September 2013

Selby and Gaultier took San Francisco semi spots!

Daryl Selby showed that determination to win overrides friendship on the PSA World Tour when he upset England team-mate Peter Barker, the No4 seed, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-4 in the NetSuite Open to claim an unexpected place in the semi-finals in San Francisco.

Bidding to reach his second Tour final of the year, Selby will face defending champion Gregory Gaultier (ri) from France, who beat Germany’s Simon Rosner (le) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 in 46 minutes of play.

Semi-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [3] James Willstrop (ENG)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Daryl Selby (ENG)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (44m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 (36m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [4] Peter Barker (ENG) 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-4 (78m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (46m)

1st round:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 15-13, 11-3, 11-1 (34m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 (74m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (45m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-3 (70m)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (41m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (51m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 14-12, 11-4, 11-7 (64m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (49m)


Ashour & Willstrop set up 1st San Francisco semi!

Egyptian Ramy Ashour (le) and England’s James Willstrop set up the 1st NetSuite Open semi-final after despatching their quarter-final opponents in straight games.

In the 1st quarter-final 3rd seed Willstrop, the 30-year-old former world number one from England, beat Dutch rival Laurens Jan Anjema – the world No18 from The Hague – 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 in just 36 minutes of play.

Ashour, the World No1 who has won the last eight PSA World Tour events in which he has competed, overcame Tom Richards (ri), the World No22 from England 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 to extends his unbeaten Tour run to 43 matches.

Semi-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [3] James Willstrop (ENG)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (44m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 (36m)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Simon Rosner (GER)

1st round:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 15-13, 11-3, 11-1 (34m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 (74m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (45m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-3 (70m)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (41m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (51m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 14-12, 11-4, 11-7 (64m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (49m)


AJ Bell World Squash Championship promo video!

Watch the promo video which has been put together to give you a taste of all the action and drama the worlds best squash will going to produce during the AJ Bell World Squash Championship in Manchester. Get ready, don’t miss it, either live in Manchester or on SquashTV.


Greg Gaultier retains Mexico title!

France’s World No2 Greg Gaultier survived ‘one of the toughest matches I ever played’ to beat Mohamed Elshorbagy and retain the Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas title at Alameda Park in Toluca, Mexico.

It was the climax the crowd surrounding the all-glass court was hoping for – one featuring the event’s top two seeds and one which went the full distance.

Event favourite Gaultier reached the final – the 52nd of his career – after ending the brave run of unseeded Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the semi-finals (11-5, 11-5, 11-7).

Second-seeded Egyptian El Shorbagy faced top-ranked Spaniard Borja Golan in the other semi in what was the pair’s 7th meeting in the past 5 years. The 22-year-old from Alexandria extended his head-to-head tally to 5/2 after beating the 3rd seed 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5.

In the final, El Shorbagy, looking for his 1st win in 6th meetings with the Frenchman. In the end the top seed exerted his authority, ultimately closing out the match 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 after 79 minutes to keep the title in his grasp.

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 (79m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (50m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Borja Golan (ESP) 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (56m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (46m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 (113m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 (85m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (28m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (27m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 (31m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 (42m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 (50m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (45m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 16-14 (55m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-13, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-2 (55m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)


Worms retains European Club Championship title!

The German league Champion Black & White Worms won the final of the 2013 European Club Championships against the French contender Mulhouse Squash Club in style. After 2 hours and 7 games it was all over.

Davide Bianchetti (Worms) started well, as he beat English former World No4 Simon Parke (Mulhouse) in straight games. Afterwards, it was Nick Matthew who secured a 2:0 lead for Worms as he beat his English rival James Willstrop 11-5, 11-8, 11-5.

It was up to former 2 times World Champion David Palmer to close out the match, as he just needed one game against Mulhouse’s Mathieu Castagnet. Palmer, who has retired from the PSA Tour since November 2011, never gave the Frenchman a real chance and won the 1st game 11-6, which gave his Team Worms the 2nd ECC title after 2012.


Champion Gaultier Draws Karwalski In Toluca!

France’s world No2 Greg Gaultier will begin his defence of the Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas title in Mexico against Matthew Karwalski following the Australian’s success in the qualifying finals of the PSA World Tour International 70 squash event in Toluca.

1st round draw:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
Tom Richards (ENG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Adrian Waller (ENG) v [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX)


Sweating Blood: My Life in Squash!

2 time World and 3 time British Open Champion Nick Matthew will launch his autobiography ‘Sweating Blood: My Life In Squash’ to coincide with the AJ Bell World Squash Championship to be staged in Manchester, from the 26th October to 3rd November.

Matthew’s life is more than the tale of a squash player. In this brutally honest story, Nick psychoanalyses his own obsessive-compulsive personality and explains how it helps him win.

He gives an behind-the-scenes access: the prize money, the anti-doping, the gruesome training, the post-match celebrations, the crazy players on the tour and the far-flung corners of the globe.

Make sure to see Nick in action and get your personal signature at the AJ Bell World Squash Championship – tickets: http://bit.ly/183LmtA


David and Barker are Malaysian Open champions!

Malaysian squash star Nicol David took her 8th Malaysian Open title since 2005, by beating defending champion Raneem El Weleily 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 in 34 minutes of play.

In the men’s draw England’s Peter Barker triumphed over defending champion Tarek Momen (11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 70m) to win the Malaysian Open title for the first time.

Women’s draw
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [10] Camille Serme (FRA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (42m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9 (78m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5 (56m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 (50m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (69m)

2nd round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (73m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (48m)
[16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 (50m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (41m)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Annie Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (35m)
[11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 (63m)
[9] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-9, 13-11, 11-9 (50m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (45m)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (27m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 (63m)
[16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6 (35m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 (52m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-4, 9-11, 11-0, 11-4 (35m)
[14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 7-11, 16-14, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)
[13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-6, 3-11, 13-11, 11-9 (47m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (24m)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (24m)
[12] Annie Au (HKG) bt [WC] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (25m)
[Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [15] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (31m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)

Men’s draw
Final:
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 (70m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 (69m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [3] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 12-10, 11-2 (99m)

Quarter-finals:
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (76m)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-6 (20m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (104m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-8, 11-0, 7-11, 11-2 (56m)

1st round:
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [1] Karim Darwish (EGY) 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 2-1 ret. (46m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (45m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 (48m)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2 (46m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-10, 11-2, 11-4 (58m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)
[WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)