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Hibiscus Gardens Open 2012
14-19 Feb, Brisbane, Australia, $15k |
19-Feb, Final:
Adnan wins epic Brisbane final
Top seeded Malaysian
Nafiizwan Adnan won his sixth final on the professional squash
tour when he beat fellow countryman Ivan Yuen in an epic final of
the Hibiscus Gardens Open in Brisbane on Sunday
The 25-year-old Adnan and his 21-year-old compatriot battled each
other to a standstill before Adnan finally clinched victory 12-14,
11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10 in two and a quarter hours.
It was Adnan’s seventh victory over Yuen in eight matches but the
world number 36 had to call on all of his reserves to subdue the
fourth seed’s challenge.
The win ends a frustrating period without a win for Adnan, who had
not claimed a title on the PSA tour since July 2009.
18-Feb, Semis:
All-Malaysian final in Brisbane
A Malaysian winner was guaranteed
when Nafiizwan Adnan and Ivan Yuen put an end to the upset results
in the semi-finals with contrasting victories.
Top seed Adnan fell a game behind to Kiwi qualifier Evan Williams,
but took the next three to clinch his place in the final in just 39
minutes, while his young compatriot Yuen, the fourth seed, took
almost three times as long to finally see off Australia's unseeded
Rex Hedrick. |
The Refs
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 Hibiscus
Gardens Open 2012
14-19 Feb, Brisbane, Australia, $15k |
Round One
16 Feb 13.30-16.30 |
Quarters
17 Feb |
Semis
18 Feb |
Final
19 Feb |
[2] Muhd Asyraf Azan (Mas)
11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (23m)
Ben Takamizawa Harris (Jpn) |
[2] Muhd Asyraf Azan
11/7, 11/3, 11/5 (62m)
Rex Hedrick |
Rex Hedrick
9/11, 11/7, 11/3, 9/11, 11/4 (103m)
[4] Ivan Yuen |
[4] Ivan Yuen
12-14, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10
(135m)
[1] Nafiizwan Adnan |
Rex Hedrick (Aus)
11-8, 11-6, 11-3 (43m)
Elvinn Keo (Mas) |
Justin Beard (Aus)
11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (37m)
[Q] Paul Coll (Nzl) |
[Q] Paul Coll
11/5, 12/10, 11/7 (35m)
[4] Ivan Yuen |
Leo Au (Hkg)
5-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 (59m)
[4] Ivan Yuen (Mas) |
[3] Dick Lau (Hkg)
11-7, 11-5, 4-11, 11-3 (46m)
[Q] Evan Williams (Nzl) |
[Q] Evan Williams
11/3, 11/8, 11/5 (37m)
Ammar Al-Tamimi |
[Q] Evan Williams
7/11, 11/3, 11/2, 11/5 (39m)
[1] Nafiizwan Adnan |
Chris Lloyd (Nzl)
11-1, 11-1, 8-11, 11-8 (45m)
Ammar Al-Tamimi (Kuw) |
Jamie McErvale (Aus)
5-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-5 (56m)
[Q] Nathan Stevenson (Aus) |
Jamie McErvale
9/11, 10/12, 11/2, 11/2, 11/6 (59m)
[1] Nafiizwan Adnan |
[Q] Mahesh Mangoankar (Ind)
11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-2 (75m)
[1] Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas) |
Qualifying Finals:
Nathan Stevenson (Aus) bt
Walter Koketa (Aus)
8/11, 11/4, 11/2, 11/7
Paul Coll (Nzl) bt Joseph Watts (Nzl)
12/10, 11/5, 11/4
Mahesh Mangoankar (Ind) bt Robert Downer (Eng)
9/11, 11/3, 11/9, 12/10
Evan Williams (Nzl) bt Marcus Smith (Aus)
11/8, 11/9, 11/9
Round One:
Nathan Stevenson (Qld) bt James Huang (TPE) 10-12, 11-9,
6-11, 11-5, 11-9
Walter Koteka (WA) bt Luke Sims (Vic) 11-5, 11-13, 12-10,
8-11, 11-9
Joseph Watts (NZL) bt Harry Londy (Qld) 11-8, 11-2, 11-6
Paul Coll (NZL) bt Carl Hampson (RSA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
Robert Downer (ENG) bt Cameron Stafford (CAY) 14-12, 11-6,
9-11, 11-9
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Bradley Freeme (Qld) 5-11, 11-3,
11-3, 11-9
Marcus Smith (Qld) bt Courtney West (Qld) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Joshua Stack-Masula (Qld) 11-2, 11-8,
11-1
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 16-Feb,
Round One:
Kiwi qualifiers push above
their seedings in Brisbane
Robbie Downer Down Under
Qualifiers Paul Coll and Evan Williams of New Zealand
scored their highest career wins to date yesterday in Sunny location
of Hibiscus Gardens squash club here in the suberbs of Brisbane,
Coll took out the higher ranked Justin Beard (Aus) out in a
clinical 3-0. It was a close first two games (11-6,11-8) with Coll
having the edge from mid-way in each game, taking the initiative
with volleying and pushing up on the T, always ready to counter
anything loose that Beard sent his way, the first two paid dividends
as Coll rolled on to take the 3rd 11-2.
It was Evan, the Wellington based 22 year old, who pulled off the
day's biggest win, and his personal best PSA result, he managed to
pull off a 3-1 victory over Dick Lau of Hong Kong the current
HK number 2 and World #83.
The match was played at a very high pace with Dick seeming out of
sorts taking anything in to the front corners, Williams played the
first two games with extreme patience and accuracy, he was finding
better length and width and always seemed one step away from the
ball.
The left hander closed out a strong come back from Lau as the third
game went directly to the higher seed, but Williams was not phased
by this and saw it as breathing space to push hard in the 4th game,
again with patience and determination he managed to keep the
pressure on for a 11-3 finish to take the match and the quarter
final spot.
Both Coll and Williams will be pleased with their results so far and
will be sure to give another push today, and potentially cause more
upsets.
One step further for Ivan
In what was on-paper the highly anticipated first round, did nothing
short of deliver a great spectacle of the game. Ivan Yuen the
Malaysian managed to pull off a 3-1 victory over Leo Au of
Hong Kong in just under the hour mark.
With Leo taking a strong force in the first game pulling away 11-5,
Au was able to control the T and push the taller Malaysian deep into
all four corners forcing mistakes and loose balls consistently.
Ivan turned up the pace hitting good straight balls, cutting his
error count down to a minimum and working Au out of his position
from the middle he was able to draw level with a convincing 11-3
come back, now at 1-1 the match was looking to sway either way.
A pivotal finish to the 3rd game ending in some controversial
referee decisions certainly aided the Malaysian in what was a 12-10
tiebreak out come in his favour, during the 3rd game and as he took
well into the 4th it always seemed that Ivan had one more efficient
step moving to the front corners as Au fatigued.
Yuen who is over 6 inches taller was able to push up faster and
smarter to counter and finish the points well at the front leaving
Au stranded at the back of the court, the 4th ended fast with an
11-6 scoreline to take Yuen to the quarter finals, where he faces
Paul Coll.
Aussie interest
A battle of two Queenslander players ensured one Aussie Quarter
Final place, the younger Jamie Mcervale (aged 20) took out
more experienced qualifer Nathan Stevenson in a 3-1 scalp
just sure off of an hour, Stevenson looked to be in fine form in the
qualification after taking out James Haung in a five game clanger,
but Mcervale was able to book himself a place against the Number 1
seeded Malaysian Wan Adnan WR#36.
The highest ranked Aussie of the tournament Rex Hedrick took
a very solid performance onto court to put away Malaysia's Elvinn
Keo. Keo who often looked to kill the ball short at the front
was simply not accurate enough on the day to prevent Rex's speed and
persistence from closing the door on the match.
Rex stayed patient as Keo weakened in level and started to find the
tin relatively quickly, Rex now faces number 2 seed Asyraf Azan who
I have heard is not unfamiliar of battling out hour-long matches
with.
Top seeds with contrasting first round victories
Asyraf Azan the world number 65 took on local hero Ben
Harris, the wildcarder found himself close in all three games
which went in Azan's favor.
A tight first game and a consistent 2nd and 3rd is sure to give the
local some promise for the future, Azan very accurate in finishing
off the rallies was the main edge over his opponent.
Wan Adnan faced qualifier Mahesh Mangoankar of India,
Wan having been on recent strong form at earlier this month's Case
Swedish open had no easy ride through the 17 year old Indian.
The Indian having coming through the qualification finals over what
was a frustrating draw to play Hampshire league team mate Robbie
Downer(myself) in a 89-minute four game marathon, Mahesh showing his
level of fitness and strength was able to surely test the Number 1
seed for the first 2 games but not take either.
The third game however likewise with the 2nd went to a tie break,
but the Junior was able to pull one back and now only a 2-1 deficit.
The fourth game was a showcase of Wan's strength and persistence and
that Mahesh's tank was low on energy, Adnan for the 11-2 finish in a
75 minute battle.
Mahesh is surely to take a lot the work on after playing the High
ranked Adnan, and the Malaysian pushes on to pursue the title here
in Brisbane.
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Evan meets the neighbours
Last night shortly after breaking through to the quarter final's in
this 15k event, the energetic Kiwi managed to meet his nemesis
within his shoe,
there it crawled out quick was a local spider around the size of a
large wallet. Evan's initial reaction was fearsome, only to
comment...
"Look at the size of that thing, he was benching on my shoe laces
last night"
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