The National Squash Academy Open 2011
15-20 Aug, Toronto, Canada, $5k

20-Aug, Final:
Sharp seizes first title in Toronto
Mike McCue reports

This was to be Dane Sharpe’s first ever final on the PSA Tour, a daunting task for anyone, much less playing it in your home court. While he would certainly be nervous, it could also be an advantage give the local support and familiarity with the surroundings.

Joel Hinds is certainly more experienced and it was noticeable in the minutes before they took to the court. Dane had yet to be seriously tested and in the opening rallies realized that Joel was a different class of player. Once he adjusted to this new game he found the groove he had been in all week. Two somewhat lucky yet somewhat deserved nicks in the back of the court gave him a slight edge to take the game and the all important 1-0 lead. Joel improved considerably in the second (as he has done all week) and took control of the court with fast movement from the T.

The referee became heavily involved in the third game; both players were rightly aggrieved at many of the decisions, particularly Joel. The game nearly fell into disrepute on a few separate occasions, with both players off court voicing their displeasure.

There was little bad behaviour or dirty play though, mostly suspect calls. Hinds battled through the Lets and disagreements to take a stranglehold lead at 8-4. Dane won four quick points to reach 8-all but again fell behind 8-10. A diving counter drop in the following rally which was later judged to be both not up and a stroke gave the Englishman the game (but not before some confusion). The Canadian battled back though and began to exert more of a physical presence in the middle to keep Joel from running balls down and then hitting kills.

The fourth was his game and we finally arrived at the decider. Joel seemed to slow down or tire at this point, losing points on mistakes he had not previously made. Dane looked fresh as ever and reached 9-7, two points from the title. Several Let’s ensued but he finally set up matchbal with a backhand drop Joel could only swipe at. He kept at bay all the dangerous thoughts that can creep in at times like these, and won his first title with a backhand crosscourt flick...a shot he has hit thousands of times but surely has never felt so good. The home fans gave a massive ovation to a delighted Dane.

Afterwards, squash legend Gary Waite thanked all the sponsors, namely Shane Son Kee of 24hrpestcontrol.com, and presented the two finalists with their cheques. A successful end to the first of many PSA events to be held at this mecca of squash.
 

Photos by Megan McCue
to follow

 11/6, 11/9, 11/7 (48m)

Julian Wellings

11/8, 8/11, 8/11, 11/7, 11/7 (82m)

[4] Dane Sharp

  9/11, 11/9, 11/3, 11/4 (50m)

Jamie Mcaulay

19-Aug, Semis:
Hinds denies Wellings
but Dane delights local fans
Mike McCue reports

(1) Joel Hinds (Eng) bt Julian Wellings (Eng)
               11/6, 11/9, 11/7 (48m)

The big question coming into this encounter was if Julian could sustain the pace Joel was sure to impose. The veteran had looked brilliant in his first two matches, a study in classical squash. Balanced movement, playing straight until a loose ball presented itself and then chopping it in straight and short.

It was evident from the start that this was going to be a much stiffer challenge though. Joel seemed to be adjusting to the court after seeming a bit unsettled at times yesterday. The first was routine, but the second was well contested. Julian showed that he believed he had a chance when he argued a call (his first words to the referee all tournament) at 8-6 down.

He ultimately fought back to 9/10 but Hinds once again showed his class to win the point. The third was more in the mold of the first game.

Wellings commented afterward that his legs didn’t feel quite as spry tonight, and something like that can make all the difference when you start to get a little fatigued. Hinds has been steadily improving and certainly deserves his top seeding. Julian should receive a medal for his efforts, reaching a PSA semifinal at age 39!

(4) Dane Sharp (Can) bt Jamie Macaulay (Sco)
                9/11, 11/9, 11/3, 11/4 (50m)

The Scot had played the maximum 10 games to reach the last four while Dane had played the minimum 6. Despite their contrasting paths thus far, Jamie was still bouncing around and swinging the racquet a million miles an hour in the warmup which was an encouraging sign.

He quickly went down 4-0 due to a few errors but hit some great short balls and risky nicks in the middle of the game to earn a game ball which he duly converted. His earlier exertions began to catch up with him though as he dropped the second and then the third. Dane was playing his usual high pace and took advantage of the balls Jamie was leaving short or in the middle.

He seems to be making the right choices at the right times consistently, perhaps a benefit of his work with legends Gary Waite and Jonathon Power at this very club. Macaulay made an extreme tactical change in the fourth, lifting every single ball to the back.

This could be effective on a set of fresh legs, but he just didn’t have the reserves to slow Dane down tonight.
 

Photos by Megan McCue

The tournament favourite was tested yesterday, while Letourneau was taken to the limit.

The first game was very close all the way and Dave was matching Joel’s athleticism and pace with good racquet work. From 8-all it seemed likely that the more experienced player would march right on to 11, but the Canadian held his nerve and eventually snuck the two point lead he needed.

The ball cooled down a fair bit in the second and Joel started placing the ball into the four corners with devastating pace and accuracy. The third was a bit closer but he still held sway. He is particularly accurate from the backhand front corner, keeping the ball straight both short and long.

 Dave managed to stay within reach and won the fourth despite legs that seemed to be tiring. Fifth games are a bit of a lottery, especially on this court, but Hinds took the all important early lead and did not relinquish it despite the obvious tension near the end.

Thomas was coming off a massive win last night, and it can sometimes be difficult to back up a big performance the next day. Jamie had barely survived against Max Blouin and felt confident he would be better tonight.

The Scot came out at a high pace and intensity as usual, and Thomas couldn’t find the same form from last night. Two games can get away from you quickly on the glass court, but the Canadian dug in and made it a battle by winning the third. Keeping the momentum he forced a fifth game and a complete comeback seemed likely.

Two games apiece and a semifinal berth on the line brought out desperation in both players, and the pace actually seemed to increase in the decider.

Jamie thrives in this environment and won five straight points from six-all. Full credit to both guys for an awesome effort.

Everyone was anxious to see how Julian would back up his win yesterday, and needless to say he did not disappoint.

The first game was tight all the way, and there were hints that Wellings might struggle at this higher pace. Lyall held game balls but Julian employed his experience to stay steady and take the game. This turned out to be of huge importance as Lyall never came to terms with the match after that point.

 A large majority of the points were won with simple deft drops from the Englishman. He produced a masterclass in the last two games, and after two five setters in a row Lyall didn’t have the reserves to pressure him.

Wellings is into the quarters and hasn’t even spent an hour on court yet! The big question will be how he handles an even higher level of pace and quality of hitting when he takes on Joel Hinds tomorrow.

These two have played countless times over the years and recently Dane has been getting the better of these encounters. He is looking super motivated for his home tournament and has been very businesslike.

The early rallies were probing and physical (two words that don’t often go well together), mostly to the back of the court at a high pace. Dane was tracking everything down and sending it back with purpose and was soon a game to the good.

The second and third followed almost identical patterns, but Matt was unlucky not to make more of an impression on the scoreline. Dane-like Wellings- is into the final four without having been sternly tested yet.
  

Previous Round

18-Aug-2011, First Round

UPSET OF THE NIGHT!!!

Thomas has been training in Toronto at the NSA all summer and was quietly confident going up against the second seed.

He started with great initiative and caught Eddie with some quick two-wall boasts and mid-court drops. He was soon up a game but Charlton seemed confident that he could right the ship.

The upset started to seem like more and more of a possibility when Brinkman went up 9-3 in the second. Eddie visibly tightened his game up at this point, clearly not wanting to fall in the two-love hole. He had nearly completed the comeback when he tinned a forehand kill.

 Continuing in the same vein, the Englishman took the third and the match was really getting down to business. Thomas regained his tactical positivity in the fourth though.

Probably the most significant moment happened at 9-6 when Eddie received a No Let despite hitting Thomas with his racquet. This gave the Canadian four chances to win, and he only needed one...great win for him.

AND ANOTHER SEED OUT....

This was another game which was pegged to be close since the qualifiers were drawn into the main draw slots. It was an interesting contrast of styles, Tyler more balanced and pragmatic in his tactics, Lyall doing a bit more running but firing in some wild winners and angles.

There was a fair bit of pressure on the hometown boy, but after taking the first it seemed like he might be on track for a win. Lyall came back stronger in the second, and converted an early lead without much drama.

Tyler did the same in the third, but these Scottish boys are real battlers. The intensity picked up noticeably in the fourth, a few more decisions, collisions and desperate retrieving. Tyler finally reached matchball at 10-9 but couldn’t finish. The fifth was close again, but Paterson usually had a slight lead.

His confidence grew towards as he neared 11 and he only needed one chance to win it. After being 2-0 down last night and a point away from losing tonight, perhaps he’s getting by on the Luck of the Iri...er, Scottish.

THE LONGEST OF THE NIGHT...

This was one of the matches that most people thought would be 50/50, and that sentiment proved true as it went all the way to a fifth game tiebreak.

Letourneau started with some accurate hitting, especially on his length, which can be particularly difficult on this court. James fought back well in the second and at one-all (as always) it was anyone’s match. A lot of craft was going into every rally, Letourneau holding and flicking from the mid-court, while Dec was trying to extend the rallies and wear Dave down.

As evidenced by the scoreline, all the games were very tight. Dec broke out a few serious dives in the fourth and fifth to the crowd’s appreciation. His last dive (at 9-9 in the fifth) backfired though when Dave was given a stroke with Dec still on the floor trying to clear.

A slightly controversial No Let at 11-10 put Dave into the quarters.

With 45 minutes scheduled per match, things were already well behind when these two started. One of only two matches not featuring a seed or a qualifier, this was a big opportunity for both.

Jamie took the first with his entertaining grip-it-and-rip-it style, but Max took the second when the Scot started giving up some errors and loose balls for the Quebecer to put away.

This trend continued into the third and Blouin was in a winning position at 2-1 up. He was close to winning the fourth but Macaulay went into desperation mode and sent it to a fifth. He was always in control of the decider as well. Well played to Maxime though, definitely a good performance.

Again, won’t get too much into my own match...

First game was close but Julian’s steadiness combined with great short game was overwhelming. No one is exactly sure how this former top-50 player will fare in the later rounds... he definitely has experience on his side!

A solid performance from Serediak to get through 3/0 and never come close to losing a game. He has spent as much time on this court as anyone, looks fit and solid as always, and will be looking forward to a match will long time rival Dane Sharp.

A late-night PSA debut for Chetty against tournament favourite Joel Hinds. He did very well in the first game, finishing the points with confidence when Hinds would give him a loose ball. The pace and aggression from the Englishman was always too much to handle though.

Starting around 11:00 pm (scheduled for 8:45), Dane still brought his trademark intensity to the court. Eric had a good win last night, but this was another stratosphere of pace and accuracy. Dane got a good workout to prepare for tomorrow, and Eric will be happy with his two earlier wins.
  

16-Aug, Qualifying Finals
  
Mike McCue reports

NSA to host its first Professional Event
Mike McCue reports

The 2011 National Squash Academy Open will be the first professional event to be held at the year-old facility located in Downsview Park, Toronto.

The tournament will also be the first PSA competition held in Toronto since the 2008 PACE Canadian Classic. The $5000 Challenger will take place on the beautiful McWil all-glass stadium court.

The field is predominantly Canadian, although the seedings predict an all-English final between Joel Hinds and Eddie Charlton. The duo is expected to meet up with Tyler Hamilton and Dane Sharp respectively, in the semis.

All but one first round matchup is certain to feature a Canadian, so the local fans will have a rooting interest for the entirety of Wednesday night. It will be a rare home tournament for the Canadians involved, four of whom regularly feature in daily training sessions at the club.

Wildcard Kimesh Chetty will be playing in his first PSA main draw, and it will be a baptism by fire for the recent university graudate when he plays the top seeded Hinds.

Qualifying gets under way Monday and will see local legends Ian Power and Jamie Nicholls take on the likes of Declan James and Luke Butterworth for a spot in the main event.

The semis and finals will run in conjunction with the North American Junior Open, so the club will surely be buzzing with action come Saturday night.

Admission is free all week!
  

16-Aug, Qualifying Finals:

Eric Dingle (Can) bt Luke Butterworth (Eng)                4/11, 11/7, 11/6, 11/7 (45m)
Declan James (Eng) bt Marco Caddo (Mex)              12/10, 14/12, 7/11, 11/9 (74m)
Lyall Paterson (Sco) bt Ian Power (Can)           6/11, 3/11, 11/7, 12/10, 11/4 (63m)
Mike McCue (Can) bt James Van Staveren (Can) 11/6, 10/12, 11/3, 7/11, 11/7 (58m)

15-Aug, Qualifying Round One:

Luke Butterworth (Eng) bye
Eric Dingle (Can) bt Ryan Todd (Can) 11/6, 11/3, 7/11, 11/4 (35m)

Declan James (Eng) bt Ahad Raza (Can) 15/13, 11/7, 12/10 (50m*)  10m blood break
Marco Antonio Toriz Caddo (Mex) bye

Lyall Paterson (Sco) bye
Ian Power (Can) bt Jamie Nicholls (Can) 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (30m)

James Van Staveren (Can) bt Josh Sekhar (Can) 11/8, 11/7, 12/14, 11/8 (37m)
Michael McCue (Can) bye

Qualifying Finals
Mike McCue reports

Eric Dingle (Can) bt Luke Butterworth (Eng) 4/11, 11/7, 11/6, 11/7 (45m)

Luke started off the match looking very comfortable playing a medium pace and feeling the ball around the court. Dingle made several errors and had not yet settled on the relatively lively glass court. He turned the tables after that though, and produced an excellent performance.

Especially impressive were his movement and short volleys. Butterworth nearly made a few comebacks but the Google software engineer was in a zone by that time....he drew Dane Sharp in the main event.

Declan James (Eng) bt Marco Antonio Toriz Caddo (MEX) 12/10, 14/12, 7/11, 11/9 (74m)

Mexican Marco Toriz was a bit of an unknown quantity coming into the tournament...no one had seen him play or had an idea of his level. After receiving a bye Monday, he was set to be given a stern test from Dec. Marco started well, mixing in some vicious kills and counter attacks to his slow basic game. He had leads early in the first two games, and held game balls as well.

James tightened up as need though to win two tie breaks. Both guys are very tall...Marco maybe an inch taller than Dec, so there was almost 13 total feet of squash player on court, which naturally led to some interference. The third and fourth games were especially choppy. Dec was more often the one requesting Lets, but he managed to contain his frustration and hold it together at the end of the fourth. He plays Dave Letourneau tomorrow.

Lyall Paterson (Sco) bt Ian Power (Can) 6/11, 3/11, 11/7, 12/10, 11/4 (63m)

This was probably the most anticipated match of the night. Lyall’s exploits with the racquet are well known, but so are Ian’s guile and court craft. Ian took an excellent start, and Lyall wasn’t helping his own cause with some errors and loose balls landing too short.

Power looked comfortable and in control after two games, but the differences between a young, hungry pro and a teaching pro began to show. Paterson found his groove and carved some outrageous nicks while Ian seemed to slow a touch. He came very close to snatching the fourth, but that was his last chance. Lyall drew Tyler Hamilton.

Michael McCue (Can) bt James Van Staveren (Can) 11/6, 10/12, 11/3, 7/11, 11/7 (58m)

To avoid any accusations of self-serving match reports, I’ll just leave the scoreline for this one! The rest is up to your imagination...will try to find a guest reporter for my match tomorrow.

Qualifying Round One
Mike McCue reports

Eric Dingle (Can) bt Ryan Todd (Can) 11/6, 11/3, 7/11, 11/4 (35m)

Local teenager Ryan Todd took on the more experienced Eric Dingle of Montreal to kick off the tournament.

Dingle was simple and steady throughout the first two games while Todd looked out of sorts mentally, which is forgivable considering he is busy preparing to start at Cornell University next week. He picked up his intensity and stole the third but order was restored in the fourth.

Declan James (Eng) bt Ahad Raza (Can) 15/13, 11/7, 12/10 (50m*)
                                                                   *10 minute blood break

Ahad Raza, another Canadian in his first PSA event, took on English teenager Declan James in the second match. Dec has had some great PSA results lately, but that didn’t faze Ahad. He jumped out to leads of 6-1 and 10-7 in the first game but failed to convert his game balls.

He had leads throughout the third as well, including a game ball at 10-9 but could not convert...perhaps some experience lacking. Credit to Dec as well for tightening things up when needed. On the whole though Raza put in a highly credible performance and will be proud.

Ian Power (Can) bt Jamie Nicholls (Can) 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (30m)

Two of the NSA’s teaching pros faced off in the third match, which naturally led to the most crowd involvement of the night. Jamie is certainly the day-to-day face of the NSA and despite his infinite commitments, still manages to play at a high level. His self-analysis...

“Ian is one of the craftiest veterans around, he doesn’t make many bad decisions and creates space at every opportunity," said Jamie. "My goal was to put on a good show for the crowd, which I think we did – it was a great night of squash all around at the NSA with lots of juniors in attendance and will only get busier throughout the week as we lead into the North American Junior Open. With Ian as one of our main teaching pros at the NSA, the whole club will be behind him tomorrow night as he tries to relive some former glory.”

James Van Staveren (Can) bt Josh Sekhar (Can) 11/8, 11/7, 12/14, 11/8 (37m)

In the night’s final match, two locals making their PSA debut squared off. James Van Staveren is renowned for his shotmaking and timing, and showed it with some deft backhand drops that punished Josh on the glass court.

Josh certainly had opportunities throughout, but James was better at the business end of each game.