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TODAY in Hong Kong:
Fri 27th, Day Five:
Steve Cubbins in HK |
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Photo & Video Gallery
Head 2 Heads
What's with all the Pink ???
the colour of the tournament
HK One-liners
#4:
Laura Massaro:
I just love the food ...
Alison Waters:
Foot massages.
Nicol David:
HK's the best.
David Palmer:
The Renaissance Hotel's breakfasts are the best in the world.
Peter Barker: Noodles!
Donna Urquhart: After Canberra and Melbourne the heat's
just great!
LJ Anjema:
Love it,. but surprised by the sheer amount of people.
Madeline Perry:
Busy and Exciting!
Kasey Brown:
Just love coming here
Rachael Grinham:
I've been coming here for so long but never been up the peak
tram - that's my ambition this year!
Samantha Teran:
It's such an interesting place, very different from where I
come, one of my favourite tournaments. |
Quarter-Finals
We're down to one court from now on, and today the
top eight seeds in both men's and women's draws go head to
head.
[2] Jenny Duncalf bt [8] Kasey Brown
10/12, 11/7, 11/9, 11/13, 11/7 (79m)
[4] Alison Waters bt [5] Omneya Abdel Kawy
9/11, 11/1, 14/12, 11/6 (51m)
[8] Peter Barker bt [1] Nick
Matthew
3/11, 11/8, 11/5, 11/5 (55m)
[5] Gregory Gaultier bt [3]
Amr Shabana
11/9, 8/11, 11/5, 11/8 (50m)
[1] Nicol David bt [7] Laura Massaro
7/11, 11/4, 11/4, 11/4 (36m)
[3] Rachael Grinham bt [6] Madeline Perry
12/10, 14/12, 11/5 (37m)
[4] Karim Darwish bt [7] Thierry Lincou
11/9, 11/3, 11/9 (40m)
[2] Ramy Ashour bt [6] James Willstrop
11/5, 11/8, 11/9 (41m)
World Number one and
Defending Champion out
That sort of headline usually means we've had a big upset -
except that here we had two as Nick Matthew and Amr Shabana both
went out at the quarter-final stage.
Earlier, second seed Jenny Duncalf almost went the same way,
having to recover from 5-2 down in the fifth to see off the
challenge of Kasey Brown.
The bottom line is that the top four women's seeds are through
to the semi-finals, on the all-glass court at the Plaza
Hollywood shopping mall, while the men's semis are missing seeds
one and three, and a new champion is guaranteed ...
Read all about it ....
plus Malcolm on the
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[2]
Jenny Duncalf bt [8] Kasey Brown
10/12, 11/7, 11/9, 11/13, 11/7 (79m)
Duncalf wins a thriller
Well, if we have eight
matches like this we'll go home late, but happy. Jenny Duncalf
won through to the semi-finals after coming through a tough,
entertaining and high-quality encounter with Kasey Brown.
 "That's
the best Kasey's ever played against me," admitted a relieved
Duncalf. "I had game balls in both the games I lost, which was a
bit of a downer, especially the first, but I managed to
regroup."
"It was so dead on there, I was struggling to find the balance
between defence and attack, and I even thought of asking for the
ball to be changed, it's been bouncy on there in practice, but
not today.
"Still, I don't really mind how I get there, it's just nice to
reach the semis ..."
Brown was reflective: "I thought I played well, but so did
Jenny, and in the end I just couldn't get there."
As it happened:
Game One: Duncalf led
all the way, marginally, making Brown work hard, but the Aussie
pegged it back to 10-all then won a stroke and a loooooooong
rally to take the lead.
Game Two: Duncalf takes an early lead and stays ahead to
level.
Game Three: A very even game, the lead changes hands
several times, but from 9-all a winner and an error puts Duncalf
in the lead.
Game Four: Duncalf away to a 5-2 lead but Brown hits back
to 6-all. Even from there, Brown has two games balls at 10-8,
Duncalf a match ball at 11-10, Brown takes it as Duncalf dives
in vain.
Game Five: This time Brown leads 5-2, Duncalf pulls back
to 5-all and is never behind again, winning 11-8 on her second
match ball.
Malcolm's (long) report and match videos to follow ...
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[4]
Alison Waters bt [5] Omneya Abdel Kawy
9/11, 11/1, 14/12, 11/6 (51m)
Waters sets up all-English semi
An English finalist was guaranteed when Alison Waters
overcame Omneya Abdel Kawy - for the fifth time in a row
- after dropping a close first game.
Kawy capitulated in the second, but came back strongly in the
third, missing out on a game ball opportunity before Waters took
the lead, and surged ahead in the fourth to clinch the match.
"The third was the key," admitted Waters. "She put a lot of work
into getting back into it, and I felt she was a little tired in
the fourth.
"I don't think I've ever won a match on this court before, so
I'm happy!"
As it happened:
Game One: Even up to 8-all, Kawy gets away at the end.
Game Two: Waters dominant, fires in a few volleys, Kawy
tins just as many.
Game Three: Another close one, both have their chances
but Waters takes it with a trademark volley drop.
Game Four: Waters takes an early lead and Kawys tries,
but can't close it down, Waters wins it at first attempt.
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[8]
Peter Barker bt [1] Nick Matthew
3/11, 11/8, 11/5, 11/5 (55m)
Barker beats top seed Matthew
Peter Barker
sensationally beat fellow Englishman Nick Matthew in the first
men's quarter-final, inflicting only the second defeat this year
on the world number one, and ending Matthew's 36-match (25 PSA)
unbeaten run.
 There
was no sign of what was to come in the early stages, as Matthew
dominated the first game, but Barker came out a different player
for the next three games, taking early leads and consolidating
each time.
In the final game, after an injury timeout for Matthew at
3-all, Barker profited from two luck nicks on the back wall
while Matthew made some uncharacteristic errors.
Barker moved ahead, and Matthew tinned on his compatriot's
first match ball to complete a stunning upset.
"He's had a couple of matches on this court already while this
is my first," said Barker to explain his slow start, "it took me
a while to get used to it."
"I tried to keep telling my self to believe, to break it down,
and towards the end to get one more point, one more point.
"I'm very good friends with Nick off court, you never like to
see your friends lose even you play them, but I've been on the
receiving end of a few beatings from Nick for a long time, so
maybe today it was my turn.
"It's very special to beat the world number one, so I'm really
really pleased, obviously. The tournament's not over, but it's
been a good week so far!"
As it happened:
Game One: Matthew
dominant, cracking in sharp volleys and punching the ball away
for winners.
 Game
Two: Barker riled by first game, opens up to 4-0. Matthew
recovers to 4-all but Barker pulls away again, punching air with
delight and determination as he puts volleys away at 8-5 and
10-8.
Game Three: Barker off to another flier, 4-1, no way back
for Matthew.
Game Four: An even opening, but at 3-all Matthew takes a
timeout to get treatment on an ankle - injured in a clash at the
start of the second game.
Competitive rallies on the resumption, but Barker moves ahead,
couple of flukes, couple of Matthew errors, couple of great
kills, 8-5, 10-5. Matthew tins, Barker delighted, Matthew flings
racket at side wall.
"We had a
collision at the start of the second game, it was accidental but
the pain in my ankle was really severe. I've had ligament damage
there so often I don't think I have any ligaments left!
"I carried on, but as the match went on I didn't have any
strength in my left leg and it got more and more painful. But I
wasn't going to shake hands, I'll always carry on to the end.
"It's tough to take, losing after six months, especially when
it's partly because your body lets you down. He may have beaten
me anyway, who knows, but it's still tough to take.
"There was no excuse for throwing my racket like that at the
end, it was just the build up in pressure and frustration, I
apologise to anyone who was offended.
"Pete's a great mate, I wish him well for the rest of the
tournament."
 taped
up and hobbling |
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[5]
Gregory Gaultier bt [3] Amr
Shabana
11/9, 8/11, 11/5, 11/8 (50m)
Gaultier ends
Shabana's reign
Considering they'd met in each of the last three Hong Kong
finals, it was strange to see Gregory Gaultier and Amr Shabana
take to the court this early in the tournament.
 The
packed crowd were delighted with what they saw though, as the
five-time champion came out all guns blazing, attacking from the
word go and forcing Gaultier into some desperate retrieving -
although many of the shots were irretrievable by anyone.
Gaultier managed to contain Shabana for long enough, though, to
start playing some shots of his own. It was fast, entertaining,
played in the very best of spirits and the crowd loved it, even
though they had to say goodbye to their champion of the last
five years.
"Fourth time lucky?" Gaultier was asked after the match. "I
don't think you can win matches like that with luck," he
replied, "but he's beaten me a lot of times so it's good to beat
him here in Hong Kong at last, yes."
"He went for so many shots, and only at the end of the first did
he really make any errors. I'd work hard to win a point and then
he would win the next in two seconds. I tried to control the
pace, but he changed it so well.
"We know each other so well and have such respect for each other
that it's difficult to play each other. We know it's going to be
fair - nobody else would give you a point like that - but it's
still hard.
"I'm happy with my form, it was a great match, and I'm looking
forward to the semi-final now ..."
As it happened:
 Game
One: A close affair, Shabana leads 8-6 and 9-7 but Gaultier
takes it 11-9 as Shabana makes a couple of unforced errors.
Game Two: Similar story, but this time Shabana stronger
at the end.
Game Three: Another even opening, to 3-all, both going
for everything, almost exhibition squash at times. Gaultier
getting the better of it now though. At 8-5 Shabana overules the
refs to give Greg a stroke. Quick, but fun.
Game Four: Here we go again, Shabana's hitting outrageous
winners again, goes 6-3 up. Greg digs in, pulls back to 7-all,
hitting some glorious shots of his own. Frenchman forges ahead
to 10-7, wins it on a stroke and Shabana's reign - and 27 match
unbeaten run in Hong Kong - is over.
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[1]
Nicol David bt [7] Laura Massaro
7/11, 11/4, 11/4, 11/4
Nicol rolls on
 Shabana's
reign may be over, but Nicol David made it 28 wins in a row in
Hong Kong as she recovered from a game down to Laura Massaro,
finishing in style.
As David said in her post-match interview (video coming later)
Laura played well in the first game, which forced the world
number one to raise her game and increase her focus. She did so
to great effect, reeling off the next three games for the loss
of four points each.
As it happened:
Game One: Only saw last point, Laura must have played
well ...
Game Two: Nicol starts off like Nicol, calm, smooth,
placing the ball nicely, forcing errors, hitting winners.
Comfortable.
Game Three: Nicol well on top, goes 7-0 up, Laura rallies
but too late. |
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[3]
Rachael Grinham bt [6] Madeline Perry
12/10, 14/12, 11/5 (37m)
Grinham wears Perry down
It's never easy playing Rachael Grinham - even her own sister
says she doesn't have a game plan. What she does have is the
most bewildering array of shots, which she seems to be able to
pluck from her shot bag at random.
On a cold-ish, dead court like this one, that means you're going
to have to do a lot of chasing, and a lot of hoping that her
shots aren't all going in this time.
Madeline Perry found herself doing that work, being pulled
around constantly, and having to scurry to the front right
corner time after time.
She coped with it well, could easily have been two up instead of
two down, but come the third that work started to tell, her
confidence had been drained and Grinham's was on a high.
"After taking the first I was ahead in the second, but when she
came back to 9-6 I didn't expect to win it," admitted Grinham.
"I just tried to make her win the points rather than give them
away, so having a 2-0 lead was a good bonus for me.
"I thought I was playing well, working her front and back, and
she got a bit tired in the third, the ball is quite dead at the
front. It's also harder to get yourself up when you're 2-0 down
- I was more confident with a 2-0 lead so I just kept going for
it."
"I can't remember the last time I played Nicol, but it will be
good to have a go at her in the shopping mall ..."
Perry was philosophical: "She played really well, and her drops
were just ridiculous!
As it Happened:
Game 1: Didn't see it, must have been close
Game 2: Did see it it WAS close! Grinham led early, Perry
comes back to 9-6, Grinham back at 9-all, game ball for Perry
missed, Grinham wins extra points.
Game 3: The work Perry has been having to do scuttling
from front to back after those drops, lobs and boasts starts to
tell - Grinham starts well and keeps the pressure on.
Finishes with a stroke to Grinham with Perry sitting down in the
front corner! |
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[4]
Karim Darwish bt [7] Thierry Lincou
11/9, 11/3, 11/9
Darwish beats determined Frenchman
He may be 34 (and a half) , but he still flies around the court
like a young gun, does Thierry Lincou.
Traditionally a slow starter, he made the pace in the early
exchanges, and it was only at the end of the first that Karim
Darwish managed to overhaul him.
The Egyptian took the second with some ease, but the third was a
real battled, curtailed in many ways by three consecutive tins
from Lincou at the death.
Pity - we may be well behind schedule, but the crowd were
enjoying this one and definitely wanted more.
"I know that Thierry's often a slow starter, but he really
wanted that first game," said Darwish. "After I got in the lead
I felt I was controlling the rallies and hitting the ball better
than yesterday.
"I wos worried about him coming back, he's the comeback king, so
I really had to work hard in the third, it was really intense
for both of us.
"It's always great to get to the semis of a Super Series event -
it could be anyone's now."
 As
it Happened:
Game 1: Arrived to find Lincou 9-7 up, Darwish took four
in a row to take the lead.
Games 2: Missed it.
Game 3: Boy is this intense. Lincou very, very
determined, Darwish equally so. A few altercations, a few
decisions that Lincou and the crowd don't like. Frenchman stays
just ahead, gets to 9-8 then puts three balls into the tin,
match to Darwish.
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[2]
Ramy Ashour
bt [6] James Willstrop
11/5, 11/8, 11/9 (41m)
Ramy stays in the
hunt
With Nick Matthew out of contention, Ramy Ashour knew that
victory on Sunday afternoon would take him back to world number
one.
In the past pressure like that has been known to faze the young
Egyptian, but tonight he showed no signs of nerves as he and
James Willstrop fought out a fast and furious three games that
left the Hong Kong crowd, once again, wanting more.
Not to be though, as Ashour took the first relatively
comfortably, then battled to victory in the next two.
 "It
was a fast pace for both of us," he declared afterwards. "I went
a bit too fast in the first, but he was a little bit backed up.
He started getting better towards the end of that game and came
out fighting in the second and I had to work hard to contain
him.
"The third was very even, I just had to keep my focus, just keep
playing and be as consistent as I could. You just do what you
can do and see if you've won at the end.
"I've got no thoughts about getting back to number one. Yes it
would be great, but my aim is just to do the maximum, even if
I'd lost today but played to the maximum I wouldn't have been
upset about it.
"It's a bout time I did well here though, it was four years ago
when I played at the mall, it's a great venue ..."
As it Happened:
Game 1: Just saw the last two points.
Game 2: errr, same, sorry.
Game 3: Pretty spectacular game. Tight at the start,
Willstrop edges ahead mid-game, Ashour levels at 6-all, lead
changes hands twice more, but on Ashour's second match ball
Willstrop tins. Fast and furious throughout, lots of skill, lots
of excitement. |
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