2014

Waller takes out Golan at U.S. Open!

October 12, 2014 • Tags: Adrian Waller, Borja Golan, Philadelphia, PSA, US Open, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

England’s Adrian Waller (ri) pulled off the biggest win of his career to date as he knocked out World No.7 Borja Golan (le) of the Delaware Investments U.S. Open in the 1st round of action at Philadelphia’s Drexel University.

The World No.27 scraped through a tense and attritional 92-minute encounter against the Spaniard, as he hold his nerve together at the end of the final game to get a 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 victory that sees him beat a top 10 ranked player on the PSA World Tour for the 1st time in his career.

“That was definitely the biggest win of my career to date,” said Waller. “I’ve never beaten a top ten player before in my career, so to do that in the opening round of a major tournament like the U.S. Open is very big for me.”

“I’m really looking forward to the second round now. In many ways the pressure is off me so I’m going to enjoy the match and hopefully I can put in another good performance.”

Waller will now take on Egyptian Mazen Hesham in the 2nd round on Monday after the 20-year-old survived a tough battle with Frenchman Lucas Serme during an opening day that also saw Leo Au of Hong Kong and Scotland’s Alan Clyne, who was bumped into the main draw following the withdrawal of World No.10 Karim Darwish ahead of the tournament, pull off surprise upsets against higher ranking opposition.

Clyne, the World No.38, claimed one of the biggest scalps of the day in the opening match of the tournament to see off England’s World No.23 Adrian Grant in emphatic fashion, taking the match 11-2, 13-11, 11-7, while Au, ranked World No.41, stunned World No.29 Gregoire Marche to take an equally impressive 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 win.

Elsewhere during the opening day of action Simon Rösner came through an epic battle against Mathieu Castagnet to secure his place in the second round while Australian Cameron Pilley saw off compatriot Ryan Cuskelly and the top two seeds, Gregory Gaultier and Mohamed Elshorbagy, eased through their opening match-ups against Mohamed Abouelghar and Greg Lobban, respectively.

1st round, top half results:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-1, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-2, 13-11, 11-7 (52m)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (39m)
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-2, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-5 (82m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [5] Borja Golan (ESP) 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (91m)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 (77m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 (69m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)

U.S. Open starting with main draw today!

October 11, 2014 • Tags: Philadelphia, PSA TV, US Open, USA, WSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments

The U.S. Open have been started on the ASB show glass court at Drexel University today.

Men’s 1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Adrian Grant (ENG) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [Q] Leo Au (HKG)
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[5] Borja Golan (ESP) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
Max Lee (HKG) v Joe Lee (ENG)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA)
[8] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Fares Dessouki (EGY)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Alister Walker (BOT)
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q] Eddie Charlton (ENG)

Women’s:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX)
[12] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Habiba Mohamed Ahmed (EGY)
[16] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v [Q] Aisling Blake (IRL)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Joey Chan (HKG)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[9] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) v [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)
[8] Annie Au (HKG) v [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG)
[14] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY)
[13] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Tesni Evans (WAL)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) v [WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Heba El Torky (EGY)
[15] Sarah Kippax (ENG) v Line Hansen (DEN)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA)

Waters wins biggest title at Carol Weymuller Open!

October 8, 2014 • Tags: Alison Waters, Carol Weymuller Open, Omneya Abdel Kawy, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

It was appropriately at Heights Casino in New York that England’s Alison Waters (ri) recorded to claim her 10th, but biggest, Tour title, when she won the Carol Weymuller Open trophy.

The 30-year-old Londoner reached a career-high world No3 ranking in October 2010 – but just a year later saw her ranking plummet to 44 after taking time out to recover from an Achilles injury.

Waters was back in the world top five by the end of 2012 – since when she has won a fourth British National Championship title and, in August, secured a silver Commonwealth Games medal in the Mixed Doubles in Scotland.

After coming back from 1 game down, Waters raced the game and won the following three games to beat Omneya Abdel Kawy (le) from Egypt 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10.

Comeback-Queen Waters was overjoyed with her victory: “I’m really, really delighted to have won! It’s been two years since I won a title and to win it here of all places is extra special!!

Final:
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10

Semi-finals:
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-2, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3

Quarter-finals:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 14-12, 11-2, 11-4
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt Emma Beddoes (ENG) 13-15, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4

1st round:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [6] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 12-10
[Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-5
Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 12-10, 11-4
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4

Abdel Kawy and Waters set up surprise New York climax!

October 7, 2014 • Tags: Alison Waters, Carol Weymuller Open, Laura Massaro, Omneya Abdel Kawy, Raneem El Welily, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The semi-final exit of the event’s top two seeds has led to a surprise Anglo/Egyptian Carol Weymuller Open final between 3rd seed Alison Waters and No5 seed Omneya Abdel Kawy at Heights Casino in New York.

Londoner Waters recovered from two games down to beat 2nd-seeded Egyptian Raneem El Welily 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3 to reach the 20th Tour final of her career, whilst Cairo-based Abdel Kawy will celebrate her 30th Tour final after seeing off top seed Laura Massaro, the reigning World Champion from England, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5.

“Being 2/0 down I still felt confident because I had played well in the first two. I knew that if I kept persevering I could get the errors from her, especially as I knew she’d had a tough match last night – I told myself to keeping pushing away”, Waters said.

“I’m happy to win this one,” added Abdel Kawy. “It’s my first gold final in a long time, maybe since 2010. So tomorrow, no pressure, just relax and enjoy it!”

Final:
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [3] Alison Waters (ENG)

Semi-finals:
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-2, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3

Gaultier took NetSuite title!

October 1, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Greg Gaultier, NetSuite Open, PSA, San Francisco, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

France’s world No1 Gregory Gaultier (le) claimed the 28th PSA World Tour title of his career by defeating Egyptian Amr Shabana (ri), the world No5, in the final of the 2014 NetSuite Open in San Francisco.

Gaultier, who was competing in his 60th World Tour event final, emerged a resounding victor after beating 4-time world champion Shabana 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 in just 32-minutes.

The illustrious pair went into their 31st overall meeting as Gaultier’s victory gives him the 17:14 lead and the triumph marking his 2nd NetSuite Open title since 2012.

“I didn’t know we had played that many matches on tour. We’re both quite old now and he’s still pushing very hard to be at the top but of course I am very happy to have won”, said Gaultier.

Shabana, the 35-year-old former world No1 from Cairo, added: “When you play the No1 player, you know you’re going to have a big challenge.I would have liked to put on a better show, but sometimes you get destroyed. You’re never too old to learn.”

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-4, 11-5 ret. (29m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (41m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10 (96m)
[5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9 (61m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (44m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [6] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 (98m)
[8] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Shabana and Gaultier to contest in San Francisco Final!

October 1, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, NetSuite Open, Peter Barker, PSA, San Francisco, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The NetSuite Open No.1 and 2, World No.1 Gregory Gaultier and No.5 Amr Shabana (pic) will meet in the finale at San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza.

4-time World Champion Amr Shabana booked his final spot, after the Egyptian ‘maestro’ come through a though semi-final encounter, getting back from 1 game down to beat fellow left-hander Peter Barker of England 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 after 55 minutes of play.

Greg Gaultier, who has topped the PSA World Rankings since April 2014, made his 3rd consecutive NetSuite Open final, as the Frenchman eased through the semis with a straight-games-victory (11-6, 11-5, 11-3) over Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

It will be the 31st meeting and Gaultier leading the head-to-heads against Shabana by 16:14 victories.

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [2] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)

Top Seeds into San Francisco semi-finals!

September 29, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, NetSuite Open, Peter Barker, PSA, San Francisco, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The 4 top seeds made the semi-finals of the NetSuite Open in San Francisco. While World No.1 Gregory Gaultier, England’s Peter Barker and Colombian No.4 seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez eased into the semi-finals, 2nd seed 4 time World Champion Am Shabana took 54-minutes to beat England’s Adrian Grant, the World No.24, in a four-game contest 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8.

Semi-finals setup:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) v [2] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (31min)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 2-0: 11-4, 11-5 (Ret. 29min)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46min)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54min)

Jens Schoor takes NASH Cup in style!

September 28, 2014 • Tags: Canada, Eddie Charlton, Jens Schoor, London, Nash Cup, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

German giant-killer Jens Schoor scored his 3rd upset in 4 days at The NASH Cup 2014 in Canada when he beat England’s No4 seed Eddie Charlton to win the biggest PSA World Tour title of his career in London, Ontario.

The unseeded 27-year-old from Koblenz made his breakthrough in the opening round when he despatched 6th-seeded Englishman Charles Sharpes.

Schoor’s next higher-ranked victim was 2nd seed Karim Ali Fathi. The German underdog, ranked 87 in the world, ousted the in-form World No.46 from Egypt in 5 games to reach the 10th Tour final of his career.

But Charlton, the world No55 from Nottingham, also recorded an impressive upset in the semi-finals – overcoming Joe Lee when his top-seeded compatriot retired injured midway through the fourth game.

Sure-footed Schoor was unstoppable in the final – needing just three games to see off Charlton 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in 37 minutes to claim the eighth Tour title of his career, but his biggest by far.

Schoor attributed his success to his Ontario hosts: “My billets hand-washed my shorts today because of my superstition of playing in the same clothing as last night when I had that great win over Karim,” said the new champion. “So, I guess I owe my win to my billets!”

Charlton conceded: “Jens played the better squash today and deserved the win.”

Final:
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (37m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [1] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 0-2 ret. (59m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (58m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [7] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 (58m)
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [5] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-9, 11-1, 11-4 (40m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [LL] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [8] Declan James (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (46m)

1st round:
[1] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (53m)
[7] Peter Creed (WAL) bt [Q] George Parker (ENG) 8-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (46m)
[5] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) 11-0, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (38m)
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [Q] James van Staveren (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (35m)
[LL] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt [WC] Albert Shoihet (CAN) 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8 (63m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [6] Charles Sharpes (ENG) 5-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (58m)
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt [Q] Jan van den Herrewegen (BEL) 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (37m)
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (55m)