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Tue 17th, Day TWO
Joey & Elise make HK fans' day
as Richards takes out top seed
It was a good start to qualifying finals for the home crowd,
with Joey Chan and Elise Ng both coming through
five-game thrillers to reach the main draw.
Liu Tsz Ling couldn't make it a hat-trick though, as she went
down in four games to Lisa Camilleri, who was joined in
an Australian double by Donna Urquhart.
The only upsets in the men's event came when Jonathan Kemp
pulled out of his match with Scott Arnold after treatment
on a troublesome hamstring failed to bring about the necessary
improvement, and Tom Richards took out top seed Renan
Lavigne. The main surprise in the women's was Lauren Selby's
win over fellow Englishwoman Sarah Kippax.
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Men's
Qualifying Finals:
Updated Draw
Tom Richards
(Eng) bt Renan Lavigne (Fra)
11/7, 11/8, 3/11, 11/7 (50m)
Julian Illingworth (Usa) bt
Julien Balbo (Fra)
11/7, 8/11, 11/6, 11/5 (67m)
Chris Ryder (Eng) bt Simon Rosner
(Ger)
11/9, 11/5, 6/11, 11/3 (38m)
Aaron Frankcomb (Aus) bt Omar
Abdel Aziz (Egy)
11/8, 11/8, 11/9 (54m)
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) bt
Yasir Butt (Pak)
12/10, 11/5, 11/4 (34m)
Scott Arnold (Aus) bt Jonathan Kemp (Eng)
w/o hamstring injury
Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Campbell
Grayson (Nzl)
10/12, 11/2, 11/7, 11/3 (45m)
Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Mohd
Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas) 9/11, 11/4, 11/3, 11/6
(43m)
Women's Qualifying Finals:
Updated Draw
Joey Chan (Hkg) bt Latasha Khan
(Usa)
11/6, 6/11, 11/5, 6/11, 11/3 (49m)
Elise Ng (Hkg) bt Kylie Lindsay (Nzl)
11/6, 11/8, 3/11, 6/11, 18/16 (56m)
Lisa Camilleri (Aus) bt Liu Tsz
Ling (Hkg)
11/5, 11/7, 14/16, 11/2 (37m)
Delia Arnold (Mas) bt Joelle King (Nzl)
11/6, 11/9, 11/6 (28m)
Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) bt Song Sun-Mi (Kor)
11/5, 11/7, 11/6 (26m)
Lauren Selby (Eng) bt Sarah
Kippax (Eng)
11/5, 5/11, 11/9, 11/3 (33m)
Emma Beddoes (Eng) bt Dipika
Pallikal (Ind)
11/8, 13/11, 9/11, 11/9 (33m)
Donna Urguhart (Aus) bt Mami
Nishio (Jpn)
11/7, 11/6, 11/9 (22m) |
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Joey Chan (Hkg) bt Latasha Khan (Usa)
11/6,
6/11, 11/5, 6/11, 11/3 (49m)
Elise Ng (Hkg) bt Kylie Lindsay (Nzl)
11/6,
11/8, 3/11, 6/11, 18/16 (56m)
HK double starts the day well
Steve Cubbins reports
An up and down match with first one player then the other taking
control, but in the end it was Joey Chan who delighted the home
crowd as she qualified for the main draw for the third time.
Kylie Lindsay looked for all the world as though she was going
to deny a HK double as she came back from two down against Elise
Ng and established a 7/2 lead in the decider.
The Amsterdam-based Ng fought back, saving two match balls to
force extra points and saved four more before finally clinching
is as Kylie dived in vain for a dropshot.
For the second time in just a few minutes, the crowd erupted
....
 "It's
the third time I've qualified, but this was the most important
win. Today I played very patiently, cut out the mistakes and
volleyed well.
"I didn't get used to her length in the first and I used lots of
energy defending. She came back, but then I changed my game, I
slowed down - in the past my speed has been too fast and my
length not good, so I reduced my speed and improved my accuracy.
"In the important parts of the match I managed to volley more,
control her length and move her around, especially in the
fifth."
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 "I
felt good in the first two but then she changed her game, she
was attacking much more and kept me at the back.
"When I was down in the fifth I knew I had to make a big effort
to get my length and hit to the back.
"It was pretty exciting, and I'm delighted to qualify after
that!"
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Lauren Selby (Eng) bt Sarah
Kippax (Eng)
11/5, 5/11, 11/9, 11/3 (33m)
Selby stuns Kippax
Malcolm Willstrop reports
Both girls have shown improved form this season, but it was
Lauren Selby who began the better, taking the first game 11/8.
Although Kippax won the second game readily 11/5, she was not
moving comfortably, her back causing her problems.
Add to that Selby's decisive shotmaking, even on the bouncy
court 7, and when she won a closely-fought third 11/9 the
writing seemd to be on the proverbial wall.
And so it was as the Essex girl climbed away readily to win the
fourth game 11/3 on a stroke.
Qualifying for a Super Series event will no doubt add to her
improvement and confidence. |
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Lisa Camilleri (Aus) bt Liu Tsz
Ling (Hkg)
11/5, 11/7, 14/16, 11/2 (37m)
Donna Urguhart (Aus) bt Mami
Nishio (Jpn)
11/7, 11/6, 11/9 (22m)
Aussies Advance ...
Steve
reports
Double success for the Aussie pair of Lisa Camilleri and Donna
Urquhart, both qualifying for the HK main draw for the first
time.
Camilleri looked to be cruising to victory but yesterday's HK
hero Ling took control of the third game to lead 10/6. Lisa came
back to earn a couple of match balls which she couldn't convert,
but had no trouble in taking the fourth.
Donna made it two quickfire wins - so quick in fact that I never
managed to see a single point of either match!
"I felt confident
most of the time, even when she was ahead in the third, and once
we started the fourth I felt pretty confident I was going to
win."
 "That
was a good runout, we had a few tough rallies and she got a lot
back so I had to keep on my toes all the time.
"She got a few points ahead in the third and I had to pull my
head in to get it back."
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Emma Beddoes (Eng) bt Dipika
Pallikal (Ind)
11/8, 13/11, 9/11, 11/9 (33m)
Beddoes squeezes past Pallikal
Malcolm Willstrop reports
Another qualifying final of considerable interest was that
between India's very promising British Junior Open U17 champion
Dipika Pallikal and England's Emma Beddoes.
Pallikal is mobile and strikes the ball with authority. Although
she played several quality shots in the first game, she ended it
weakly from 8-all to lose it 11/8.
 Beddoes
was playing more patiently than her talented opponent and that
paid off as she just managed to hold her game together
sufficiently to edge the second 13/11 and take a 2/0 lead.
Pallikal's ability to strike winners continued to make her look
dangerous, and from the middle of the third she displayed an
impressive array of shots to win it 11/9 and put herself back
into the match.
She continued to threaten in the fourth, but a couple of
unforced errors at 6/7 gave Beddoes a winning advantage and she
took the match 11/8, no doubt quite relieved.
Pallikal shows immense promise at just 17 and there is much more
to come from her. |
"That was tough, and it was very
tense, qualifying finals always are, there's so much at stake.
"I had to be very disciplined, she so talented and if you put
anything loose she just puts it away.
 "It's
great to qualify, it means money, points and a hotel - I always
seem to get Vanessa though!"
"I got my bruise training with Suzie on Sunday, she must have
had enough of me and just drilled me one - it certainly hurt!"
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Tom Richards (Eng) bt Renan
Lavigne (Fra)
11/7, 11/8, 3/11, 11/7 (50m)
Tom takes out top seed
Malcolm Willstrop reports
First match on Centre Court in the qualifying finals was between
French elder statesman and newly elected member of the PSA board
Renan Lavigne, and emerging young Englishman Tom Richards, an
encounter of more than a little interest.
Richards began impressively with attacking intent and with
lLavigne not able to settle, he romped away with the first game
unchallenged, 11/3.
Lavigne came out determinedly in the second, held Richards to
4-all, when the Englishman took control to assert quickly to
9/4. Lavigne resisted again as he does, but Richards' attacking
always looked a shot too many and he took a 2/0 lead, well in
control.
Lavinge, never one to give up, and now fighting for his
qualifying life, managed to to create more attacking
opportunities for himself and took a 4/3 lead in the third, held
onto it tenaciously and took the third 11/8 with Richards
looking much less secure.
It was the Englishman though who began better in the fourth,
establishing a 3/0 lead and at no time relinquishing it to win
it on his third match ball 11/7.
Richards was a high class junior and he is developing into a
promising senior player.
"I think I played
very well in the first and fourth, I always feel more confident
on the glass court, and especially that one, which is so
rewarding…
"I think Renan was trying to extend the rallies, but I was able
to create a few opportunities and go for my shots, as I like to
do…
"I think that I understand the game better now, when I get on
court with top players, I can understand and see why they are as
good as they are, and that allows me to play a better game.
"After all, it’s all about good length first and then putting it
in the nick, as simple as that… IF ONLY!!!!!!
"So happy to qualify for my first Super Series Platinium…"
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"While I was
trying to qualify for the Saudi Open, I had the same drop in
mental energy for my two matches than I had today in the 2nd
here, and although I’m normally a pretty confident guy, that was
playing on my mind, I kept thinking “don’t let it down, don’t
let it down”, and of course, that’s when it happens…
"It worked too easily in the first game, so I went for cheap
stuff, length went…
"At the moment, I’m really good in practice, and I think I
actually play better than my ranking. But it’s all about putting
it together in matches, and with consistency…
"It was a good match, it was the first I was playing Julien. We
started pretty clean, going and playing all the balls, but as we
both got more and more tired, we started to ask for more lets… I
felt that if I was able to go pass him – which is not that easy
to do, he was not that strong in the back corners…
"I’m happy to go through, I’m quite lucky that I seem to always
success to qualify when I travel far, and it really takes the
pressure off Macau next week…"
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Julian Illingworth (Usa) bt
Julien Balbo (Fra)
11/7, 8/11, 11/6, 11/5 (67m)
IDENTICAL GAME…
Framboise reports
Julien and Julian have much more in common that their first
name: both tall and strong boys, they also possess a very
similar style of game, they like to not give away much, keep it
tight and with a good width, lob it when they are in trouble,
and luuuuuve to counter drop.
The game was pretty intense and with a few contacts, but nothing
more than two healthy, motivated and determined players going
for the same spot of space. Only thing, from where we are, we
can’t hear the ref calling score or decisions, which is a shame,
but it has to be said that so many times, the players faces just
tell the complete story…
They seem to go through phases of high then low energy, but
speaking afterwards with them both, they put those variations
more on a mental tiredness than a physical one… But Julian
seemed to have a bit more self confidence today than the
Frenchman, and I feel that in the crucial moments, that made the
whole difference…
It came down to
very few things, first, I seem to clip the tin a few times in
the middle of the game, that gave him the lead and confidence to
relax and let go of his shots. And also, we succeeded to create
ourselves a few opportunities, but whereas he would finish the
rallies one out of two, I just wasn’t able to finish it off.
A bit disappointed, but it’s one of those matches that could be
won, and again, I seem to play a longish match, without being
able to win it…
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Chris Ryder (Eng) bt Simon Rosner
(Ger)
11/9, 11/5, 6/11, 11/3 (38m)
"We also played
last year at the same stage of the competition to try and
qualify, but I think the match was of a much better calibre, and
that he has improved a lot – we both have…
"The first game was ever so tough, the ball was flying, and I
was again a bit nervous in the first. I guess that I put a bit
more pressure on myself nowadays, a few months ago, I was hoping
to qualify for those major events, whereas now, I expect to
qualify, it’s a complete different attitude…
"Simon is pretty goo in the middle, and if I was playing a bit
loose, he would make it look pretty easy, and put the ball away
first time. So in the 4th, I succeeded to tightened it up, and
won the “length battle”.
"I was 7/4 up in the first, but he played so well today, I was
constantly on the defence, I played nearly all my shots from
behind me, I just couldn’t play my game and put him under any
kind of pressure.
"My game has improved thanks to my new coach, I just won
probably my best ever win against Davide in Santiago, and that
was a big step for me. Still I miss a bit of confidence to
impose my game…
"But all credit to him really, he played too well…"
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Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Mohd
Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas)
9/11, 11/4, 11/3, 11/6 (43m)
 "As
Jonathan Kemp didn’t play at all, we started a bit earlier than
planned and never got the chance to properly warm up. And on a
court that is very cold, I just couldn’t move to the front fast
enough and made a lot of unforced errors.…
"In the second and third, I came back quickly, my body finally
warmed up, and I picked up all his shots.
"In the fourth, I was up 10/4 match ball, but he started playing
very well again, and I had to play my best squash to be able to
qualify!
"I hope I’ll be able to play a good match tomorrow…"
"I think I’ve improved a lot, I’m able to vary my pace a bit
more now, but I lost my concentration in the second, he was
putting me under so much pressure with his forehand, I just
didn’t have time to adjust my shots.
"I realised that there was no way I could win the match playing
the way I did in the second and third, I tried and send him much
more in the back in the fourth…"
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Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) bt
Yasir Butt (Pak)
12/10, 11/5, 11/4 (34m)
 "What
do you mean, you missed my game!!!! I played well, you know!
"I was trying to twist and turn him as much as I could, he was
moving well but I found some good shots, that really hurt him…
"And I really made a point of picking up all his shots…"
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"It’s been a few tournaments in a row now, and today, I should
have worked harder I feel, and stuck to my game plan more, as I
went too short too early, I lacked discipline… And I guess I was
a bit tired from yesterday too, both mentally and physically.
"I think I need to do a lot of work physically to be able to
back up, back up…"
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Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Campbell
Grayson (Nzl)
10/12,
11/2, 11/7, 11/3 (45m)
Saurav grabs the last spot
Malcolm Willstrop reports
The last qualifying final was between Indian #1 Saurav Ghosal
and New Zealander Campbell Grayson.
 The
first game was well contested with Grayson playing it short and
getting on the volley effectively. However Ghosal stayed with it
and came from behind to take the game to extra points before
losing it 10/12.
It was a different Ghosal who came out for the second and he
blew Grayson away 11/2.
Grayson is resolute enough though, and taking advantage of
slightly loose play by Ghosal he stayed in contention until
7-all in the third when the Indian champion took control to win
it 11/7.
Grayson was feeling the pace by now and Ghosal quickly took a
5/1 lead before going on to take the fourth and the match 11/3.
His reward is a first round match with Thierry Lincou which, it
goes without saying, represents a different kind of challenge.
"I feel that I
played better each game that goes by, my level is improving, and
I hit the ball a bit better each day… In the first game in
particular, he played well, and I wasn’t, so I tried and raised
my game…
"I think he was struggling a bit after his big match yesterday,
but last time I played him, in Yorkshire league, it was the same
thing, I lost the first game very close, like 16/14, and then,
like today, so mentally, I knew I could do it.
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Aaron Frankcomb (Aus) bt Omar
Abdel Aziz (Egy)
11/8, 11/8, 11/9 (54m)
 "It
was 3/0, but a tough 3/0. I tried and get in the match as
relaxed as possible, knowing that it could be a bit of a bumpy,
lots of lets kind of match, and tried to stay as calm and
focused as possible.
Omar has a quite fast paced and hieractic style of game, so I
had to make sure I was keeping it under control. So I managed to
stay in front of him, took all the opportunities in the middle
and dictated the rallies from there…
I’m hoping for a good draw and so happy to qualify for Hong
Kong, AGAIN… Yes, I can say again now, it’s the second time. Ah,
and I also would like to thank my English coach from Leeds, Neil
Guirey…"
It’s the second match I played that way, just can’t play my game
at all, it’s something I’ve got to sort out with myself. And he
COMPLETELY deserved to win, and a 3/0 win too….
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