Category: "players"

Nicol and Garner travel for Olympic bid!

March 6, 2013 • Tags: , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Former internationals Peter Nicol and Tim Garner will contest 7 Squash Matches in 7 Days on 7 Continents in a bid to help raise the profile of Squash’s campaign to join the programme of the 2020 Olympic Games.

The English pair will travel more than 40,000 miles and spend over 70 hours on planes over the course of a week that will be a test of endurance both mentally and physically.

“I wanted to come up with something that would highlight the fantastic bid that Squash is putting together to join the Olympic Programme in 2020 and got thinking about the 7 Marathons Challenge and how that could be adopted,” said Tim Garner, the former World No26.

Nicol, the former world champion and World No1, said: “When Tim approached me about the idea I had no hesitation – well, maybe a little – in saying yes!”

7 Continent Challenge schedule:
Day 1: 13th April – Falkland Islands (Antarctica)
Day 2: 14th April – Santiago, Chile (South America)
Day 3: 16th April* – Sydney, Australia (Australia)
Day 4: 17th April – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Asia)
Day 5: 18th April – Cairo, Egypt (Africa)
Day 6: 19th April – London, UK (Europe)
Day 7: 20th April – New York (North America)

(*lose a day due to international date line)

Ashour takes 2nd Richmond Title!

March 3, 2013 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Egyptian World No1 Ramy Ashour mastered the tenacious challenge of England’s Nick Matthew to win the Davenport North American Open for the 2nd time after 2009.

Ashour, appearing in his fifth consecutive final of the PSA World Series squash event, continued his long unbeaten run to take the 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 victory after 65 minutes of high class entertaining squash.

Matthew, who had beaten Ashour in the 2010 and 2011 finals, produced a spirited recovery to win the third game, but Ashour turned on the style again to clinch a second Richmond title.

The 25-year-old from Cairo – both the world number one and reigning world champion – completing his 31st consecutive victory in his 9th PSA Tour final in a row, Ashour kissed the floor and the trophy.

“Nick is a great player and we seem to feed off this rivalry. We have met in so many finals and, whoever wins, the other one gets back to work to raise their game to meet the challenge,” said Ashour.

Final:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 (65m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 (54m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-6, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7 (63m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8 (53m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [5] Karim Darwish (EGY) w/o
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [7] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (34m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (49m)

2nd round:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10 (42m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt [8] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 (82m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2 (45m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-7, 11-7, 11-1 (39m)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (40m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 (51m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4 (55m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (44m)

1st round:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-4, 12-14, 11-4, 11-6 (43m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (27m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8 (64m)
[8] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8 (48m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10 (65m)
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9 (59m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-1 (44m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (28m)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3 (46m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-3, 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7 (55m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (37m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 10-12, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (53m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Max Lee (HKG) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (38m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 19-21, 11-5 (85m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (40m)

Roger Federer backs the squash bid for 2020!

February 16, 2013 • Tags: , , • Categories: all posts, players, supporters

Swiss Tennis legend and current World No. 2 Roger Federer is backing squash to be added to the Olympic programme in 2020.

“I think it’s a wonderful sport. It’s unfortunate some sports don’t get the opportunity to be in the Olympics,” said Federer. “I think squash would deserve it. They run a great tour and they have great players and characters. I’d personally be very happy for them.”

Federer had the opportunity to meet women’s squash World No. 1 Nicol David at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Federer expressed his support to David and revealed he played the sport growing up. “I used to play it a lot when I was younger every Sunday with my dad. I’ve always been a big fan of the sport,” Federer said.

Federer and David conversed over dinner. Malaysian Nicol who is a resident of Amsterdam, was thrilled to spend quality time with the Swiss superstar. “It was exciting. He’s such a great guy and true champion. He showed us what it’s like behind the scenes to be a tennis player. It’s very similar to squash, so it’s been great to spend time with him,” said David.

Shabana takes Detroit Title as Darwish limps out!

February 1, 2013 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

In the 2013 Motor City Open Egypt’s Amr Shabana assured that his name will be engraved on the trophy for the 1st time after fellow countryman Karim Darwish retired (11-4, 2-6, ret.) midway through the 2nd game of the final in Detroit, USA.

The win takes the illustrious four-time world champion from Cairo’s career PSA World Tour title haul to 31 – stretching his lead as the top 20 player with the most titles.

“It was very sore before the match. I thought when I warmed up it was going to get better, but after lunging a few times in the second game I think I pulled a calf muscle,” said Darwish later.

“I knew he had a tough, physical game yesterday against Omar Mosaad. And I knew if I had a good start it would help me a lot,” said the new champion Shabana.

Final:
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-4, 2-6 ret. (25m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 13-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7 (65m)

[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 14-12, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 (97m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 14-12 (75m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (39m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3 (53m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 6-11, 14-12, 11-7, 12-10
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 12-14, 11-0, 11-6, 14-12
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 15-13, 11-3, 11-7
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 11-3, 11-7

Amr Shabana on fire at Queen’s!

January 9, 2013 • Tags: , , , • Categories: all posts, players, videos

This is a MUST: Any squash fan will love that as Amr Shabana is on fire and showing his brilliancy. Nick Matthew played well but there was alsmost nothing to do against the maestro this time …

Amr Shabana retains World Series title!

January 6, 2013 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Despite beginning his 19th year as a professional squash player, 33-year-old Amr Shabana proved that he is still the one to beat when he recovered from a game down to defeat England’s World No2 Nick Matthew in the final of ATCO PSA World Series Finals to retain last year’s title.

The Queen’s Club in London which featured the top eight players from last year’s elite PSA World Series championships. Staged on the unique ASB all-glass Z-court, the final was broadcast live to more than 300 million homes around the world for the first time.

Two-time world champion Matthew, the event’s No2 seed from Sheffield, looked in commanding form as he took the opening game for the loss of just four points.

But a reinvigorated Shabana, the four-time world champion from Cairo, immediately turned the tables in the second and drew level after dropping just two further points.

The illustrious left-hander continued his assault on the home hero, taking the next two games to record a magnificent 4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 victory in 57 minutes.

The win marks the 30th PSA World Tour title of Shabana’s career – a milestone which puts him three titles ahead of compatriot Ramy Ashour, the world No1 and reigning world champion, and five in front of Matthew.

“When everything is so well taken care of and you feel like all you need to do is come and play squash, then it really makes you want to raise your game.”

He was full of praise for his final opponent after their high-octane clash: “Nick doesn’t have any weaknesses – he’s an amazing athlete. I’m just happy to still be able to play like this against players like Nick today.

Matthew, denied the chance of becoming the first home winner of the title since 2001, was not unhappy with his own game: “I didn’t play badly at all, he was just too good for me – but I think he would have been too good for most people today,” said the 32-year-old Yorkshireman.

Nicol David won World Series Finals!

January 6, 2013 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Nicol David (le) from Malaysia won the World Series Finals with an impressive 11-3, 11-2, 11-9 victory over Englishwomen Laura Massaro (re) in 37 minutes of play.

No events – good time for practicing yourself!

December 29, 2012 • Tags: , • Categories: all posts, players, videos

No events at the moment – good time for practicing yourself: View the Double World Champion Nick Matthew who explains how to hit the forehand volley drop …