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Zenit Black Sea Open 2015
19-23 Aug, Odessa, Ukraine, $5k |
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22-Aug, Semis:
Galif' and Hussein surprise finalists
Experienced Stéphane Galifi demonstrated great control and
beat Manuel Wanner 3-1 (11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4)
Stephane Galifi:
 “I
think I started to slow down too much in the third, I put pressure
down and he was trying to play very slowly and I had a problem a
little bit to go through to the ball. I was too excited and started
to be a little nervous in the third but I tried to relax in the
forth.
For me it’s like one of my first tournaments after 3 years of PSA at
this level but I need time to feel again the competition, manage how
to see the match, to be consistent for three or even five games.
It’s very hard for me, I lose sometimes concentration sometime but
it’s ok, but I still have experience. And I completed the match. So
it’s a happy ending.
It’s a pleasure for me at my age to play some more match with young
guys, I like it. And I’m very happy and very grateful that I’m
playing one more match tomorrow and I’ll try to do my best. "
Ahmed Hussein bt Jan Koukal 3-2
9-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 13-11
 Real
fight and a five-game thriller with frequent stoppages around the
mid-court area, which led to even more frequent discussions with the
referee. Close till the end, keeping the crowd on the edge of their
seats
Ahmed Hussein:
“I’m very very happy to be in the final. I haven’t been in a
final since I was 11 years old so it’s about 12 years ago. I’m happy
with my performance today. It was a tough match, I was 10-8 up in
the fifth, I had 3 match balls and Jan came back. But after all I
won. I can’t believe in that and I’m looking forward for tomorrow’s
match.”
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  Zenit
Black Sea Open 2015
19-23 Aug, Odessa, Ukraine, $5k |
Round One
20 Aug |
Quarters
21 Aug |
Semis
22 Aug |
Final
23 Aug |
[1] Sebastiaan Weenink (Ned)
11-6, 11-8, 11-9
[Q] Stéphane Galifi (Ita) |
[Q] Stéphane Galifi
11-2, 11-6, 11-5
[Q] Denis Podvorniy |
[Q] Stéphane Galifi
11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4
[6] Manuel Wanner |
[Q] Stéphane Galifi
11-8, 11-7, 12-10
[8] Ahmed Hussein |
[7] Mike Lewis (Usa)
11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
[Q] Denis Podvorniy (Ukr) |
[6] Manuel Wanner (Sui)
11-4, 11-3, 11-3
[Q] Viktor Kovalchuk (Ukr) |
[6] Manuel Wanner
11-5, 12-10, 11-8
[4] Jean-Pierre Brits |
[4] Jean-Pierre Brits (Rsa)
8-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-4, 14-12
Joeri Hapers (Bel) |
[wc] Ruslan Sorochinsky (Ukr)
9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
[3] Christo Potgeiter (Rsa) |
[3] Christo Potgeiter
11-2, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8
[8] Ahmed Hussein |
[8] Ahmed Hussein
9-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 13-11
[2] Jan Koukal |
Nick Talbot (Usa)
11-6, 11-4, 11-4
[8] Ahmed Hussein (Egy) |
Valeriy Fedoruk (Ukr)
11-7, 11-3, 11-5
[5] Ahmed Effat Ashoush (Egy) |
[5] Ahmed Effat Ashoush
8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5
[2] Jan Koukal |
Julian Tomlinson (Eng)
11-2, 11-5, 11-6
[2] Jan Koukal (Cze) |
19-Aug,
Qualifying
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21-Aug,Quarters:
Stephane Galifi bt Denis Podvorniy 3-0 (11-2 11-6 11-3)
 Stephane
Galifi:
“Denis is a good opponent, but before me he played Rybalchenko
for five games and was really tired. I’ve played with Denis before
and I know he can play better. So I saved all my energy for
tomorrow. I saw my opponent today, he played a lot of volley and
have a good technique.
What do I expect? I expect to play one more match on Sunday.”
Manuel Wanner bt Jean-Pierre Brits 3-0 (11-5 12-10 11-8)
 Good
technique and quality volleys from young Swiss Manuel Wanner and he
booked a place in the tomorrow semis with Galifi.
Manuel Wanner:
“Happy to got through obviously. I’ve never play Britis before
either. I saw the chance to win this match, but I had to win it
first that’s why I was nervous in the beginning. I started well,
relaxed because I didn’t feel any pressure on me. I’m number 6 seed
and he’s number 4. I want to win match easy and relaxed.
I think it was a good match with some quality rallies, some scrappy
ones as well. I was kind of on and off. In second we have a patch,
it was kind of up and down but i’m happy to be through.
My next opponent is Galifi and I’ve heard a lot about him, he’s
definitely one of the quality player on the tour. I can not know
what to expect, let’s see but I’ll give my everything.”
It was unbelievable squash: ferocious pace and brilliant shots
entertained a packed crowd behind the glass-backed court in Odessa.
Egyptian Ahmed Hussein closed out the match.
Ahmed Hussein 3-1 Christo Potgieter 11-4 11-2 6-11 11-8
 Ahmed
Hussein:
“I’m very happy, because it will be my first time in a semis. I’m
happy with my performance on the court, I played very well, I was
focused I think it’s the best match i’ve ever played. I was two-love
up and then lost the third game, but I sad myself «I won’t loose and
it’s my chance to win today here in Ukraine!”
Jan Koukal 3-2 Ahmed Effat Ashoush 8-11 11-9 9-11 11-4 11-5
 It
was an incredible five-setter wich Odessa have witnessed!
Jan Koukal:
“It was obviously tough match. 3-2, came back from 2:1 down but I
was down in fourth as well. I knew that all this Egyptian guys are
very dangerous and Ahmed proof that, took me a while to figure out
this game. I started play little smarter. The last game was a quite
comfortable and even in fourth when I was 6-1 down he’s got so much
potential. So if I’d given him a chance he’d have taken it. And I
was trying not to give him any opportunity in the end. And I did it.
Tomorrow I have another Egyptian. I’ll play the similar game like
him. I need to play smart, need to play tight and shot to the
angles, also not to give him an opening space for struggle from the
racket and dicing ball in the front of the court. I need to keep him
away and make it physicaly. Thats gonna be my plan for tomorrow.”
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20-Aug, Round One:
Galifi takes out top seed
 There
was a huge upset in Odessa as qualifier Stephane Galifi beat
top seed Seb Weenink in straight games to reach the quarter-finals.
“I’m happy about the way I’ve played, everything so good. I feel
great! And I’m going to continue in this way till the end.”
He'll meet fellow qualifier Denis Podvorniv for a place in the
quarters after the Ukranian overcame seventh seed Mike Lewis.
 Denis
Podvorniy after a hard-fought victory in a five-game match over
American Mike Lewis 3-2 (11-4 9-11 9-11 11-8 11-7) passes to the
next round of the prestigious PSA tournament in Odessa
“At first, it was unusual to play with a left-handed and in the
process I switched to the right side. I played a good length, had
the opportunity to attack and confidently won the first game.
In the second I lose the initiative in a long rallies, made some mistakes
and allowed Lewis to win two next sets. In the fourth, I started to
play drops, forcing the opponent running longer and made errors. And
in such way I took the fifth.”
 Manuel
Wanner completed a straightforward victory, winning 3-0 (11-4,
11-3, 11-3) over Viktor Kovalchuk.
“It’s my first time in Ukraine. It’s cute, I’ve never been in
such country and it’s different. I like the championship. I didn’t
know my opponent.. He is a local player,, it was cute and fun, he
definitely pushed me a little bit which was good for the first
round. Let’s see who I’ll be play tomorrow, one between Joeri or
Jean Pierre. I’ve got my girlfriend with me so I’m all relaxed and
it’s so good.”
 In
a high-quality match between Jean-Pierre Brits and Joeri
Hapers, full of intelligent rallies with an unpredictable end won
Brits 3-2 (8-11 11-7 4-11 11-4 14-12)
“Very happy to pull the back after being down. I struggled to
keep concentration on the match. I’ve made a few errors but I kept
fighting and won the match. And now I should focus for tomorrow.”
 Сompetition
in the creative and risky shots between Christo Potgieter and
Ruslan Sorochinskiy was exciting! Potgieter won 3-1 (9-11 11-6 11-8
11-6)
“I didn’t know what expect in a first game. It’s always difficult to
play with a guy the first time so after that I figured it out and
started to play wider and my game plan worked till the end. It was a
good experience and a good game.”
 Ahmed
Effat Ashoush produced squash in Egyptian style and took victory
over Valery Fedoruk in 3 straight games 3-0 (11-7 11-3 11-5)
“It was a good match. And now I’m looking forward for tomorrow
match. It will be a big fight with the number two seed Jan Koukal. I
hope I can play well and it could be difficult with lot of pressure
but I’m happy that I get trough it.”
Two victories from Egyptian in a row! Ahmed Hussein bt
Nicolas Talbott 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-4). And confident victory from
Jan Koukal over Julian Tomlinson 3-0 (11-2 11-5 11-6)
 Jan
Koukal:
“Last time I played with Julian in Ukraine at Business Open. It
wasn’t easy match at all, it was 3-1. I didn’t play well at that
tournament and I wanted to make sure that I started well today. I
said to myself you should play excellent for the rest of the
tournament or it’s gonna be a disappointment.
My next opponent is Egyptian guy and I only saw him for a few
minutes and he’s good and played so tricky so I’ll do my best.” |
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19-Aug, Qualifying Finals
The second qualifying round ended without any surprises. Tomorrow in
the main draw will play Viktor Kovalchuk, Stefano Galifi, Valeriy
Fedoruk and Denis Podvorniy.
 In
the qualifying finals, Valery Fedoruk showed us another
exciting match, also with a member of the Ukrainian national team,
junior Dmitry Pogrebnyak.
Dima showed good squash today, he maintained a high pace of the game
and responded with the quality shots. In the third game, he even had
the advantage of 7-2, but could not keep it until the end of the
match and tomorrow in the main draw will play experienced Fedoruk.
Qualifying First Round
 It
started with a five-game match between Constantine Reshetnyak
and Sergey Zakomlistov and despite the match ball that Zakomlistov
had, Reshetnyak won 12-10. 3-2 (11-5 11-7 9-11 8-11 12-10).
The most anticipated match was Valery Fedoruk – Konstantin
Rybal’chenko. Two top Ukrainian players, the second and the third
numbers of the Ukrainian national team met in the first qualifying
round, full of desire to win and enter the main draw of the PSA. But
Rybal’chenko couldn’t start this match as quickly as Fedoruk and
lost the first two games 4-11, 7-11 without resistance.
In the third Konstantin was able to slow down the pace and managed
to take this game 13-11. It was attacking, and sometimes even rather
quick squash. In the fourth Valera continued at the same pace and
had a solid advantage 7-3, then 10-6, and four match balls,
eventually ending the match 11-8.
Valery Fedoruk:
«It’s always intriguing to play with the members of the
Ukrainian national team. I’ve been preparing for this tournament and
have a strong desire to get into the main draw, because playing a
PSA tournament is always interesting! This is a great opportunity to
show what you’re made of.”
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Preview:
ZENIT BLACK SEA OPEN tournaments have always been and still are
without any doubt the best in Western Europe. Such conclusion can be
reached based on great level of their organization, extraordinary
skillfulness of players and what is the most important – these
tournaments are well known and highly recommended to friends and
acquaintances all around the world. The words Odessa and ZENIT have
already become a well recognized squash brand in Ukraine.
These tournaments have been visited by such world famous squash
players as Peter Nicol, Olli Tuominen, Davide Bianchetti, Laurens
Jan Anjema, Mark Krajcsak, Jan Koukal, Amr Swelim, Omar Abdel
Meguid, Simon Rosner, Henrik Mustonen, Stephane Galifi, Chris Ryder
and many other well known masters of racket and ball.
This year the tournament will be once again held under the auspices
of the PSA in categories of both men and women. The Europeans Jan
Koukal (CZE) and Sebastiaan Weenink (NED) are favorites of the
competition among men however the list of players contains
representatives of American and Egyptian squash schools such as Mike
Lewis (USA) and Ahmed Effat Ashoush (EGY).
Thus, all the players and spectators will experience various styles
of squash. In the category of women one may expect repeat of last
year’s competition between Ukrainian junior Nadezhda Usenko who will
be defending her championship of this year against her major
opponent Yekaterina Marusan from Russia.
Dmitriy Shcherbakov, director of the tournament says:
“Ever since the first ZENIT tournament that was held 11 years
ago, we have been trying to make each one of our championships a
holiday, make an atmosphere in which everyone would feel
comfortable.
"And finally today in 2015, the whole month before beginning of the
tournament all the registration lists in all categories are closed.
190 players from 24 countries. Absolute record among squash
championships that have been ever held in Ukraine. This shows that
ZENIT BLACK SEA OPEN is fully alive and awaits its visitors.
"Here you can once again experience not only hospitality and
friendliness of hosters but also enjoy endless pleasures of the
resort city in general. Every single time ZENIT BLACK SEA OPEN
tournament will be more and more interesting and presentable.”
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