|
|
TODAY at the
Canary Wharf Classic
 |
|
Day FOUR at the
Wharf
21-Mar, Semi-Finals:
[2] James
Willstrop (Eng)
3-1 [3] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy)
6/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/7
(66m)
[4] Peter Barker (Eng)
3-1 [1] Nick Matthew (Eng)
11/7, 11/9, 7/11, 11/8
(69m)
Willstrop and Barker in
all-English final
James Willstrop
came from a game down to beat Mohamed El Shorbagy for the second
time in a week to put himself in with a chance of winning a
fourth Canary Wharf Classic title.
That win guaranteed that it would be an all-English final, but
it won't be Willstrop's nemesis and three-time Canary Wharf
champion Nick Matthew who he will meet in the final, instead he
will face local favourite Peter Barker who put in one of
his best ever performances to beat the top seed and defending
champion in four tough games.
|
STATS: Head2Heads,
Player Info, CW Performance History
Day Two Reports
Day One Reports
Quarter-Final Reports
Photos & Videos
|
|
Alan Thatcher reports from Canary Wharf |
|
“There were some
very subtle changes of pace, and at the highest levels it is a
matter of subtle differences that can mean the difference
between winning and losing.
“Mohamed and I have developed a great rivalry and respect and he
beat me in the semi-finals of the World Championships to show
how dangerous and talented a player he is.
“We have had lots of battles all over the world, including the
semi-final here last year, and I am very pleased to get through
to another final.
“I am happy with my movement and the way I am playing, but
there’s another massive battle looming tomorrow in the final,
where I will need everything to be working."
I did play super squash today I
though...My best performance since the World Open...So I am
happy and satisfied with the result :)
@MoElShorbagy on Twitter |
[2] James Willstrop (Eng) 3-1 [3] Mohamed El Shorbagy
(Egy)
6/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/7 (66m)
Willstrop makes sure of an all-England
final
The final of the Canary Wharf Squash Classic will be an all-England
showdown after James Willstrop ended the hopes of
Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy.
 Willstrop hit back to beat the No.3 seed after losing the
opening game to the big-hitting Egyptian. From 4-4 in the
opening game, Shorbagy stepped up the pace and buried a flat
nick kill to win it 11-6, then punched the air in delight.
Willstrop dominated the opening phase of the second game with a
phenomenal display of controlled squash to build a lead of 6-2.
El Shorbagy clawed his way back but at 9-7 he hit he ball out of
court to give Willstrop game ball. El Shorbagy responded by
slamming a flat kill but then hit the tin to give his opponent
the game 11-8.
 No.2 seed Willstrop continued to dominate in the third and the
crowd roared their delight as he powered ahead to 6-3. El
Shorbagy, the 22-year-old Bristol student who beat Willstrop to
reach the World Championship final last year, hit back to 6-7.
Although Willstrop reached game ball at 10-6 he hit the tin
twice and conceded a penalty stroke before nailing a straight
volley kill to win the game 11-9.
The fourth game was full of drama as El Shorbagy moved to 6-3
ahead before Willstrop tightened up his play. Employing
immaculate length to pin his opponent behind him, he attacked
any loose balls with his trademark soft volleys and volley drops
to claw his way back, point by point.
El Shorbagy claimed only one more point as Willstrop turned the
screw, clinching victory in 66 minutes of pulsating squash to
reach his sixth Canary Wharf final. |
|
 |
|
[4]
Peter Barker (Eng)
3-1 [1] Nick Matthew (Eng)
11/7, 11/9, 7/11, 11/8 (69m)
The only way is Essex as Barker beats
Matthew
Peter Barker toppled reigning champion Nick Matthew to set up an
all-England final of the Canary Wharf Classic against James
Willstrop.
 The East Wintergarden erupted as Barker clinched only his second
career win over the man who has won the last three Canary Wharf
finals.
Essex man Barker had to fight back from 7-4 down to win the
decisive fourth game in a pressure-cooker atmosphere.
Barker was pumped up for the battle and clawed his way back into
the game despite two video reviews going against him.
 Playing at a phenomenal pace, both men fought toe to toe like
gladiators as the majority of the London crowd willed Barker to
win.
As he closed the gap, Matthew conceded two penalty strokes and
Barker clinched victory with a dying length in the back left
corner.
The 29-year-old left-hander from Brentwood had promised to go
flat out this week and he finished strongly to take the first
game 11-7.
 With Barker leading the second game 10-9, Matthew’s volley
rattled the tin to give his rival a massive boost of confidence
to top up the adrenalin coursing through his veins.
Barker led 5-3 in the third but Matthew, the 32-year-old from
Sheffield, matched his opponent for aggression and took
advantage of some desperate retrieving to finish off openings at
the front of the court.
As Matthew built a solid lead in the fourth, he must have hoped
to take the match to five, but Barker’s determination and solid,
constructive play helped him home in a dramatic finale.
The applause echoed round the packed arena for several minutes
before Barker could begin his post-match interview. |
"I'm a little bit
lost for words ... but to put in a performance like that in
front of my home crowd is very special indeed."
“I was glad to get across the finishing line at the end. I admit
some of it wasn’t pretty and I was fishing a bit, but it’s great
to double my win tally against Nick in the head-to-head series.
I’m now on two!
“Nick and I have grown up together in squash and played each
other so many times down the years.
“He is a great champion and you know you will have to give it
everything to get a win.
“The crowd were simply amazing and I hope they can make the same
noise in the final.”
Congrats to Pete
tonight, well deserved win & hope he backs up for a good final
tomorrow. I will be in the crowd feel free to buy me a beer!
For me some time off, trip to @SeaIslandResort and try to
rediscover where I put my hunger ...
@NickMatthew on Twitter |
|
 |
|
