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TODAY
at the ROWE British Grand Prix:
Wed 21st, Day THREE
Steve Cubbins at the NSC, Fram in France |
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En Bref #3:
Marwan,
junior no more
Photo Galleries
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Round TWO:
After two days of first round action we were down to the
last sixteen, another eight matches with plenty of English,
Egyptian and French interest ...
Omar Mosaad
(Egy) bt [8] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/7, 6/11, 2/11,
11/5, 11/4 (66m)
[5] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [Q] Simon
Rosner (Ger)
11/9, 14/12, 4/11,
11/7 (54m)
Adrian Grant (Eng) bt [4] James
Willstrop (Eng)
10/12, 11/7,
11/9, 11/7 (83m)
[7] Peter Barker (Eng) bt Azlan
Iskandar (Mas)
11/4, 11/9,
11/6 (60m)
[3] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt [Q] Tarek
Momen (Egy)
11/7,
4/11, 11/7, 11/4 (48m)
[6] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Daryl
Selby (Eng)
11/4, 10/12,
11/2, 11/4 (61m)
[1] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Ali Anwar
Reda (Egy)
11/5, 11/4,
11/4 (38m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt Cameron
Pilley (Aus)
11/7, 11/8,
12/14, 11/3 (62m)
Quickies Day THREE, as it happened ...
Ashour 3-1 Pilley: Some incredible pace from Ramy, causing a lot of trouble
to the Australian, 11/7 to the Egyptian... Pilley get to do a lot of work
in the second one, but still cannot get on top of Ramy, 11/8... In the
3rd, Cam squeezes a few errors from Ramy at crucial times to take the game
14/12, but the 4th is a formality for the Egyptian, 11/3...
Matthew 3-0 Reda: Not much trouble for Nick in this opening game,
neither in the second, looking really comfortable, 11/4, 11/5, although Mohamed
Ali Anwar is not doing much wrong... And the third is about the same, with Nick
cruising through nicely...
Gaultier 3-1 Selby. Gaultier
cruises to the first 11/2. Selby regroups, it's neck and neck with thrills and
spills at the end, Selby takes it 12/10 to level. Gaultier back on top in the
third, 11/4. Game times: 6m, 28m, 7m, go figure ... Gaultier still on top
in fourth, 11/4 and match.
Darwish 3-1 Momen: A solid
start from the more experienced Darwish, taking the opener 11/7. Momen gets
ahead in the second, Darwish lets it go in the end, 11/4 Momen. The youngster
leads the third too 7/6, but Darwish forces out the errors to take it 11/7. And
11/4 in the fourth as Darwish eases through.
Barker 3-0 Iskandar: Barker
takes the first 11/4, not as easy as it sounds though ... the second is
tougher still, Barker comes from 5/3 down, then takes 3 points in a row from
8-all to take it 11/8. A good start for the Englishman in the third, 6/1,
and he takes it 11/6 after an hour's play.
Willstrop 1-3 Grant: Grant takes a 10-6 lead but six points in a row for
Willstrop and he takes it 12/10 ... At 7/3 for Grant in the second, a blood
injury is stopping the game for a few minutes, which doesn't stop him to level
it at 11/7... The third was played at a ridiculous pace, not more than a point
between them from mid game, and it's Granty that squeezes through, 11/9... And
it's the underdog that takes the 4th 11/7 in 83m...
Shabana 3-1 Rosner: A close
first game, Shabana gets to game ball first
and takes it first time for 11/9 after 16m. Tight in the second too, 9-all,
Shabana saves game ball and takes it 14/12. A run of poits for the German as he
takes the third 11/4, but Shabana races to 7/1 in the fourth, holds off Rosner#s
comeback to take it 11/7.
Lincou 2-3 Mosaad:
First game to Mosaad. A good recovery from Thierry from 8/2 down, but couldn't
quite make it, 11/7 Mosaad. Frenchman makes a good start in second, 8/2 and wins
it 11/6. A quick 5/0 start for Lincou in the third, and quickly takes the lead
11/2. In the 4th Mosaad's turn to take an 8/2 lead, he wins it 11/5 to take it
to a decider. Another good start, this time for the Egyptian, and 8/3 soon
enough becomes 11/4, Lincou is out.
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Omar
Mosaad (Egy) bt [8] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/7, 6/11, 2/11, 11/5, 11/4 (66m)
Mosaad wins see-saw encounter
The first match of round two saw the first upset of the day as
Omar Mosaad won a see-saw encounter with Thierry Lincou in a
five-game encounter where none of the games were close.
 In
each of the five games one of the players quickly established
superiority, 8/2 Mosaad in the first, 8/2 Lincou in the second
and third, and 8/2 Mosaad again in the fourth. Despite some
attempted comebacks the leader closed it out each time and we
had a decider.
There had been plenty of appeals and stoppages during the first
four games - and some good squash too of course - and the fifth
was no exception with the referee warning both players to make
more effort to clear, and to get to the ball.
It was the Egyptian underdog who made the better start in the
decider, quickly going to 7/1, and as in the previous games no
comeback was forthcoming - the eighth seed was out and an
Egyptian semi-finalist was, shock horror, guaranteed.
 "I
lost to Thierry in the World Open, he's such a good player and
very experienced, it's hard to play him as he can change his
tactics to stop you playing your game.
"I played well in the first to win it but then he changed and
won the next two. In the fourth I was thinking that I wanted to
end the match on good rallies so I tried to be more focused,
changed my game a bit and it worked.
"I knew it was important to get a good start in the fifth to
give me confidence.
"It's my first time in this tournament so it's really good to
make the quarters, and I'll play another Egyptian next, Karim
[Darwish] or Tarek [Momen] and I know both of them well."
 "I
wasn't able to get into my rhythm, the ball was very dead and it
was a slow, very interrupted game which suited him better, he
was able to volley a lot and cut off my shots.
"He was very accurate though, and outplayed me in the last two
games, he deserved to win today."
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[5] Amr
Shabana (Egy) bt [Q] Simon Rosner
(Ger)
11/9, 14/12,
4/11, 11/7 (54m)
Shabana squeezes past Rosner
Malcolm Willstrop
reports
A fascinating prospect with the return to the world scene of Amr
Shabana after missing Australia and the World Teams, facing
Simon Rosner, whose recent form suggested significant
improvement.
Shabana may be short of match play but he looked relaxed, lean
and fit. He was soon putting the ball in all the right places
too and led 3/0 and 5/3. Rosner, though, was in no way overawed
and he led 8/5 readily. As the score seesawed it was Shabana who
reasserted to 9/8. Nine-alll and it was anybody's guess. A fluke
gave Shabana a first game ball, three lets and two fine rallies
later he played a sublime crosscourt volley into the nick to
take the game 11/9.
Fortified by the 1-0 lead, Shabana began the second in fine
style, leading 3/0, but once again Rosner recovered well to lead
4/3 and 6/4. The pattern was similar to the first game, first
one player then the other dominating the score if not the game.
8-all became 9/8 to Shabana with a delicious short backhand
angle. Nine-all again though and a no let gave a game ball to
Rosner. A stroke and it was extra points, another stroke 11/10
to Shabana, no let for 11-all, 12-11 Shabana after a lovely drop
into the backhand corner by Rosner and 12-all - crucial stuff -
12/12 to Shabana on a stroke and 14/12 as he took a two game
lead.
Shabana happy to be 2-0 up, Rosner feeling hard done by to be
two down.
The effort needed by the Egyptian to win two hard-fought games
quickly told
in the third and Rosner raced into a 7/3 lead and quickly won it
11/4 to re-establish himself in the match.
Surprisingly it was Shabana who raced into the lead in the
fourth, 6/0, and although Rosner rallied strongly tom 7/8
Shabana found the extra to take the game and the match 11/7.
It was good to see Shabana back and every match will bring him
on. Rosner can be pleased with his contribution too - he
extended a great player.
 "He's
a different player from when we last played in February, he's
much faster and lighter, he's bringing German squash back to the
top level of the tour.
"It was just down to a handful of points here and there, to be
honest, I had to try to keep him out of his comfort zone. I'm
happy to win though, he's had some amazing results recently.
"I'm playing better, some lapses of concentration - I think
that's because I'm trying to enjoy myself too much, I have to
remind myself that it's all about winning!
"It would be nice to have another chance at being number one, or
a world open title, it would round it off nicely - it's all very
close between the top guys, I just need to stay focused, train
hard and get a bit of luck ..."
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Adrian
Grant (Eng) bt [4] James Willstrop
(Eng)
10/12, 11/7,
11/9, 11/7 (83m)
 Grant
shocks Willstrop
An English winner was guaranteed in this match, but seedings
predicted James Willstrop to go through.
In truth though the fourth seed was always on the back foot in
the face of a tremendous performance from Adrian Grant, who was
disappointed to let slip a 10/6 lead in the first, but carried
on with the same level of play to take the next three games, all
close, to complete a significant upset and his first PSA win
over Willstrop for almost a decade.
Grant slipped over painfully on his ankle midway through the
second, got an extra rest to have a cut on his thumb treated,
but came back undeterred.
There were some frantic rallies towards the end, with both
players looking to force the pace and work the opening, but in
the end Grant emerged the deserved winner.
 "We
both had a few physical problems out there, I noticed he was a
bit sluggish at the start but I tried to put it out of my head.
"I panicked a bit at the end of the third, I could see he was
starting to move better and I wanted to finish it off.
"In the second it was just trying to stick to the game plan,
like in the last match I knew I was playing ok even though I
lost the game. It was a case of whoever was willing to go in
short first would win the point, I could see he was a step or so
behind me so I was taking it in probably more than I ever have,
trying to stop him in his tracks.
 "Even
when you're ahead and on top though you have to be so on your
toes against him, if you put it on his racket he'll put it away.
"The hip injury I got after the Commonwealth Games was the worst
and the best thing that ever happened to me - it kept me out for
a while but I came back stronger and fitter, and I changed my
game too, I couldn't just go on trying to wear people down, and
I'm really enjoying playing at the moment ..."
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[7] Peter
Barker (Eng) bt Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
11/4,
11/9, 11/6 (60m)
Barker delivers
Malcolm Willstrop
reports
 Peter
Barker started sharply and before Azlan Iskandar had settled he
had a 5/0 lead in the first and although Iskandar did improve,
the outcome of the game was never in doubt as Barker took the
game 11/4.
Iskandar maintained his improvement and aided by a fluke then a
stroke, led 5/3 before Barker, with two winning forehand drops,
regaining parity at 6-all and later 8-all.
A forehand drop into the tin by Iskandar gave Barker a 9/8 lead
which he improved to 10/8, this time with a backhand drop. 10/8
became 10/9 but a delayed forehand drive gave him a two-nil
lead.
Barker was moving well, as he does, and from 2-0 down in the
third it was hard to see a way back fro Iskandar. Nor was there
one, as Barker drew comfortably clear to 6/1.
Iskandar recovered to 6/4, but after both players had fallen
heavily at the back of the court, it was Barker who went to 8/4.
Another fall for Iskandar further unsettled him, as did a
conduct warning.
It was Barker who served for the match at 10/6 and one
opportunity was enough to give him the win that looked probable
throughout.
 "I'd
never beaten Azlan in PSA, although it was five years ago since
we last played. We trained a lot when he was in London so I knew
what to expect and knew it would be tough.
"I played really well in the first, then he stepped it up in the
second, it was level pegging and winning that one gave me a
boost in confidence.
"It's a pity he was slipping in the third, you might play a let
in practice but not here, so I'm happy to take the three-nil win
and hopefully have something left in reserve for the next round.
"It's good to see two Londoners in the quarters. Adrian is a bit
of a nomad but we train together when he's around, that was a
good win for him over James even if they were both carrying
injuries, I'm pleased for him ..."
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[3] Karim
Darwish (Egy) bt [Q] Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/7,
4/11, 11/7, 11/4 (48m)
Darwish pulls rank
An all-Egyptian matchup, with third seed Karim Darwish seeing
off his up and coming compatriot Tarek Momen, but not without
the youngster letting the master that he was there, that's for
sure.
Darwish pulled clear from 5/4 in the first, but Momen came out
of the blocks quickly in the second, and although Darwish
started a comeback, once it got to 8/4 he pretty much let the
game go.
 The
former world number one was back in focus in the third though,
but Momen, still buzzing around court like an angry bee, stayed
with him until again at 7-all the senior partner pulled clear.
Same story in the fourth, a strong opening by Momen, leading
4/2, but giving the young pretender a proverbial and physical
cuff on the ear, Darwish took the final eight points to put the
youngster firmly in his place, but not for too much longer, you
suspect.
"I was feeling goo
on court, but I knew I had to be focused from the start.
"In the second I played too short, he's very fast and good at
the front, so after that I had to keep the ball deeper and he
made a lot of mistakes.
"He's just finished school and started playing full time again,
he has a very good future."
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[6] Gregory
Gaultier (Fra) bt Daryl Selby (Eng)
11/4, 10/12,
11/2, 11/4 (61m)
Gaultier sees off Selby
Malcolm Willstrop
reports
The players had contrasting wins in the first round: Daryl Selby
did well to recover from 0-2 down to Nicolas Mueller whereas
Gregory Gaultier beat Saurav Ghosal 3-0, though the scoreline
did Ghosal little justice.
Gaultier, as is usual for him, was quickly into his stride,
leading 10/0 before Selby scored. He was looking uncomfortable
moving into the front, as if there could be a problem.
Gaultier soon won the game 11/2 and Selby's dejection at the end
of it signified there was something amiss, as did consultations
with the physio. Selby is hardly a player who gives less than
his best, and is resistance was token in the first game, unable
as he was to move into the front corners.
 Gaultier
seemed unaware of Selby's problem into the front and continued
to play mostly deep, allowing Selby to get to 6-all, then 8-all,
then remarkably 9/8, but it was Gaultier who served at 10/9
after a contentious decision took him to game ball. A tin by the
Frenchman meant a tiebreak.
Another tin and Selby served at 11/10 and Gaultier, after
several disputes with referee John Massarella, hit another tin
to hand the game 12/10 to Selby.
What next? Gaultier, still wanting to take the referee on,
calmed down a little and led 9/1 and 10/2 in the third, won it
11/4 with Selby unable to maintain his effort of the second.
Selby continued to look uncomfortable in his movement from time
to time [the problem was blisters] and Gaultier took advantage
to lead 5/2 in the fourth.
He again got involved with the referee, who issued severe
warnings to both palyers in what had become a less than pleasant
spectacle. Gaultier moved ahead to 10/4 and won the match on the
second attempt with a crosscourt nick.
Should he meet Ramy Ashour in the quarter-finals he will need to
show more composure than he did tonight.
 "He
started slowly but played well from the second game. I was
comfortable in the first and up to 6/2 in the second but I lost
patience and length, I wanted to finish it off too quickly.
He deserved to come back and take the second, so I was happy I
got back into my game from the middle of the third and was able
to put more into my shots.
"It was a good game, I enjoyed it ..."
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[1] Nick
Matthew (Eng) bt Ali Anwar Reda (Egy)
11/5, 11/4,
11/4 (38m)
Matthew eases through
Top seed Nick Matthew looked in no mood to spend any more time
on court than necessary as he quickly put paid to any hopes Ali
Anwar Reda had of a major upset.
The world number one was quickly into his stride, looked sharp
and controlled the match from start to finish.
 "I've
been struggling at times to finish matches off quickly, so it
felt good to be able to do that tonight.
"I had to be respectful of him at the start, I'd never
played him and he's had some good wins, but once I got a feel
for the ball after the first few points of each game I was able
to put the ball away nicely.
"There will be stiffer tests to come, but you have to be able to
finish these matches quickly to give yourself the best chance of
doing well later on, so it's pleasing when things you've been
working on all come together like they did tonight."
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[2] Ramy
Ashour (Egy) bt Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11/7, 11/8,
12/14, 11/3 (62m)
A Fast Fast Finish
Bucking the trend of the last two days, where the schedule was
greatly helped by quick final matches, tonight's match took over
an hour, but the pace at which it was played, and the
astonishing array of movement and shotmaking on display, made
sure that no-one who stayed to watch it begrudged one instant.
 Cameron
Pilley predicted a 3/1 last night, and it turned out just so.
The tall Aussie's recollection of previous 3/1 matches against
Ramy Ashour was less than accurate, but he was well deserving of
his game tonight.
Ashour took quick leads in each of the first two games, 6/3 in
the first and 6/1 in the second, and held off Pilley's comebacks
to take them 11/7, 11/8.
The third game was ridiculous, fast, furious with the ball and
the players flying all over the court. Normally photographers
inhabit the corners of the front court, but for this game right
in the middle was the place to be, that's where all the action
was happening!
Pilley deservedly pulled a game back 14/12 in a frantic finish,
but Ashour came out firing in the fourth an by his own admission
Pilley joined in too readily and quickly found himself 7/1 down.
There was no coming back this time, and at 11/3 the defending
champion booked his place in the quarters.
 "I
was pretty happy with how I played in the first three, my starts
were pretty average at best but once I got into them I thought I
was playing pretty well, and putting the game plan into action
nicely.
"In the fourth I just opened it up too much, putting in boasts
for no reason and giving him every chance to attack and he just
gobbled them up.
"But I'll take a lot from that, and learn from it ... on to the
next tournament!
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