2014

Rosner downs Darwish to make ToC quarters!

At day 2 of the split 2nd round format, Germany’s World No13 Simon Rosner (front) played against the odds, when he beat Egypt’s World No6 Karim Darwish (back) in straight games (11-2, 12-10, 11-5) to booked his places as the only unseeded player in the quarter-finals of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York. “The win is important but the performance is a huge confidence boost and I’m really looking forward to the next game now,” concluded Rosner.

The 7-times German Champion will now face World No2 Greg Gaultier in the quarter-finals on Wednesday after the top-seeded Frenchman despatched Botswana’s Alister Walker 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 in his second round match.

8th seed Daryl Selby made the quarter-finals by beating English compatriot Chris Simpson 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6 to take on Mohamed El Shorbagy, the No3 seed from Egypt. El Shorbagy came back from 1 game down to defeat fellow Egyptian Tarek Momen 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 in 63 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [7] Amr Shabana (EGY)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v [6] Peter Barker (ENG)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [8] Daryl Selby (ENG)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Simon Rosner (GER)

2nd round:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-7, 11-2, 11-4 (34m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (39m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11 (81m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 13-11, 11-1, 13-11 (64m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 (63m)
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6 (71m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt [5] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-2, 12-10, 11-5 (38m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (44m)


Seeds making quarters in New York!

On day 1 of the split round format of the 2nd round matches all seeded players booked their places in the quarter-finals for the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions played in New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

Egyptian maestro and 4 times World Champion Amr Shabana (le) came through his 2nd round game, putting in a superb performance to despatch Dutch fellow Laurens Jan Anjema (ri) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 and will meet World No1 and 3 times World Champion Nick Matthew from England, who defeated South African Stephen Coppinger 11-7, 11-2, 11-4.

England’s World No5 James Willstrop came through a challenging encounter with Cameron Pilley to beat the Australian in straight games (13-11, 11-1, 13-11). Willstrop will now face compatriot Peter Barker who overcame Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet in 4 games (11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11) to earn his place in the quarters.

Quarter-finals:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [7] Amr Shabana (EGY)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v [6] Peter Barker (ENG)

2nd round:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-7, 11-2, 11-4 (34m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (39m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11 (81m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 13-11, 11-1, 13-11 (64m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Alister Walker (BOT)


Rosner beat Ghosal in epic ToC-battle!

Germany’s World No13 Simon Rosner (front) survived an epic 100-minute encounter against Indian World No 15 Saurav Ghosal (back) during the 2nd day 1st round of action at the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

In a contest which saw both players give their all, Rosner came from 1/2 behind to eventually triumph 14-12, 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5. “I knew it would be a really tough match,” said Rosner. “Saurav is a great player with lots of skill. Whenever we’ve played before the matches have always been very close.

Now Rosner meets No5 seed Karim Darwish in the 2nd round after the Egyptian former world No1 survived an almost similarly dramatic encounter (6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9) against countryman Omar Mosaad. “It was a very tough match, especially for a first round of an event,” said Darwish. “He’s in the top ten but that is just a sign of how tough squash is right now.

Elsewhere England’s Chris Simpson recorded his first ever victory on the glass court at Grand Central, surviving an early scare against Egyptian qualifier Ali Farag to prevail 3/1 after losing the opening game.

No.1 seed Gregory Gaultier and No.3 seed Mohamed Elshorbagy began their title campaigns with comfortable 3/0 victories over Tom Richards and Todd Harrity, respectively, while Tarek Momen, Daryl Selby and Alister Walker also booked their places in round two.

2nd round:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Alister Walker (BOT)

1st round:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (40m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5 (64m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (47m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 5-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3 (73m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (92m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (32m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 7-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-5 (50m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Todd Harrity (USA) 11-3, 12-10, 11-2 (28m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Ali Farag (EGY) 9-11, 11-0, 12-10, 11-5 (69m)
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (43m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (82m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 14-12, 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5 (101m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 13-11, 11-7, 18-16 (67m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (41m)


French battle on opening day in New York!

Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Peter Barker led an English charge in the opening round of the 2014 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, which got underway at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

World No1 Matthew eased past fellow countryman Adrian Grant 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 to book his place in the 2nd round where he will face South African Stephen Coppinger who beat Malaysian (Ong Beng Hee (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5).

World No5 Willstrop came from behind to get past Swiss qualifier Nicolas Mueller, eventually prevailing 7-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-5 – while Barker defeated rising Egyptian star Karim Abdel Gawad 5-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3.
Elsewhere on the opening day there Dutch star Laurens Jan Anjema overcame Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, Egyptian maestro Amr Shabana eased over compatriot Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 and Australian Cameron Pilley just need 32 minutes to beat Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2.

Most interesting battle on the 1st day top half action was a French affair, where Mathieu Castagnet (le) needed 92 minutes to wear out his younger country-fellow Gregoire Marche (ri) 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.

1st round:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (40m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5 (64m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (47m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 5-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3 (73m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (92m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (32m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 7-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-5 (50m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [WC] Todd Harrity (USA)
Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Q] Ali Farag (EGY)
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Simon Rosner (GER)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Alister Walker (BOT)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Tom Richards (ENG)


Ramy out of Tournament of Champions!

Defending champion Ramy Ashour (le), the world No3 from Egypt, has withdrawn from the 2014 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, the iconic PSA event which will take place at New York’s famous Grand Central Terminal from January 17-24.

Ashour was forced off the court due to injury during the Hong Kong Open quarter-final vs Borja Golan (ri) in December, and the Egyptian star has since failed to return to full fitness.

“The ToC is one of my favourite events but as I am still struggling with my injury the doctors have advised me not to compete with my current condition”, Ashour said.

The 2014 championship would have seen Ashour bidding to win his fourth ToC title to join Canadian squash legend Jonathon Power as the event’s most dominant competitor.

Tournament of Champions Chairman John Nimick said: “While Ramy Ashour’s unfortunate withdrawal denies him a shot at a record-tying fourth ToC title, the strength and competitive passion of the other top PSA World Tour players ensures that the 2014 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions will once again be a showcase of electrifying competition from the sport’s great athletes.”

Revised 1st round draw:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Adrian Grant (ENG)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Qualifier
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Qualifier
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Qualifier
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Qualifier
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Qualifier
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [WC] Todd Harrity (USA)
Tarek Momen (EGY) v Qualifier
Chris Simpson (ENG) v Qualifier
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Qualifier
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Simon Rosner (GER)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Alister Walker (BOT)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Tom Richards (ENG)


Nick Matthew back on top of the World!

2013 World Champion Nick Matthew overtook Egypt’s Ramy Ashour and Frenchman Greg Gaultier to top the 1st PSA Men’s World Squash Rankings of 2014.

The Englishman followed up November’s PSA World Championship triumph with a maiden Hong Kong Open title in December to cap an impressive end-of-year run and leap from 3rd to 1st on the rankings, ending Ashour’s 12-month grip on top spot.

“I’m playing the best squash of my career at the moment and that’s something I want to carry through into 2014 with the Commonwealth Games coming to the UK,” said Matthew.

Matthew’s ascendency from third to first sees Ashour, who ended 2013 plagued by injury, drop to third in the rankings while Gaultier maintains his No2 ranking.

Rank [Prev] Name HWR
1 [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 1
2 [2] Greg Gaultier (FRA) 1
3 [1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 1
4 [4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 4
5 [5] James Willstrop (ENG) 1
6 [6] Karim Darwish (EGY) 1
7 [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 7
8 [8] Peter Barker (ENG) 5
9 [9] Amr Shabana (EGY) 1
10 [10] Daryl Selby 9
11 [12] Tarek Momen (EGY) 10
12 [11] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 8
13 [16] Simon Rosner (GER) 12
14 [13] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 13
15 [15] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 15