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Fri 29-Aug, Day SIX:
Top two seeds through as
Tayeb and Sobhy gatecrash the semis again
Quarter-finals on Centre Court at Hong Kong Squash Centre
saw the top two seeds in both events through to the semis -
albeit in contrasting circumstances - but there were plenty of
thrilling matches and yes, more upsets, along the way ...
Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 Joey Chan (Hkg)
11/8,
11/4, 11/3 (27m)
[8] Amanda Sobhy (Usa) 3-1 [3] Camille Serme (Fra)
11/5,
1/11, 11/7, 11/3 (37m)
Tarek Momen (Egy) 3-2 [8] Simon Rosner (Ger)
7/11,
11/4, 7/11, 11/7, 11/8 (77m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-0 [7] Daryl Selby (Eng)
11/2,
11/3, 11/8 (45m)
[4] Borja Golan (Esp) 3-0 Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
11/7,
11/9, 11/7 (39m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (Egy) 3-1 [6] Peter Barker (Eng)
9/11,
11/7, 11/9, 11/3 (51m)
Nour El Tayeb (Egy) 3-1 [4] Alison Waters (Eng)
11/4, 9/11,
11/4, 11/8 (32m)
[2] Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-2 Rachael Grinham (Aus)
11/8,
7/11, 11/9, 5/11, 12/10 (58m)
Top two seeds through as
Tayeb and Sobhy gatecrash the semis again
 Quarter-finals
day at Hong Kong Squash Centre started off with two HK
favourites, nine-time champion Nicol David and HK’s own
Joey Chan.
Chan put up some fine resistance in the first game but David ran
away with the next two to take her winning streak here to 48
matches.
“I was finding my timing in the first, and then in the second
and third I really found my game and started putting a few
things together.”
Chan reflected: “I played ok in the first, but the pace was
very high, and it took its toll after that. It taught me a few
things, I know I need to work on my defensive shots in the
preparation for the Asian Games.”
 David’s
semi-final opponent will be US youngster Amanda Sobhy,
who pulled off “one of my best-ever wins” in beating France’s
third seed Camille Serme in four games.
“I was just running around and playing too short in the
second,” which she lost 1-11, admitted Sobhy, but otherwise she
she was generally in control. “I just had to settle down again
and I was pleased with how relaxed I was.”
“I’m really happy,” said Sobhy straight after the match, it’s a
good day and I can go back to school [she graduates from Harvard
next May] happy whatever happens next. It’s nice to know I’m
getting close to the top ten players while I’m still at school,”
she added. “It will be great when I’ve finished and can go full
time on the tour.”
 The
first men’s quarter-final was a humdinger. Simon Rosner
and Tarek Momen traded the first four games, whoever got
in front stayed in front, but the fifth was a real battle that
had the packed crowd erupting for one dramatic exchange after
another. From 7-all it was Momen. who took out third seed James
Willstrop in the first round, who took the win.
“Oh my god, that was quite a battle,” said Momen, “I put up
the fight of my life on that court today.
“The key point was I never ever gave up hope, I never thought of
it as a quarter-final to make my first ever world series
platinum semi, I just took it as a match I wanted to win.
“Simon is such a great player, the effort he made me put in
today was unreal, but I really enjoyed it!”
 The
second match was a less dramatic affair as top seed and world
number one Gregory Gaultier dominated Daryl Selby
for two games. The Englishman, still always behind, made the
third much tougher but the Frenchman closed it out in 45
minutes.
“In the first two I was moving well and using a lot of
variation, which paid off,” said Gaultier. “I was maybe too
passive in the third but he relaxed and that’s when he’s
dangerous, you think he’s not interested and then you’ve lost
the point!
“I’m happy to be in the semis, and I feel quite fresh after
three three-nil wins which is a bonus.”
 Last
year’s finalist Borja Golan, after surviving a
five-setter yesterday, eased into the semis with a
straight-games win over Nicolas Mueller, who also had a
marathon in the previous round but had yet to play on Centre
Court.
“That was not easy at all,” said Golan. “I think playing on
the court before helped, but it’s quite dead so it suits his
game too and he’s so dangerous. I knew I had to keep my focus on
every point, I was very up and down yesterday, and that’s what
made the difference for me.
“It’s good to have Carlos Cornes coaching me in between games
[on the phone] and to have my wife Chelo here supporting me - I
hope I can transfer my good results here to the other big
tournaments!”
 The
last spot in the men’s semis was taken by second seed Mohamed
Elshorbagy, who recovered from a game down to beat England’s
Peter Barker, easing through the fourth after tight
second and third games.
“He played well for sure, and he had his chances in the
second and third,” said Shorbagy. “Luckily I was able to push
along in those games, it’s always tough against him maybe next
time it will be his turn.
“I’m really pleased to make it to my first semi-final in Hong
Kong. Borja has been playing well so it will be tough but I’ll
be up for it!”
 Also
making her second World Series semi-final in a row is Nour El
Tayeb, who continued her impressive run of results with a
3-1 win over fourth seed Alison Waters. The young
Egyptian took the first and third with some ease while in
between Waters stayed ahead throughout the second. The fourth
and final game was tense and exciting, with Tayeb always just
ahead.
“I can’t believe it,” said a delighted winner. “It was
completely the opposite type of game than against Wee Wern
yesterday, Alison hits the ball really hard and I was having to
try to contain her.
“I’m so happy to be in the semis here, my coach has been telling
me to enjoy the game and I was really enjoying that match!”
 The
final match of the day almost saw the third women’s upset as
Rachael Grinham came within one point of beating second seed
Laura Massaro. They traded the first four games, then it was
the veteran Aussie who took the initiative in the fifth, leading
4-1, 8-5 and 9-7. Massaro levelled at 9-all but had to sae a
match ball before edging home 12-10 on a stroke.
“It was always in control,” she joked.
“She’s in great form so I knew it was going to be a tough match,
and I think she worked out how to play this court against Annie
yesterday. I was down in two of the games I won, I just had to
keep sticking in and stay strong like I always do.
“I’ve enjoyed my matches on here this year, but it will be good
to get on the all-glass court tomorrow.”
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on to the glass tomorrow
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