March 2012

Young players surprise seeds in KL!

March 28, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

3 seeds are on their way home, but a teenage qualifier claims the biggest scalp in round 1 of the CIMB Nicol David KL Open 2012.

In the best victory of her career, 16-year-old Egyptian qualifier Nour El Sherbini got the better of world No2 Jenny Duncalf in 5 games (12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9). Another qualifier, Dipika Pallikal of India, downed No8 seed Kasey Brown of Australia in straight games 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

Natalie Grinham, seeded No7, got beaten by unseeded Annie Au of Hong Kong in a 4-game battle 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6.

Further 1st round results:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-1, 1-11, 12-10 (53m)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (31m)
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 (88m)

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

Waters takes Montreal crown!

March 27, 2012 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Alison Waters returned back to the top level after beating (7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3) top seed Kasey Brown in the $25K Atwater Cup 2012 in Montreal, Canada. The 28-year-old Englishwoman had a torrid time in the last two years after batting back to form following Achilles surgery. But off the back of a successful British National Championships run, in which she came runner-up as 8th seed, Waters has now won her 1st WSA title since February 2010.

On route to the final, Waters always looked to be in contention for the title despite her unseeded status. She beat No4 seed Emma Beddoes in the first round, followed by No7 seed Aisling Blake and No2 Joey Chan, looking more assured in every round.

Top seed Kasey Brown had produced a confident string of performances and was yet to drop a game ahead of the final.

Final:
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [1] Kasey Brown (AUS) 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3 (85m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [2] Joey Chan (HKG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-7

Quarter-finals:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [5] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8
[3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [6] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [7] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [8] Gaby Huber (SUI) 11-4, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7

1st round:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
[5] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Siyoli Waters (RSA) 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7
[3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [Q] Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
[6] Latasha Khan (USA) bt [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13
[7] Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Alexandra Norman (CAN) 11-4, 11-0, 11-5
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [4] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
[8] Gaby Huber (SUI) bt [Q] Sina Wall (GER) 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 2-3 ret.
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [Q] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 11-6, 12-10, 11-8

Ramy Ashour got another trick!

March 25, 2012 • Tags: , • Categories: all posts, players, videos

Ramy Ashour got another trick – watch out and enjoy …

Richards claims his best Tour win in Montreal!

March 25, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Tom Richards (le) pulled off his 2nd successive upset in the Open de Squash in Canada to win the biggest title of his career in Montreal.

In his maiden meeting with former world champion and world No1 Thierry Lincou (ri), the No2 seed, 4th seed Richards beat the distinguished 35-year-old Frenchman 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 to lift his 4th Tour title.

The 25-year-old Englishman reached his biggest ever final after ousting favourite Hisham Ashour, the defending champion from Egypt, in the semi-finals 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12.

Thierry Lincou made the final by beating Frensch fellow Mathieu Castagnet in straight games (11-9, 13-11, 11-6).

Richards was understandably delighted with his triumph: “Winner winner chicken dinner!” exclaimed the champion via Twitter shortly afterwards. “Scraped a 3/2 win in, absolute pleasure playing the legend that is Thierry!”

Final:
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5

Semi-finals:
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 13-11, 11-6

Quarter-finals:
[1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5

1st round:
[1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3
[Q] Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Martin Knight (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
[3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 3-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 14-12

Qualifying finals:
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 4-0 ret.
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-2, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-4, 12-10, 3-0 ret.

1st qualifying round:
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-7, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7, 11-1
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt David Baillargeon (CAN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Eric Dingle (CAN) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 11-6, 4-0 ret.
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Maxym Leclair (CAN) 11-1, 11-8, 11-4
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Graham Bassett (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-3

Matthew takes Canary hat-trick!

March 24, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

In the final of the Canary Wharf Classic at the East Wintergarden at London’s Docklands World No1 James Willstrop (re) met World Open Champion Nick Matthew (li).

It was their 42nd meeting with a 32:9 victory advantage for Matthew.

After 78 minutes Matthew had the upper hand in a very tough 3 games encounter (11-7, 11-8, 11-9) to take his 3rd consecutive Canary title and his 20th victory over Willstrop in a row.

The next match of the two Englishman is only one week away, when both lead their German league teams (Worms and Paderborn) into the final.

Willstrop controlled Shorbagy to get to the final!

March 23, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

James Willstrop (front) withstood a ferocious onslaught from hard-hitting Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy (back) before winning in 4 games 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5 in 61 minutes to reach his 5th Canary Wharf final since 2004. Willstrop now meets his English rival Nick Matthew who won the last 19 encounters in a row.

Matthew survives Barker’s storm!

March 23, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

World Open Champion and Canary Wharf titleholder Nick Matthew (le) won the longest match of the tournament so far. After 94 minutes the World No3 was able to wear down English compatriot Peter Barker (ri) who gave Matthew a very hard time 4 games long. With the 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 victory Matthew makes his 3rd Canary Wharf final in a row.

Willstrop survived, Matthew being tested!

March 22, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Two out of the four quarter-final matches at the Canary Wharf Classic came out as really tough battles. The other 2 produced a more or less safe victory of the favourites, as 3rd seed Peter Barker from England beat Germany’s Simon Rosner 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 and Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy overcame Englishman Adrian Grant 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.

It was the 2nd match of the night, where titleholder Nick Matthew (le) had to stay strong as English compatriot Daryl Selby (ri9 tried everything in the book to dethrone the reigning champion. But Matthew never loses patience to take the 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 victory in 65 Minutes.

It was James Willstrop’s 2nd 5-setter within 24 hours as the Englishman had to go the fully distance before beating Egyptian Tarek Momen. 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 to secure his semi-final place.

Semi-final line-up (head-to-heads):
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [3] Peter Barker (ENG) (18:1)
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) v [4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) (4:1)