after it - I can now just enjoy my squash."
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Darwish
seeded to win maiden
World Open title in Kuwait ...
Egypt's world number one Karim Darwish is seeded to
win his maiden World Open squash title, according to the
draw for the Kuwait Men's World Open 2009.
The $277k championship - the richest in the history of the
men's professional game - features players from 24 nations,
and will take place in Kuwait from 1-7 November.
Darwish, who has held the world's top ranking throughout
2009, is drawn to face Pakistan left-hander Mansoor Zaman,
the world number 49 from Peshawar, in the first round.
The 28-year-old from Cairo, who was runner-up last year,
will be boosted by his home town title triumph last week in
the Sky Open, the first PSA Super Series Platinum event of
the year.
The likely last sixteen clash which awaits the favourite is
against England's former world number two James Willstrop,
the 12th seed from Leeds who opens his 2009 campaign against
fellow countryman Robbie Temple.
Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the 2004 champion who is
the No8 seed, is Darwish's predicted quarter-final opponent
- before the Cairo king takes on fellow countryman Amr
Shabana in a possible semi-final. Shabana is a
three-time win of the title - in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The
30-year-old left-hander from Giza will no doubt be hoping to
maintain his 'odd-year' success in the championship in 2009.
France's Gregory Gaultier, runner-up in 2006 and
2007, is the event's second seed and the candidate expected
to face Darwish in the final. The 26-year-old world number
two from Aix-en-Provence, who stretched Darwish to five
games in last week's Sky Open final, opens his Kuwait
campaign against Scottish qualifier Alan Clyne - and
is expected to line up against Englishman Nick Matthew,
the British Open champion who is ranked five in the world,
in the quarter-finals.
The other semi-final predicted by the draw would see
Gaultier take on Egypt's world No4 Ramy Ashour, the
defending champion from Cairo. The pair staged a mighty last
four clash last week in Cairo, with the Frenchman ultimately
emerging successful in five games, after 70 minutes.
Australia's David Palmer is another former champion
who represents a formidable threat. Winner of the title in
2002 and 2006, the US-based world No6 is in Shabana's
quarter of the draw - and faces French qualifier Julien
Balbo in the opening round.
Wildcard Abdullah Almezayen, the Kuwaiti number one,
has been drawn to face Omar Mosaad of Egypt, the 25th seed.
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Qualifying at
St George's
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Kuwait World Open Coverage |
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First Round Draw:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Mansoor
Zaman (PAK)
[29] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[11] James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG)
[28] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[8] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Yasir Butt (PAK)
[18] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [Q] Scott Arnold (AUS)
[15] Alister Walker (ENG) v Mark Krajcsak (HUN)
[30] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Renan Lavigne (FRA)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [Q] Shaun le Roux (ENG)
[24] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
[12] Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)
[22] Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[6] David Palmer (AUS) v [Q] Julien Balbo (FRA)
[25] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Ben Ford (ENG)
[9] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Stephane Galifi (ITA)
[26] Joey Barrington (ENG) v Amr Swelim (ITA)
[21] Hisham Ashour (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[10] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Chris Ryder (ENG)
[19] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Martin Knight (NZL)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) v [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[17] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[14] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Q] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN)
[23] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Jorge Ferreira (MEX)
[20] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
[56] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan
(MAS)
[27] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) v [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA)
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q] John Rooney (IRL)
[31] Tom Richards (ENG) v [Q] Arthur Gaskin (IRL)
[13] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
[32] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO)
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Kuwait World Open Coverage |
15-Jun-09:
Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah to Host 2009
Kuwait Men’s World Open
 For
more than four years, Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah has been
orchestrating and planning the hosting of the 0world’s most
prestigious squash tournament, the PSA World Open 2009,
which will be staged in Kuwait between the 1st and 7th
November.
The event was awarded to Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah by the PSA and
the WSF as a result of her historical endeavours over the last
four years of hosting and producing tournaments within Kuwait.
Qualification for the championships will be held in London,
England on the 28th August 2009 at St George’s Hill
Squash & Tennis Club. Thirty-two players will compete for
sixteen main draw places in the main draw that will be played in
Kuwait. The thirty-two Qualifiers will comprise the twenty
highest ranked PSA players, eight WSF selected players and four
Kuwaiti nominated players.
The Main Draw of six-four participants will consist of the
forty-seven top ranked PSA players, sixteen successful
Qualifiers and one Kuwaiti Wildcard, Abdullah Al-Meyzeyan,
the Kuwaiti No.1 who will have the honour of playing the first
match of the event following the Opening Ceremony.
The prize fund of US$275,000 is the largest ever offered
by any World Open or World Tour event. The Tournament will stage
a glittering Opening and Closing Ceremony as well as hosting an
Official Championship Gala Dinner.
Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah has assembled a team of leading
professionals to manage all aspects of event management, under
her direction as the President of the Higher Organising
Committee.
Robert Edwards, The Voice of Squash, who has presented,
directed and commentated on more than two hundred and fifty of
the world’s leading events over the last twenty-five years.
Edwards has been an integral part of the success of the Kuwait
Open in recent years and has put off his retirement to take part
in the upcoming tournament as Presenter and Technical Director
and International TV Commentator. Robert has been involved in
all of the events presented by Sheikha Fadyah during the last
four years and has forged a strong friendship with her and her
family.
 "Sheikha
Fadyah Al-Sabah has been a great driving force and inspiration
in her role as President of the Higher Management Committee.
"She has grown the sport of squash in Kuwait over the years and
to have reached a level where such a tournament is to take place
in Kuwait is a spectacular achievement and quite a coupe for the
country. I am personally honoured to be a part of it.
"The Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009 promises to be the biggest and
best championships in the sport's history and will be a fitting
climax to the long-term contribution of Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah
whose vision and generosity has provided massive opportunity to
the world of squash.
"It will be a festival of fun, amusement, laughter and sport."
Robert Edwards
Jahangir Khan will be an
honoured guest and tournament adviser. Jahangir can lay claim to
being the greatest player of any era. Between 1981 and 1986, he
won five hundred and fifty-five matches consecutively, the
longest winning streak ever on the PSA World Tour, and is the
only player to ever win ten consecutive British Open titles.
He retired as a player in 1993 and has served three terms as the
WSF President. He is now a respected business man with
International ties world wide and is delighted to be an integral
part of the management team after many years of close friendship
with the Royal Family.
Paul Walters, CEO of internationalSPORTgroup™, has been
appointed as the Event Director. Paul Walters and his company
enjoy an unsurpassed reputation for excellence within the sports
management field. He is an innovator who will work tirelessly to
make this the best produced championship in the history of the
World Open. internationalSPORTgroup™ will undertake all event
management responsibilities leading up to and during the
championships. Jamal Al-Qishawy will act as the local
manager.
The Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009 is a showtime tournament and
will be shown live on Kuwait TV as well as live on the internet.
Pro-Active Television, an international sports television
company based in the UK, will film the event & produce two
one-hour shows with commentary from Robert Edwards.
Two highlight programmes will be shown around the world by many
TV companies including Sky Sports in Europe. International TV
coverage will reach something like three hundred million
potential viewers. The entire package including the live
internet will all be shown under the Kuwaiti banner.
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2008 Champion,
Ramy Ashour
Kuwait Open 2008
"The PSA were
delighted to award the 2009 Men’s World Open to Sheikha Fadyah
Al-Sabah.
"Over the past few years Kuwait has produced some of the most
spectacular events on the PSA World Tour and we have no doubt,
as the prize money suggests, this will the biggest and the best
PSA Men’s World Open we have ever seen.
"Sheikha Fadyah Al-Sabah and her event management team have a
wealth of experience in producing high class squash events and
together with the top sixty-four players in the world this is
certainly a World Open not to be missed."
Lee Beachill
PSA COO
Kuwait Open 2007
 "It
thrills me that the most prestigious squash tournament in the
world is to be hosted here in Kuwait. Having the best players in
the world competing here in Kuwait over the last number of years
has inspired our local players.
"The world media and squash fans will join us in force for the
festivities that are planned, to make this the best World Open
in history."
Hussein Al-Maqseed
KSF President
Kuwait Open 2005
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"It's
hot and humid on the glass court in the evenings, but that doesn't suit me
and the other Egyptians any more than the Europeans.
