DAY 2 - FINAL LAP....
French Corner Day 2           Draws, Results and LL

We started play at 12, with 2 courts running from midday to 3pm. Again, all my apologies for any spelling mistakes, presentation errors, bad photos... On my own, Steve being still unavailable...

No, it's not a typing error, Amr Swelim now plays for Italy.
His dad, Vincenze, is actually Italian, and Amr was approached to play under the Italian shirt from these coming up World Team events. They are also rumours that Stéphane Galifi could also play for that team, while Bradley Hindle have signed with Malta.... More on that later....

When Omar and Amr play, it's always a close match, and even if Mosaad always managed to win so far, he was pretty nervous to start the match with.

Honestly, it showed that they train often together, the first game was actually in a training mode, no urgency at all, just routine, length, no real stretching, reading each other's game too well for that.

But losing the first game was like a wake up call for Omar, who suddenly remembered that he could hit the ball pretty hard, speed up the game, and put his opponent under extreme pressure, rally in rally out.

The work that Amr did in the first two games suddenly fell on him in the third. The 4th was pretty close, although the score doesn't reflect it. Too many unforced errors for Amr, but not a focus problem, this time, the energy tank was just empty...

Omar was clearly relieved to win the match. And Amr, well, will have to try again to beat that Gentle Giant of Mosaad...



Joey Barrington didn't made one of his marathon today. Short and sweet, didn't take any prisoner. Of his own admission, the South African admitted that he just switched off at the end of the 1st, and never was able to come back in the match.

The Englishman was precise and determined. The break he took since May after his injury made him a heck of a good.

For some reason, I just switched off at the end of the first game, and I was not able to get back in, I never felt comfortable physically or mentally on court. When I can figure out what happened, and why that was, I'll get back to you!!!!

JULIEN, FLAT...

With two heavy matches in the legs, the Frenchman was not at his best, and really was dominated by the Indian Speedy Gonzales that never let him settle in the match.

Julien tried to slow down the pace, but ended up not putting enough pressure on his young opponent, who grew more and more confident as the match unfold. The Frenchman actually avoided a hard 11/0 in the third by getting a point at 9/0.

A day to forget for the French, but a good qualification for the young Leeds Student, one of James W's sparring partners. The hard work he's doing in Pontefract is paying dividends...

CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE...

As James Willstrop would say, this game is such a mental game it's a joke. Never more than today for Davide and Julian.

Davide lacks matches. He was delighted to qualify yesterday, more for having a chance to play another match than to try and qualify I believe. He was not confident on court, on a colder court on top of that, a treat for the French Galif', as we nickname him. That boy is a magician with his racquet, honestly. His racquet more is, I don't know, different, so head open, and he's got a funny way to get to the backhand too, must be so difficult to read.

But what a delight of a match, with those two knowing and appreciating each other for years and years, Galif has got some Italian roots and speaks fluent Italian. They played fairly, giving each other lets instead of strokes. To the point where in the 3rd, Stéphane was up 8/4, broke his racquet. Only has one. Got one from somebody in the crowd. Davide wouldn't have it, and gave him one of his own Dunlop.



I know that Davide can be a bit loud sometimes - look who is talking -  but his heart, his brain, and his generosity are in the right place. Still, you can't take anything away from Galif in this match. "It was a pure French master class", told me one of the English players. And it was.



Now, for Julian. Again, confidence with the body that was lacking. The American got a series of injuries on his right ankle, and was not confident either with his movement, his body, or his fitness. The first two games, he looked more like in training than his normal fiery self.

Still, down 2/0, he got rid of his strapping, got all caution to the wind, took the 3rd only just, got Aaron a bit mentally down in the 4th, and the fifth was a real battle, never more than a point between those two.

Lucky is the word that Aaron describe himself in the end. And yes he freaking was! At 8/8, he gets a lucky nick. 9/8. Then get a serve in the nick! 10/8. How is that for luck! Still Julian saved a match point, that Aaron actually thought he won! Nope, but the victory was to come 3 rallies later (a few lets...) to the delighted ecstatic Australian...

 
                    Yes, I won, No I did not, YES I DID!!!!

Chris nearly got away with it today. He took Daryl completely by surprise by attacking straight away, bit like his mate Tom Richards does, instead of relying on his fitness to set up the game. Well, Chris has been a bit under the weather recently, and I guess he didn't fancy a 2h marathon today.

Taken off guard, Daryl was frustrated, couldn't find a length, was late on the ball, and Chris took the first one really easily, finding some lovely winners on the way.

And in the second, we were pretty much on the same path, with Chris ahead 4/2, but Daryl finally got into the match and 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8, 9/9, 10/10. The rallies were as furious and fast one than the other, and Chris came that close to take the second one and set up a comfortable lead 2/0 that would have made Daryl REALLY edgy.

But it wasn't to be. Chris had to come back to basics, length, patience, and he just couldn't win at that game today.

To be noticed that at the start of the third, one of the few gallery spectators actually got hit in the eye from one of Daryl's shot - he was trying to return from the back wall, but missed the wall! Play was interrupted, Daryl couldn't apologise enough during and after play. But the only thing that great squash fan told him "Great play, man, good match!".

God bless our fans....

QUICKIES FROM ST GEORGE'S TAKE II
Take I       Draws & Results     French corner

EVENING SESSION  

Draws & Results

French corner

This is such a experience for me, this is my first proper PSA! Apart from the fact that he made me feel like a midget, the man is fantastic! He plays at a pace, it's amazing. I thought I played well, considering, I kept on pushing, but his power is such, he hit his cross courts so low, no chance you can pick them up. Well, I'm only 17, and a lot to learn, I've got plenty of time. Would I do it again? OH YES!!!!

I was a bit impatient today, I felt a bit tired from the start, and thought I should end it rather quickly. I know I'm got a tendency to do unforced errors, but tonight, was just too much. He played extremely well tonight, his movement is really good, and he kept up picking up shots I didn't expect to get back. Plus, he played at a slower pace, preventing me to play my game fully. Something I would like to change about my game? Stopping the errors, and learn patience.

CHARLES DELIGHTED,
JOE SO CLOSE

First, all my apologies to the players of the matches I couldn't see. It happens that I was writing my quickies from St George's take II, that unfortunately got erased as I was putting them on the site. That, plus the long match of Renan/Julien, and I just missed three sets of matches!

Pfff, not good enough woman.

Anyway, for Omar Mosaad, no surprise, Charles played his part to perfection, finding some nice shots, and running well, but Omar is way up there with the top guys, but Charles thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and experience. "I'm young, I'm here to learn", he concluded. That's the right spirit!

Joe, Joe, Joe. What a match. The Local Boy came so close tonight, helped by an Amr that kept on giving him between 5 and 6 points per game with sweet unforced errors, so generous that Amr, isn't he...

And I'm surprised that the match only lasted 68m, I would have said 80 +, as the rallies went on. They went on, but at a very very fast pace indeed, until the 5th, where Joe seemed to become wiser, and concentrate on his length more than getting the ball early at all costs.

Amr was playing his normal game, as in tight drives, waiting for the opportunity, attacking at will, and doing it all over again if needed. But a bit of impatience kept the English boy right in the game.

Joe played the best I ever saw him play, and I believe that a mixture of realising he could beat a strong Egyptian 3/1 plus a good drop of energy after all the hard work done that cost him the game and match in the 4th. 5/0  to be caught up at 6/6 to lose the game 11/7, too typical to be anodyne...

The fifth kept us on our toes all the way through. Joe kept in it, 1/1, 3/3, 6/6, 9/9, to finally lose in short rallies, where experience I think played a big role.

But what a way to finish the day. The best match, from far, if not the longest...

CONTRAST...

Between the first match, "easy" in 3, 33m, and the second one, 87 freaking minutes, in 5, there was a world of difference.

Only resemblance, I truly believe the victory went to the one who really wanted it more. Saurav, for instance, is hungry for the climbing up of the ladder. Ben is at the end of his career - well, he did retire at some point! - and pretty tired from an over 80m match yesterday. Still, the Englishman found some lovely shots as ever, volleyed a lot, but Saurav, another Speedy Gonzales, was forcing him to win the rally so many times it eventually had to put more and more pressure on Ben.



Now for Julien against Renan, all different ball game. Long history between them two, last two matches went to Renan, in particular the one in NY for the TOC, good friends most of the time, except when they do play squash against each other, with a Renan that has got a definite ascendant over Julien.

So many times Julien could/should have won, but Renan, with his tenacity, his experience, succeeds to get into Julien brain, and get right under his skin. And today was no exception.

Julien started extremely well, calling the shots, literally, against a Renan that just didn't move. I believe he just arrived from the US, and that showed. But Julien did slow down a bit in the second, taking the second only just.

Renan was tired in the 3rd, and Julien was running away with the score, 8/5, and thought that he was going to win 3/0. A clean, short victory against Renan, his "old frienemy". Just too much for the challenger, who just froze, stringing tin after tin till he just gave the game away, 11/8.

Julien took a whole game to come back from there, Renan was in front, despatching good length and good attacks. Julien just wasn't there.

But he came back with a vengeance in the 5th, and this time, although we know Renan, he never ever give you an easy point, an easy ball even, Julien was completely in control, 9/3, to finally take the game and match 11/5.

A polite handshake, and another long match on the record. No doubt the next one will be also a lengthy one...

MORNING SESSION

Draws & Results

"I couldn't find a length, but thank God, I was moving well today, as he played very well!" "I thought I gave a good account of myself, and held in the rallies well. But Daryl plays at a different pace, and even when you rally from the back, you get to work very hard indeed. The match was played in an excellent spirit I thought, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I wish Daryl good luck for tomorrow..."

STRAIGHT GAMES

No, not as in 3/0, but as in tight against the wall game... Three English out of four, plus an Australian, we were bound to see that kind of play...

For Daryl, he got a bit more work that he expected I believe. Alex Ingham, who has grown up in inches, has also matured in his squash. He takes the ball very early, volleys it very well for a not too tall boy, and finds some lovely nicks indeed.

Daryl was not at ease with his length today, got penalised so many times as the ball came right on him, but was very concentrated on the match, not giving Alex a chance to breathe.

A very watchable game really to start the day with.



Now, coming to Scott. What can I say? That he got more and more frustrated with his own mistakes? That Chris' tight game was preventing him from volleying and forcing him to attack from the wrong position, that he didn't seem to read his opponent's short game that well. Mind you, the Englishman was holding pretty well.

Scott won't be happy with himself this week. Already yesterday, he was saved by Aqeel's realisation that he was going to beat a top 50 player. Today, his pride gave him the energy/skill/ determination to save wo match balls in the third to force a fourth, but again too many errors - three tins from 8/7 - came and slashed his chances for a decider. 

ATCOsquash

FRENCH CORNER DAY 2
DAY 1

Dès le début du premier jeu, on sent que Julien n’a pas les jambes des deux jours précédents.

Les matches serrés contre Bennett en qualification du world open et contre Renan hier ont laissé des traces. Pour ne rien arranger, l’Indien met un rythme très soutenu dans la rencontre obligeant Julien a s’employer sur la plupart des balles.

Julien a comme stratégie de ralentir le rythme de Ghosal et d’accélérer dès que l’ouverture se présente, malheureusement, il manque d’explosivité ce jour pour pouvoir prendre la balle tôt sur les rares ouvertures qu’il se crée.

Malgré une bonne résistance, il s’incline dans le premier jeu. Les second et troisième jeux sont une démonstration de vitesse de la part de l’Indien qui accélère de plus en plus au fur et à mesure que le match s’approche de la fin.

Julien ne peut rien contre cette déferlante, de plus, les coups gagnants qu’il tente accroche tous le haut du tin. Le score des 2 derniers jeux est sans appel, 11/2, 11/1.

Comme l’année dernière, les deux équipiers se rencontrent au premier tour des qualifications du Saudi Arabia. Les chances de tomber de nouveau ensemble au premier tour sont d’une sur 256 et pourtant…
l’ironie veut que ce soit un autre Français qui ait tiré le nom de Julien pour affronter Renan.

Julien fait un premier jeu très agressif, volleyant beaucoup et mettant beaucoup de rythme, Renan, fait énormément de fautes directes et d’imprécisions qui lui coûte le jeu sur un score sévère 11/4.

Le second jeu est totalement différent, Renan est beaucoup plus présent, et Julien ne parvient plus à mettre autant de rythme que dans le premier jeu. Ce jeu reste très indécis, Julien l’emporte finalement 11/9.

Le troisième est très disputé, aucun des 2 joueurs n’arrivant à se détacher vraiment, jusqu’à ce que Renan mène 5/3 en prenant l’ascendant tactique. Julien joue les 5 prochains échanges parfaitement pour lui permettre de mener 8/5, puis il fait 4 fautes directes inexplicables sur les 6 échanges suivants, qui permettent à Renan qui ne lâchait rien de revenir dans la partie et de remporter le 3ème jeu, 11/8.

Dans le quatrième jeu, c’est Renan qui mène les débats, et se détache rapidement pour ne plus être rejoint.

Dès le début du cinquième, c’est Julien qui reprend l’ascendant pour se détacher et prendre 4 points d’avance. Il ne sera plus rejoint et l’emporte en 5 jeux.

Les 2 joueurs auraient mérité leur place dans ce second tour des qualifications, le tirage au sort en aura décidé autrement. Julien n’aura pas la tâche facile demain face au très véloce Indien Saurav Ghosal, pour une place dans le tableau final du tournoi le plus doté du monde après les Monde au Kuweit...