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TODAY at the El Gouna International ... |
 Mon
14th April, Day FIVE - Round One, Bottom
Another eight matches today, four at the Movenpick and four on
the glass court at the new marina as the last sixteen are
decided.
There was plenty of home interest again, with another five
Egyptians, led by defending champion Ramy Ashour, making it
through to the second round.
Read on for the full details ...
Round One, Bottom
Half:
Laurens Jan Anjema
(Ned) 3-1
[Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy)
9/11, 12/10, 11/9, 12/10 (72m)
[6] Karim Darwish (Egy) 3-1
[Q] Ali Anwar Reda (Egy)
11/6, 8/11, 11/4, 11/8 (53m)
Omar Mosaad (Egy) 3-1
[Q] Max Lee (Hkg)
11/6, 10/12, 11/7, 11/5 (64m)
[4] Borja Golan (Esp)
3-1 Adrian Grant (Eng)
13/15, 14/12, 11/6, 7/0 rtd (79m)
Simon Rosner (Ger)
3-0
[Q] Grégoire Marche (Fra)
11/7, 11/6, 11/8 (41m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy)
3-0 Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/9, 11/8, 11/6 (37m)
[5] Amr Shabana (Egy) 3-0 Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy)
11/9, 12/10, 11/7 (46m)
Tarek Momen (Egy)
3-2
[Q] Fares Dessouki (Egy)
11/9, 13/11, 9/11, 7/11,
11/5 (74m) |
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Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) 3-1
[Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy)
9/11,
12/10, 11/9, 12/10 (72m)
TWO WALLS OF
MUSCLES!!!!!!!!!
Well, if I had a few doubts beforehand – two big boys on a
traditional court – I can honestly say that I enjoyed this match
immensely. Both with the same style of game, hit hard, move
fast, look for corners. Omar has got a few more shots maybe, but
makes more errors, and can get excited on the important points.
LJ, his shots are less flashy, but less tins as well, and he
never loses his cool.
 It’s
the kind of match that need excellent referring. Anything less
will generate in a fistfight. But thanks to John Masseralla’s
team today (that include a local ref that was superb, Mohamed
Elseiy), not a trouble in sight. Yes, a few contact, more than a
few, but those two are MASSIVE and play at a ridiculous pace,
twisting and turning each other every shot. And if we have a few
Football Queens on the PSA circuit, today, we had two great
Rugby players, as if, it’s only if you break two legs that you
show pain or complain…
Best way to describe the match is coming from Basma, Shorbagies’
mum. “Win quick, Lose Quick”. Exactly. A very “Egyptian Squash”.
Loved it.
The two players were playing a very physical game, fast and
furious, every single rally. Looking for the corners, both at
the front and at the back. Explosive. Inventive. Accurate.
Powerful. This is the kind of match Squash needs. Two Warriors,
both playing their best, but not one inch of nastiness, block or
unfairness.
You only have to read the score to see how close those two were.
As we are already in the middle of the following match, I can’t
dwell on it, but it’s a match I would have come a long way to
see. Merci à vous deux.
 Yes,
I guess we have similar type of players, but I think I’m maybe a
better mover, and I have a bit more experience on the important
points.
You would expect some bouncy conditions, because it’s warm,
because it’s Egypt, but not at all, the court is really dead at
the front, and it encourages you to play a very attacking game,
a very “Egyptian Game” as you said.
It was my first time playing Omar, and today, my goal was to
keep calm at all times. And I’m happy, as I did, especially on
the crucial points. It was like 8/8, and then going very fast,
very quick points. Nothing between the players, and those
crucial moments determined/influenced the outcome of the match…
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[6]
Karim Darwish (Egy) 3-1 [Q] Ali Anwar Reda (Egy)
11/6, 8/11, 11/4, 11/8 (53m)
KARIM:
I’M STILL HERE….
If the former World number one is not having the greatest of
times on the PSA circuit, and looked a bit not that keen in the
second – to the point I said to Reda’s coach that he didn’t seem
very hungry for victory today – Karim showed some pretty good
“left overs” in the next 2 games!
He forced his opponent to get one more shot, and one more, in
the four corners, until Reda would make the error. Of course,
Reda found some beautiful feathery attacks, but Karim overall
was just superior in the rally construction.
“I just don’t want to lose. Not in Egypt. Not in front of my
wife and son”.
Exactly.
 Overall,
this season hasn’t been that great as far as my squash is
concerned, I have a new job at Wadi Degla and other projects I’m
working on. But I want to give it one more push, I don’t want to
go losing to everybody…
Today, Reda played very well, he was very accurate, in
particular on the backhand, so precise. So I had to make sure I
move him around a lot. But he still got me in the second.
I know I’m not training as much as I should/did, but I still
don’t want to lose. And especially not in Egypt, and not with my
wife/baby around.
I played well today, but it’s a matter of consistency…
Karim has had a couple of bad losses recently, and I could see
today he didn’t want to lose.
I’m pleased with my tournament, I hope I’ll play better next
week in Switzerland.
Just want to stress how great it is to play against Karim, we
are all learning from playing against our top players…
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Omar Mosaad (Egy) 3-1
[Q] Max Lee (Hkg)
11/6, 10/12, 11/7, 11/5 (64m)
LONG AND FURIOUS…
If the previous match was quick and intense, this one was
intense AND long. What Max retrieved today is pure amazing. The
shots he found as well were superb. He is improving beautifully,
coach David Palmer will be pleased.
 First
game, Mosaad was all over him, but in the second, it was close
all the way, still, Mosaad 10/8. Max, not having that, clawed
back and won the game 12.10, with two sublime long back hand
drop shots. Games were one all.
Coming back in the 2nd plus the hard rallies took its toll on
Max at the start of the 3trd, 5.1 to Mosaad. He tried and come
back 5/6, but Omar found a good combination of twist and turn,
taking the third 11/7.
Fourth again, excellent start from the Egyptian 5/1. This time,
not much left in the tank for Max, and Mosaad tranquil till the
end, 11/5.
 I
played Max in the worlds in Qatar, so I watched the video, and
based my tactics on that. But he has improved so much in a few
months since he is working with Palmer, his basic game in
particular. So I was playing very fast, but in fact, I had to
calm the pace down in the 4th, and that’s what was the right
tactic…
If I was comfortable in the 1st, at 10/8 in the second, my mind
wandered and I thought, ok, I’m 2/0 up, and going to serve for
the 3rd. Big mistake! He played really well, and rallied really
well too, in particular on the backhand.
In the fourth, I really want to close it, I played a bit too
fast at the front sometimes, but I really attacked and volley
more, having slowed down the pace.
I’m very happy to be through to the 2nd round…
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[4] Borja
Golan (Esp) 3-1 Adrian Grant (Eng)
13/15, 14/12, 11/6, 7/0 rtd (79m)
ADRIAN’S INJURY FLAIRES UP AGAIN…
Another very intense match between Borja and Adrian. If Borja I
think is feeling the pressure of being the favourite instead of
the contender. It’s like he feels he’s got to win every single
shot. If he doesn’t, he just puts even more pressure on himself…
 On
the other side of the rind, we have 33 years old Adrian Grant,
nothing to lose, and playing at his best.
Result, an excellent match, nothing between the players and
speed/intense pace. Adrian clinched the first one, and had 3
game balls in the 2nd. Borja gave it a big push and took it on
his first game ball…
From the third, Borja seemed to have taken the better of Adrian,
which was logical after the hard work they both produced in the
first two games. But the Englishman told me that it’s from that
point that his old injury – contracted in Delhi at the
Commonwealth Games, and flared up during his match against
Marwan a few days ago – just reappeared and was getting worse to
the point the Englishman decided to throw the towel in the 4th.
 I’m
a bit lacking in match fitness at the moment, I didn’t play
recently, so I can feel it. Plus, since I arrived, it was
difficult to get court time, only 20m per day. So, difficult to
get used to the court.
Not easy to get used to the court, a lot of balls in the middle.
But I’m happy mentally I stuck in there in the 3rd, I was game
ball down (3 actually), and I still won the game. Very happy
with that.
Tomorrow, I hope I’ll play better, I hope this match and a bit
more practice on the court will give me a bit of confidence.
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Simon
Rosner (Ger) 3-0
[Q] Grégoire Marche (Fra)
11/7, 11/6, 11/8 (41m)
Rosner
in charge
Germany's Simpon Rosner opened proceedings on the glass
court with a solid three-nil win over French qualifier Grégoire
Marche.
 Today
the conditions were warmer than yesterday, it’s not as windy as
well. But I struggled a bit to see the ball. We practiced on it
this morning, but it was 11am, plenty of sunshine, you have got
to guess where the ball is going obviously.
So tonight, I felt like we were both making a lot of unforced
errors, I guess that normal struggling in the first round,
getting used to the conditions, and getting the body in tune
with the event.
Not his best match probably, not mine either, but a win is a
win, glad to get through in 3, especially as last time we
played, it was here actually, 2 years ago, I was down 2/0 and
came back to win, very tough match indeed, so very happy to get
through.
In those tournaments, you really have got to at the same time
take one match at a time, but also, try and keep energy for the
next round. Not easy…
I was really not at my best today, not sure why. I kept opening
the court, and when I have the opportunity, I just gave it away
by making far too many errors. Very frustrating….
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[2] Ramy
Ashour (Egy) 3-0 Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/9, 11/8, 11/6 (37m)
OLLI STILL KICKING
 A
bit of a slow start for Ramy, as ever. He was like “smelling the
court”, taking his marks, and getting used to it all: court,
ball, Olli, the crowd, his body, his demons. Check, check,
check….
Olli was just playing his hard and low game, oblivious to any
kind of distraction. Hitting very accurately, at his usual
ridiculous pace, and surprised/wrong footed Ramy several times
indeed. Excellent match for the 34 years old Finn.
As for tactic, apparently, Ramy was told between games to keep
it long and not to go for too short. Yes, as Ramy didn’t touch
the back wall for two games, I guess it was a bit of an obvious
coaching, even I was telling him in my head! “Well, Fram, those
guys had done such a hard job cleaning it, I didn’t want to mess
it up”, Ramy joked.
Still, his short game was working very well, and he was able to
impose it to Olli, who never as ever, never did anything wrong.
Ramy was just finding shots that well, only him can think of and
execute…
 I
find it very difficult to play anyone in the first round, not
just the top players, anybody! I mentally had to push very hard
today, because Olli is such an experienced player, and can
string points. So I had to keep on my toes and completely
focused at all times.
One of the only advantages not to have a rest day is that you
have been able to test the court and watch the others play, so I
knew the court was going to be very bouncy…
Olli played very well, really pushed me hard, he’s got a lot of
deceiving shots, so happy to get through in 3 games, I find that
the first round match is actually mentally more difficult
sometimes than the final…
So grateful to the sponsors and to Amr Mansi to get this event
back. He has done a wonderful job, and is always trying to make
squash look good in Egypt. It’s good for my country, especially
in those difficult times.
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[5] Amr Shabana (Egy) 3-0 Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy)
11/9, 12/10, 11/7 (46m)
SHABANA WITH HIS SPARING
PARTNER.
 I’m
not sure why but I found it very difficult to concentrate on
that match. First, there was a lot of noise around me, kids
chatting, and it was a bit distracting. Then a few people that
kept seating in the stand, then off during rallies to take
pictures, and back again during rallies. I had to stop somebody
from smoking in the stand next to me.
Of course, the kids running in front of the court and behind the
glass wall, both Egyptians and tourists. You add to that Shabana
that was clearly unhappy – and with reason sorry to say – with
the amateurish refereeing, and you have a Fram that loses the
plot and the will to report/live.
Oh well, there is another match right after. So… I guess I’m
squashed out and need a walk on the beach at sunrise.
Who’s coming with me?
 He
is a very difficult player to play, I should know, he is my
training partner, we live about 5 minutes apart, and train
together 5 days a week!
So I wanted to play long rallies and take him to the back, but I
can’t do that against him, he knows my game too well, that’s all
we do when we play together, conditioned games!
So that tactic wouldn’t work with him at all, I had to do
something that I don’t do in practice to try and surprise him….
All the games were close, it could have gone either way.
This year, the set up is a bit different, and I didn’t know how
I was going to feel with the court being on the harbour, next to
the water, but it’s really a great set up, the people that did
the court worked really well.
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I’m so happy and proud to have
played in this World Series, my whole family is watching me on
PSASquashTV, and that’s very important for me.
I really enjoyed playing in this atmosphere, and the venue is
great.
I think what made the difference today is that fact I don’t get
to play at such a pace in my club or even in Alexandria. I did a
week training with Mohamed [El Shorbagy] and Miguel just before
the event, but I need more of those! Today, I was short both
mentally – focus – and physically.
But I’m happy with my performance, and I truly hope I get to
play more matches like that, and one day, to be able to compete
with these top guys…
Fares Dessouki |
Tarek Momen
(Egy) 3-2
[Q] Fares Dessouki (Egy)
11/9, 13/11,
9/11, 7/11, 11/5 (74m)
FARES, LOWER RANKED PLAYER???
 If
you look at the information sheet that Howard Harding provided
for us, you will notice that the lower ranked player is actually
Fares. Fares, that pushed Tarek, number 12 in the world, to
five.
He nearly made it as well, he was a bit tired at the end, but
close… A few more good matches of this calibre, and he’ll be
beating those top 10 guys…
Isn’t that scary? The worst of the list just took the top 12 to
5. When the players tell you there is no easy first round, do
you believe them now?.
 No,
I don’t like to play 5 games, but it seems that I do that a lot
at the moment!
Fares is a great player, and I really didn’t want to lose the
first two games, as I knew how dangerous he is. So I really
focused for those first two, but after, I guess it backfired! I
just relaxed at 2/0 up, and he started to play his best squash.
He is such a skilled player, you just lose focus for a few
seconds, and you’ve lost the game!!!
Mind you, maybe it’s working fine for me to spend more time on
the court… At least I had a chance to get used to it for
tomorrow!
I am effectively thinking seriously about consulting with a
sport psychologist, as I think I may need to look at the few
things. I may do that in the summer [after the wedding].
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