Men's quarter-finals:

[5] David Palmer (AUS) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY)
                 11/6, 3/11, 11/5, 11/8 (49m)
[7] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
                 11/9, 11/7, 11/3 (39m)
 
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [8] Peter Barker (ENG)
                 11/9, 4/11, 11/9, 11/8
[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [11] Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
                 11/8, 11/7, 11/8 (50m)

Women's quarter-finals:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
                   7/9, 9/7, 9/5, 9/2 (63m)
[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
                   9/3, 10/9, 9/6 (46m)
 
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
                    9/5, 1/9, 9/7, 9/1 (54m)
[Q] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt  [2] Natalie Grinham (NED)
                   6/9, 9/6, 1/0 rtd (28m)
    

Galleries

[5] David Palmer (AUS) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY)
                 11/6, 3/11, 11/5, 11/8 (49m)

DAVID ON HIS WAY…

This was a day full of upsets so far, first, Natalie’s injury, then the two British Open Champions out of the competition, and then… then we’ve now lost the world number one and world champion Amr Shabana in a weird match, where apart from some brief moments, we never really had the two players playing at their best at the same time…

David volleyed particularly well in the first, while Shabana never seemed to settle really. The Prince of Egypt came back with a vengeance in the second, David went for too short, and in 7 minutes, we were levelled at 1/1.



The third again was all about David, with Shabana troubled, making 6 unforced errors, although the rallies were a bit longer. And it seemed that the Egyptian was going to force a decider when he shot at 7/3 in the 4th. But David was more and more present at the front, and Shabana retrieving more and more, probably losing more energy than he would have wished.

A little pause at 8/8, where everything was still possible, we have first of all a huge slip from Shabana, who got out of the court, with a huge smile on his face, “Stroke please, can I have a stroke please? Well, if a stroke is not possible, can I have a let then?” Well, the three refs didn’t think that was such a good idea. No let, 9/8. Then David played a shot that looked down, but the refs couldn’t agree, so let.

It was a bit of a noisy, unsettling moment that seemed to break Shabana’s focus slightly, who didn’t need that as he never looked happy on this tournament, and two points later, David was in the semis for the seventh time in his career..
  

"I don’t think either of us played particularly well, although Shabana can play shots from everywhere, he hit a lot of winners, which is to be expected, and I never felt comfortable for a moment on there. Yesterday, I felt good against Adrian, but it was not easy to adapt to the glass court, we had a very short practice on it this morning very early.

"I started playing well from midway in the first, my length was good, I lost it in the second. Throughout the match, I tried to take advantage of the moments he was not playing particularly well. And in the fourth, I decided not to save any energy, to go for it, not to think about a possible semi final, lose yes, but with no regrets, just to give it all I had, and that if I was to lose the fourth, the work done would count in the fifth.

"And that’s what I did, we played some very tough rallies in the 4th, and he maybe he got a bit tired. I think I got lucky in the end from 8/8. I knew he was going to go for it, and I stayed on my toes. I’m so happy I didn’t make any errors, the last points are always the hardest to win…

"The past six months are been hectic with the big move to Boston, where I am now the Travelling Pro of the University Club, that was a big step for us, and we are now only settling in, after that, I had an injury, only coming back now…

"It’s hard to adapt, for years I had Shaun Moxham with me on court twice a day, and now, I’m on my own, so I’m trying to get a routine that suits me. I also changed racquet, I was particularly happy with it today, it felt really good.

"At the end of the day, Mel and Kayla [wife and daughter] are happy, and when I go away now, it makes me feel good to know that they are happy…

"I was really disappointed to go out of Kuwait, but it was maybe a good thing, as I went back to my old school of training, and did 5/6 days of heaving training, that seems to be starting to pay off now…"

[7] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
                 11/9, 11/7, 11/3 (39m)

FLAT AGAINST HUNGER

I’m going to repeat myself here, but like a lot of other top European players, Greg I know for a fact, had really heavy legs when he arrived in Liverpool. Still, he thought that he found new energy yesterday. But you do not just click fingers and tadada… you’re fit again. It doesn’t work that way.

Still, he came on court extremely concentrated, and seemed to be there for the time it would take. Greg accepted the rallies from an extremely focused Karim, who was playing at his best in all department, accuracy, tactic, and whose fitness is spotless, and there was never more than one point between them from 3/1 to 9/9 - and that despite the Frenchman offering six tins to his opponent, who only gave back one. And at crunch time 9/9, Karim found a superb backhand drop shot nick, and Greg, another tin. 11/9.

And that was it, really, for Greg. I guess that if he had taken the first one, he may have had enough in the tank to sustain a 3/0 victory, but after a 16 minutes first game, when he started hitting the first balls of the second, we looked at each other, the French contingency, and could only observe how flat and tired Greg looked.

”I don’t see him winning that one”, I heard myself saying. Karim look so confident, so relaxed, so in control, and also, so hungry. He didn’t have to clench his fist or be loud. It was obvious in his body language, in his game. He said at the start of the event he wanted this event to be special. Looks like he is succeeding so far…
   

I was so focused today, I know myself, I can tell when I’m going to win a match, it’s all in the head.

When I played against Greg in Kuwait, I was not focused enough, I was ahead in every game, and I lost the match. I was really frustrated, so today, I decided to really be focus from the start. I’ve got everything fine, the squash, the fitness, so I told myself, why not why against these guys? I just need to believe in myself…

Today, I think I really frustrated him by the way I play, he like to play at a fast pace, and to take the ball as early as possible. So I slowed down the rallies, and played tight, waiting for the right time, the right opportunity, and then going for it. And I guess I prevented him from playing the way he wanted.

[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v [8] Peter Barker (ENG)
                 11/9, 4/11, 11/9, 11/8

GUTS, GUTS, GUTSY…

Another stunning match between those two astounding English players, who I saw fight an immense five setter in the second round of Kuwait a few days back. Of course, over there, we were on the hard court, which gives Peter a slight advantage.

Today, different conditions, but same heart! Those two boys fought fair, fought hard, and fought with all the weapons they could put their racquet on, the attacking/retrieving that went on was nobody’s business.



I thought that James looked very tired at the start of the match, dead cooked in the second, by the third, was already having a few more colours back, and at the start of the fourth, was just starting a new match.

I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E.

Honestly, Peter pushed him to the limit so many times today, and we really thought James was going to crack up, especially in the third, where from 3/3 to the end, every rally was hard-fought, every ball a challenge, every shot a potential winner.



Two turning points. James gets game ball in the first at 10/6, but will only win 11/9, thanks to a lucky nick at the back. The other one, taking again a monumental third, again 10/7 game ball for James that he will only clinch 11/9 on a mis-hit from Peter…

I was amazed today by both Peter – who had a marathon in the legs from yesterday – and James – who has been digging in and digging in all week, and he comes back to play another match tomorrow. Purely and simply amazed.
  

"Yes, maybe a bit tired from yesterday, but physically, I feel ok.

"In the first, he took too much of a head start, and the same in the fourth, and I spent the rest of the game playing catch up.

"There is a fine difference again, I felt that that I challenging him physically like I did in Kuwait, but whereas over there, there was not interruption, here, the court was very slippery, and we had it swept every 5 minutes, which meant that it gave him every time 20 seconds' breathing time… And that made a huge difference today…

"I’m really disappointed, but no disgrace really, he played well, I played ok, I’m happy with my performance, but most of all, I’m happy for James, happy that he got through to the semi-final, and I know that if I had win, he would feel the same way, that shows the respect we’ve got for each other."

"It’s not getting easier to play Peter, on the contrary, it’s getting harder and harder. He’s been in an outstanding form recently, and I think that it was favourable to me what he did yesterday against Lee. Peter is a credit to his sport, no doubt about that. And I know people make a lot about us, the fact that we’ve got a long history, that he never beat me. But that’s just a question about how a tournament turns out, he had a hard match yesterday, that’s about summarise it.

"I’m desperate to win the British Open title, but at the same time, I’m trying not to want it too much. And I’m trying to enjoy it as well, this is a spectacular venue, and a great experience for a squash player to be performing here.

"The difference between here and Kuwait is the court. But it’s funny, because we’ve been crying out for those conditions, a great glass court. It’s interesting, as the ball today was all over the place, the bounce was going in all directions, and it was very slippery as well, as it’s a new court. And I really didn’t find it that easy, but that’s the same for both of us.

"It was an absolute scrap, neither of us controlled the rallies that well, I guess that’s probably due to the court not responding that well, but it was such a fair game, against such a fair player, and it’s great to play in those conditions against a good guy.

"Physically, I’m feeling ok, I had a little bit of mental tiredness at the start of the week, but you can’t fail to be motivated for a tournament like that, and the more the tournament advances, the more the motivation increases. Now, it’s all about the way the body is going to behave and respond…"

[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [11] Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
                 11/8, 11/7, 11/8 (50m)

THIERRY ALWAYS AHEAD

An Azlan demanding too much of himself, and a Thierry extremely wary of an opponent who plays too much like him to be comfortable, and you have a very no fireworks but bleeping tense and disputed quarter final

A match that started with a bang, a rally that went on, high pace, lots of attacking/volleying, no observing round there. And the tone was set. Very few unforced errors for the Frenchman (1/3/2), a few more for the Malaysian (2/6/2), Thierry who pushed hard in the second, twisting and turning his opponent, expecting to make him crack, both physically and territorially.

That didn’t happen, as Azlan was a match shot for shot, even playing some stunning drives that were tighter than the French, famous for his “TitiTight” shots. But it’s the relentlessness that paid off, as Thierry never deviated from his game plan, and always had the initiative throughout the match.

Azlan was counter-attacking so well, but soon joined the long list of players getting frustrated at the Frenchman's not that flashy but so tight and efficient game. Experience and mental channelling were the keys yet again, like they were in Kuwait. But like he mentioned, Azlan is improving fast. I remember a time, not a long way away, where he kept on piling error, upon error, hitting shots with no purpose whatsoever.

Now, the boy has found himself, he’s found his style, his squash. A few tiny tunings, in the head mostly, and we’ll be there…

"Not playing Ramy led me to change my whole preparation, but it’s not because I was not playing him that I was having an easy match, quite on the contrary, we just played each other in Kuwait in a tough 3/2, and I knew what to expect.

"It was not a stunning performance, that’s for sure, it was a bit of a wheezy performance, but it was efficient. It was very hard to get him out of position, and I never was able to relax, as he’s got a very oppressing physical presence.

"I’m really over the moon to win 3/0, and I guess it all came down to experience, but well done to Azlan for his tournament.

"As for tomorrow, James is number three in the world, he’s in amazing form, and he’s the man to beat. Is this year going to be three times lucky? Deep in my heart, I hope so…

"I was a bit too keen tonight, I didn’t let it flow, I was expecting too much of myself, maybe because we just had a big match. And that’s squash for you, when you think you are on top of it, you are not…

"I kept on telling myself to enjoy it, but Thierry doesn’t let you enjoy it, he makes you pay for every single rally.

"It looks like he did handle, no, hold on, he DID handle the situation better, not to mention that that court suits him to a T. But this was my first quarter-final of the British, which I got to by default and that’s doing nothing for my self-esteem, but I’m gradually progressing…"

Azlan Iskandar

[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
                   7/9, 9/7, 9/5, 9/2

Nicol beats her nemesis
Steve Reports

Shelley Kitchen has caused Nicol David some considerable trouble in the past, denying the Malaysian a medal in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and relieving her of her world championship title in Madrid.

And she caused her a great deal of trouble here in Liverpool tonight too. Leading 1-0 and 7-4 Shelley looked to have Nicol's number again, pinning her into the backhand corner of the court with powerful drives time after time, thus nullifying many of the best assets of the Duracell Bunny.

Nicol knew there was danger afoot, and responded as she has many times, extending the rallies, working her opponent around the court, wearing down her resistance.

And it worked. Slowly Nicol got on top, Shelley's shots became less penetrating as Nicol worked hard and made her opponent work harder. It was never easy - the end of the second was tough, the start of the third tough ... but from mid-way through the third you could sense the tide had turned, and Nicol was through, and into a fourth successive British Open semi-final.

"I didn’t feel any pressure at all, as Nicol didn’t lose a match since we played in Madrid, although I had a little edge, which was nice, and which worked at the beginning.

"But then she stepped it up and I lost my length, and couldn’t prevent her from doing so…"

"Every time we play it's always tough, I know I've always got to work hard against her.

"She came out very strong and it took me a while to get used to the different curt, but I knew it was important not to lose the second game so I had to get thing going as soon as I could.

"She played really well and I had to work hard all the way through, I never got an easy opening throughout the whole match.

"After te first two long games In had more time on the ball, I found my rhythm and took the momentum away from her.

"It's bizarre to see so many seeds go out, I'm just looking to get my game up for tomorrow now ..."

[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)            9/3, 10/9, 9/6

Grainger powers into semis
Steve reports

The run of upset results was halted as fourth see Natalie Grainger booked herself into a second successive British Open semi-final with an impressive performance at the Echo Arena.

Quickly into her stride, the American took a quick 4-0 lead and stayed in control for the rest of the first game.

Laura steadied, and matched Natalie throughout the second. Played at a much higher pace than the earlier women's matches, the rallies were tough and and the hitting fierce. 6-all, 7-all, 8-all, the second became a real battle, Laura saving a game ball before earning her own at 9-8. A serve that died in the back corner put Natalie level, and she doubled her lead with a brilliant backhand putaway having forced a loose shot from Laura after a series of pressuring shots.

Unfazed, Laura cme back to lead 5/0 in the third, but Natalie started dominating the rallies again, forcing Laura to do more and more work until finally a loose return came the American's way, which was generally put away strongly.

Natalie simply had the better shots today, as illustrated by the crosscourt volley drop she finished the match with - a real cracker.

"Thank god I stopped that run of upset results!

"That was a tough match, the second was crucial and I knew I had to put my foot down to not lose that one.

"I really tried not to finish anything too early, I held back waiting for the opportunities. In the past I've been guilty of shooting too early, going for it when one more length would have brought a better chance. You do get rewarded on this court for a good length.

"Probably the most important thing was I made sure I put that crosscourt nick away at 9-all in the second!

"I'm really happy to be back at number four, I've had a few spells out injured but this is probably my most consistent period and I'm looking to put pressure on the top three.

"The British Open is the one you want. It was around before the World Open and before the PSA and WISPA tours really got started, so as a kid this was the one you always paid most attention to ..."

"I didn't feel played that well today, I didn't take my chances to go short, I didn't move her around enough, and my crosscourts were really poor.

"She played well though, put me under a lot of pressure. I felt ok physically, which was my worry after yesterday's match, but it just didn't happen really."

[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
                9/5, 1/9, 9/7, 9/1 (54m)

Duncalf dethrones Grinham
Steve reports

What an hour - no sooner had we lost the reigning man's champion, and the women's title holder follows suit.

A fantastic performance from Jenny Duncalf, who started well and finished stronger. The Englishwoman pulled clear after a tight opening to the first game, but in the second it looked as though the Australian world champion's variety of shot was beginning to tell as she levelled with ease.

In earlier days Jenny might have have folded under such setbacks, but not now, not today. She steadied her game and started to reassert control over the rallies, holding a slender lead throughout the third to retake the lead.

In the fourth Rachael was still trying her flicks, drops, lobs and boasts, but Jenny had grown comfortable now, moving easily and anticipating superbly. Four dropshots with Rachael stranded took her to a 5/1 lead, two errors from Rachael took her to within two points, and it was fittingly finished with a another dropshot with her opponent nowhere to be seen.

Three matches, three upsets ... whatever next ???
 

"I'm pretty chuffed about that!

"It's the first time I've ever beaten one of the top three, so to do it in the British Open is even better, I really enjoyed that.

"Rachael is probably my favourite player to watch, so I know how good she is if you give her time. I had to try as much as I could to keep her behind me but not be afraid to go short at the right time.

"She changed her game in the second and I didn't respond, but I managed to get it back. She lobbed me a lot, and in the past I might have snatched at those, but I tried to keep it steady, stay patient and let her make the errors.

"When her length dropped a bit I was able to step forward and my drops were going pretty well.

"I'm so thrilled to get through ..."

"It was a weird game, I don’t think I moved well, but maybe it’s because she was playing at a much slower pace than I was expecting her to, as I saw her match yesterday, and it was all bam, bam, bam… And you always move better when your opponent plays faster for some reason, you get into a rhythm.

"And then, she plays some great shots, she is much better at that than me. Maybe I should have gone for more shots, taking more opportunities, but then again, it was not working that well, she is so good at the front…

"I don’t know, maybe I was just lazy! Also, her length was dying out, normally, the ball bounces off the backwall, but there, it sort of slowed down…

"It’s always very disappointing to lose, especially now that the seeds are gone, Omneya, Natalie, it opens the draw, no offence to Isabelle, but that part of the draw was suddenly not as strong as the other one, with Nicol, Natalie Grainger, etc…"

[Q] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt  [2] Natalie Grinham (NED) 
                   6/9, 9/6, 1/0 rtd (28m)

Isa through as Natalie limps out
Steve reports

A slow start for the French qualifier, who seemed to struggle to find her marks on the glass court, making several unforced errors as Natalie took a quick early lead, 6-2. Isabelle settled though, recovering to 6-all and it was Natalie's turn to find the tin. "Wake up" was the call from the Dutch/Aussie, and she duly did, taking the opener 9-6 ...

The second started similarly, with Natalie quickly taking a 4/0 lead. This time Isabelle's comeback was sustained as she reeled of nine points, finding some lovely nicks as Natalie appeared to slow towards the end of the game.

Natalie called for an injury break at the game interval a she received treatment, but after one point of the third game decided she couldn't continue ...
 

"I was fine, and it just happened, it was in the 2nd game, I was up 4/2, and I felt a sharp pay on my thigh. I didn’t stop immediately because in squash, we get a lot of sharp pains, and it just goes away. It may be a strain, we don’t know.

"I tried to loosen it up, but when I went back on for the third I just couldn't put any weight on it.

"I’m not looking for standing up and walking back, I tell you…"

"I’m glad to be in the semis of such a tournament, it’s a big event for us, but not like that. I’m sure I’ll be glad at some point, but not right now. Right now, I feel for Natalie.

"Today, I was really up for battle, and really I was feeling good on the court, even if I lost the first game, I up for it… I wanted to find some good length, and I did, but it was hard work as I’m not that used to playing on the glass court…

"I was a bit slow at the start of each game, I just had 10, 11 matches within a few days, including four in the last four days. So, a bit hard to move at the start, but then, the machine gets into motion, and everything is fine…

"I’m really disappointed with the way things finished, because I so wanted to play against Natalie. And by the way, when I hear people say, oh, Isabelle is not fit, well, I’ve proved this week that I’m not too bad…"