Singapore Open 2017
05-10 Dec, Singapore, $5k

While it may have looked one sided, it was still clearly a feast for the capacity Sunday afternoon crowd, who got treated to a feast of trickery from Tandon. The world number 88 Tandon came firing right from the start and never allowed Huang to settle, winning the first game 11-3 very quickly.

In the second Huang seem to have settled much better, matching Tandon for most parts of the rallies especially in the first half. But it was still Tandon who was far more controlling and dictating the pace of the rallies. His front court game was very evidently troubling Huang, who on many occasions was left wondering where the next shot would be going.

Tandon edged ahead a little 4-2 and 6-4, before breaking away to 8-5 and eventually winning it 11-6, with the last two points being tins from the Taiwanese number one. The third was clearly a one-sided affair, with Tandon now playing more confidently than ever in the match, executing his shots with conviction and racing to a 6-0 lead.

He’d drop another two points from the tin, before three backhand drives that died in the back ended the match after 32 minutes, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3.

The newly crowned Singapore Squash Open 2017 champion said after: “I’m happy to get through today. Like I said, I’m not even moving 100% and my goal was only to complete the event, so this win is really a bonus. Today I was able to execute my game plan. I knew he is very fit and he moves a lot. I tried not to make as many mistakes and things just turned out my way.”

When asked of his next event, Tandon, a native of Kolkata but based out of New York now said, “I’m going back to India for a bit and I’ll see if I am well enough to play in Qatar next, if not it’ll be the Tournament of Champions in New York”.

Huang, however, was still happy with his tournament, having been disappointingly beaten in the quarter final stage last year as the second seed.

Huang said “Ramit (Tandon) was just far too good today. I haven’t been feeling as great all week and I feel a little tight. I knew he was a good player so I know what I was in for. I played well for part of the second game, but I was just not able to maintain that. I’m still happy to have made the final here and overall, I had a good tournament.

"It’s also special for me because I brought two of my students over and one of them, Ling, won third place in the women’s premier. It’s her first overseas event so it’s really quite an achievement.”
 

Qualifying Finals:
Robert Garcia (Phi) 3-2 Muhammad Ezzri Nazri (Mas) 12-14, 12-10, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4 (63m)
Benedict Chan (Sin) 3-1 Kojiro Tan (Sin)                             11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 (41m)
Samuel Kang (Sin) 3-0 Timothy Leong (Sin)                                 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (38m)
Mohd Farez Izwan (Mas) 3-1 Graham Melvin (Sco)              6-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (31m)

Round One:
Muhammad Ezzri Nazri (Mas) 3-0 Rayden Tan (Sin)             11-5, 11-1, 11-2 (21m)
Benedict Chan (Sin) 3-0 David Pelino (Phi)                       11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (32m)
Kojiro Tan (Sin) 3-0 Lachlan Coxsedge (Aus)                    13-11, 11-8, 11-8 (29m)
Samuel Kang (Sin) 3-1 Gurshan Singh (Mas)      11-7, 11-2, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7 (57m)
Timothy Leong (Sin) 3-1 Reymark Begornia (Phi)       9-11, 11-5, 18-16, 11-6 (58m)
Mohd Farez Izwan (Mas) bt Julian Joshua (Mas)              8-11, 11-3, 6-7 rtd (19m)
Graham Melvin (Sco) 3-2 Shahzad Khan (Pak) 10-12, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)

Huang started off very well to take the first two games with some dominating play, dictating most of the parts of the two games and was rewarded with both the games, 11-8 and then 11-6. But the never say die Robert Garcia was a highly determined one in the third, breaking away from 4-4 to 7-4, before dropping a point and then winning a streak of four points to pull back.

The fourth was a highly-charged game – Garcia having pulled one back came in with lots of hope and Huang determined not to let his two-game lead go to waste. Things were point for point for most parts of the game up to 7-7. Huang then manages to pull ahead by two points to 9-7 but Garcia played amazingly to take the next four points to hold game ball at 10-9.

In a dramatic finish to the next pulsating rally, James Huang hit a spectacular reflex shot over the back while making a turn to win the point and draw level at 10-10. That drew a rare clench of fist from Huang who then played the next two rallies with conviction and thus booking his place in the final with a 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10 win after 50 minutes.

Huang said later, “I had a good start today and he got better and better as the match went on. He also began to go for his shots and I lost a little focus in the third and fourth game. It definitely wasn’t my best squash in those two games.”

“It’s good that I have my student and my friends from Hong Kong here to support from the outside. I’m happy
to make my first final of the season and especially so in Singapore, because last year I came here as the second
seed and I twisted my ankle and lost in the quarters. I was very disappointed.”

In the other semi-final, Indian world number 88 Ramit Tandon  upset the form books to upstage top seed Henry Leung of Hong Kong. That is an amazing feat having come into the tournament from Qatar where he retired injured with a twisted ankle. Playing to a near full capacity crowd, Tandon provided a masterclass display as he coolly outplayed the top seed in just 22 minutes.

“I’m playing better and better as the tournament comes along. I had hardly any preparation coming here after hurting myself in Qatar. I have to thank Elvinn (Keo) for the tough match yesterday. I feel a lot more confident today after that match and I went for my shots a lot more.

"Things just started flowing well for me and while the score is a simple 3-0, it was nowhere near easy. Henry is a young and good player and I needed to be precise. Like yesterday, I’m going to enjoy tonight and start again tomorrow,” said Tandon who will be gunning for his second title of the season after winning the SYS Open in New York in May this year.
 

“I am very happy to make the semis here. I have played him three times this year, so I knew what I had to do to beat him. When I saw him in my quarter, I was quite happy with the draw.

"I am still sore from the last few days but I have a good team around me here cheering, and that motivates me to fight harder. In there, the mental strength is greater than the physical, and that is what pulls me through,” said Garcia after qualifying for the last four.

James Huang also upset the books as he took out second seed Chris Lo of Hong Kong. The Chinese Taipei veteran, who is known for his speed on court, won 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 in 58 minutes. Huang later said :

“Happy to win! I knew it wasn’t going to be very tough. In the second and fourth, I lost a little focus in the beginning and I had to come back each time. We know each other very well because I used to train with them in Hong Kong.

"But he plays a little different now. Maybe it’s the effect of the new coach and it took me some time to get used to his new style.”

“I played Robert (Garcia) in March this year in Hong Kong and I won 3-0. But I’ve been watching him and he’s improved a lot now, so I’d expect another tough game. I’ll be sure to get myself ready.”

In the most dramatic match of the day, India’s Ramit Tandon came back from the brink of defeat to see off fourth seeded crowd favourite Elvinn Keo in just under an hour.

Tandon, who only a week ago retired injured at the Qatar Circuit fell behind 0-2 to the skilful Malaysian, who practically gave away the third game.

Keo came back firing in the fourth and was in total control, eventually pulling away to match ball at 10-7. However, he failed to convert any of them and instead lost the next 5 points, with the last one a harsh no let, to be forced into playing the decider.

Like the fourth, he started off very confidently and the harsh call at the end of the fourth seem to have fired him up as he went to 5-0 with some blistering shot-making he is known for.

But Tandon wasn’t to be written off as he slowly edged himself back into the game and eventually walking out a deserving 7-11, 8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 12-10 winner in just under an hour.

“I was lucky. That’s all I got to say. I wasn’t even playing as well as I can. After hurting my ankle in Qatar last week, it’s in the back of my head and I am still afraid to push myself mentally.

"But as I pulled back closer after falling behind, things got better and I just tried harder. Right now, I’m just going to focus on my recovery for tomorrow and enjoy my win,” Ramit Tandon said after his win.

In the last match of the evening, top seed Henry Leung saw off Shanghai-based Graham Miao comfortable in 24 minutes.

The Singaporean veteran prevailed after 51 minutes, 11-3, 4-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9. The victory couldn’t have come at a better time after Rhamanan was beaten by Pragasm only a month ago in Australia.

“I’m definitely happy with the win. I lost to him 3-0 in Darwin, so I knew his strengths and weaknesses. I learned from that match and went in with a game plan to slow the game down and push everything to the back, be patient and wait for an opportunity to play my shots,” said Rhamanan after.

Top seed Henry Leung cruised into the next round after seeing off Malaysian Ryan Pasqual in straight games. He seemed slow to start but was nevertheless in control for most parts of the match.
 
After his 31-minute match, Leung said, “I’m quite satisfied with my game today, and definitely happy with the outcome. But this court takes some time getting used to and I’m sure I will play even better tomorrow. I feel that in comparison to other courts, it is less bouncy.”

Philippines’ Robert Garcia once again turned the tables over third seed Valentino Bong in an intense and drama filled first round encounter, with Bong playing the last few points with a cramp on his right leg.

Many in the crowd already knew of the rivalry between the pair and had expected nothing less than an explosive game. They did not disappoint and it was a feast for the crowd in the stands with both players making some unbelievable retrievals, especially in the front court.
 
“I’m definitely very happy with the win today. We always have very tough, intense and physical battles, and today was no different. I had a tough match yesterday, so that made it even harder today. But because it’s always very intense, it makes me push myself even more against him,” said Garcia who has now had more court time than any other player.

Singapore qualifier Benedict Chan fell to India’s Ramit Tandon in an entertaining match where both players tried to outsmart each other with their racket skills. Both players do not hit hard or engage in high intensity
rallies much, but their flair made the match entertaining for the mostly local crowd in the stands. Tandon’s speed on court, however, was a notch above Chan’s, and that was what won him the match.

In the following match, Samuel Kang also lost out to the experienced James Huang of Chinese Taipei. While it was a straight games victory for Huang, the fifth seeded tour veteran was made to work in most of the rallies. Kang was equally as fast and agile, but Huang’s experience and choosing the right shots at the right time was clearly superior between the pair.

Second seed Chris Lo of Hong Kong overcame first game jitters to take out Malaysian qualifier Mohd Farez Izwan 3-1. The Malaysian came out firing in the first game, racing to 4-1 before Lo catches up to 5-6, after which Izwan nets five points in a row to take the lead.

The second was the most closely contested, which Lo won, who afterwards ran away with the following two games with a solid display of textbook squash that seem to push Izwan to go more for his shots, many
of which found the tin.

Local wild card Chua Man Chin gave a good account of himself when he faced fourth seed Elvinn Keo of Malaysia. The 20-year matched the experienced Malaysian for most parts of the opening and third game, but was rarely in control.

“It was a good experience out there. I wasn’t expecting him to be playing at such a pace and he caught me by surprise. It took me a while to find my space and lengths, but I eventually got there. In the third game, I just ran out of steam from playing at the pace he set.

"It will be a learning experience for me to not get too absorbed into my opponent’s style of play, but rather to play my own game,” said Man Chin after his first appearance in a PSA main draw.
 

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