Category: "players"

David completes missing US Open title!

October 13, 2012 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Nicol David (ri) added the one major title missing, as she beat Raneem El Weleily (le) 14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 in the US Open final. The victory will come as a relief to the Malaysian, not only for adding the missing title to complete her set, but for also rising to the challenge of facing El Weleily who robbed her of a home Malaysian Open title last month.

A fast and furious first game got underway, with Egyptian fearless as ever in her attacking shots and David forced to play a waiting game for the younger player’s mistakes which made the difference in the end.

Overdue for Nicol David, she sets a new record for number of WSA titles won, moving ahead of legendary player Sarah Fitz-Gerald to 63 titles.

Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (45m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7 (83m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Laura Massaro (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4 (60m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (41m)
[Q] Joelle King (NZL) bt [3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 (42m)
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9 (47m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Camille Serme (FRA) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (42m)
[Q] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [8] Natalie Grinham (NED) 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 (53m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[Q] Joelle King (NZL) bt [7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 (39m)
[5] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-2 (39m)
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Kristen Lange (USA) 11-0, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5 (38m)

Ramy an Greg to contest US Open final

October 12, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

After overturning recent form, it will be 3rd seed Greg Gaultier and No4 seed Ramy Ashour (ri) who contest the unexpected final of the US Open following the exit of the 2 top seeds from England in the semi-finals in Philadelphia.

Gaultier was ahead throughout and always seemed to be in charge of the rallies. It was a fine performance from Gaultier that earned the 29-year-old from France a well-deserved 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 win, and a place in the 46th Tour final of his career.

In fact Ashour claimed the other place in the final in 74 minutes – with a performance that was entirely different from his display in the previous round when he beat Peter Barker after saving a match-ball in the decider. His opponent was another Englishman Nick Matthew (le), the 2nd seed bidding to reach a 2nd successive final.

Matthew took an early lead lost the 1st game 15-13. But the world No2 managed to level. It was the 25-year-old from Cairo who raced away to clinch the 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 victory with a trademark volley drop.

Final: [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [4] Ramy Ashour (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (53m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (74m)

David survived to make US Open final!

October 12, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Top seed Nicol David (ri) was the 1st player to book a place in the US Open final, but not before qualifier Joelle King (le) from New Zealand launched a thrilling comeback.

The Malaysian six-time world champion David, started off well with a 2 games lead as King came back strong to level and take the match into a decider. King looked like the winner as she raced to a 6-0 lead, but David was able to turn the momentum and took the 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7 victory.

Laura Massaro, last year’s US Open champion, raced to a 2/1 lead in games in the 2nd semi against Raneem El Weileily. The young Egyptian capitalised on Massaro’s mistakes to take the 4th game in the tie-break to force the deciding 5th game which she closed out 11-4 to make the US Open final.

Final: [1] Nicol David (MAS) vs [2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7 (83m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Laura Massaro (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4 (60m)

Matthew and Ashour prevail in dramatic 5-game US quarters!

October 12, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

England’s Nick Matthew and Egyptian Ramy Ashour prevailed as predicted to reach the semi-finals of the US Open in Philadelphia, but both players were taken the full distance.

In a sensational second night of quarter-final action, 2nd seed Matthew overturned last year’s final outcome after coming back from 1/2 down to beat Egypt’s twice champion Amr Shabana 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 in 92 minutes, while Ramy Ashour (le), the No4 seed, survived a tie-break decider to overcome Englishman Peter Barker (ri) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11 in 75 minutes.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) v [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [4] Ramy Ashour (EGY)

Quarter-finals (lower half of draw):
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [6] Peter Barker (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11 (75m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 (92m)

King books maiden World Series semi appearance!

October 11, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Joelle King (ri) recorded the biggest win of her career so far after scalping No.3 seed Jenny Duncalf (le) in five games 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 secure the maiden semi-final spot at the World Series event. King will now face Nicol David who took 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 revenge on Alison Water as the Englishwomen defeated David in the Carol Weymuller Open in New York t2 weeks ago.

Last year’s US Open Champion Laura Massaro confirmed her place in the semi-final with a confident win over Irishwoman Madeline Perry 11-6, 11-9, 11-7. Massaro will meet Egyptian Raneem El Weleily who closed out Kasey Brown, last year’s runner-up, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9.

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Joelle King (NZL)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [4] Laura Massaro (ENG)

Willstrop survives El Shorbagy US Open marathon!

October 10, 2012 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

England’s World No1 James Willstrop (le) survived his 3rd consecutive match lasting more than 80 minutes when he beat 8th-seeded Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy (ri) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 in the quarter-finals of the US Open in Philadelphia.

Willstrop will face career-long French rival Greg Gaultier for a place in the final. The 3rd seed beat 5th-seeded Egyptian Karim Darwish 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 in 61 minutes.

Quarter-finals (top half of draw):
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 (90m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Karim Darwish (EGY) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (61m)
Related Results

All seeds into US Open quarter-finals!

October 9, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Egypt’s defending champion Amr Shabana moved closer to his 4th appearance in the final of the US Open coming back from 1 game down to beat Dutch Laurens Jan Anjema
9-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5.

Shabana will now meet No2 seed Nick Matthew in a repeat of last year’s final. The 32-year-old won the all-English clash against Adrian Grant 11-2, 11-5, 15-13.

Eighth seed Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) survived a 92-minute marathon to beat Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4.

“It’s always tough between me and Cameron, so I’m really happy to have won this time,” said El Shorbagy after his 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4 victory.

2nd round results:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (81m)
[8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4 (92m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 (38m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (54m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (35m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (51m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 9-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5 (64m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 15-13 (68m)

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) v [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [5] Karim Darwish (EGY)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [6] Peter Barker (ENG)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [7] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Massaro claimed Carol Weymuller crown!

October 2, 2012 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Laura Massaro (le) claimed her milestone 10th WSA World Tour title as the Englishwoman completed her Carol Weymuller Open 2012 campaign with a 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 win over Raneem El Weleily (ri) from Egypt.

Massaro almost failed to make it past the 1st round after going 2 games down against Low Wee Wern of Malaysia. She managed to turn the match around to win in 5 and lost the 1st game against Annie Au (HKG) in the quarters before winning 3:1.

In the semi’s, Massaro beat Alison Waters 11-7, 11-7, 11-4, who shocked the squash world with her 11-9, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7 victory over world No.1 Nicol David (MAS).

Massaro’s win put her one place up to No2 of the October WSA World Rankings.

Final:
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (34m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9

Quarter-finals:
[Q] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [1] Nicol David (MAS) 11-9, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Joelle King (NZL) 3-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 13-11

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
[Q] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [5] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 7-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8
[6] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 4-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 14-12
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
Joelle King (NZL) bt [8] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3