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TODAY in Kuwait
Fram in Kuwait, Steve in Manchester ... |
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Sun 31st, Quarter-Finals:
[5] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [9] Daryl Selby (Eng)
11/6, 11/2, 11/1
(35m)
[3] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [8] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/8, 11/5, 11/5
(38m)
[6] James Willstrop (Eng)
bt [4] Karim Darwish (Egy)
5/11, 11/8, 11/3, 6/11, 11/6 (85m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [7] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/4, 11/7,
11/4 (33m) |
Kuwait Time
En Bref #4 |
"I was fine all yesterday, although
my glut has been playing up recently, but I normally can get by,
but today, at the start of the second game, it really flared up.
I’m not sure why, but suddenly, I was really in pain.
"I don’t say I would have won against Greg though. He was
fantastic, he came off the block so well. At 7/0, I started to
play well, I’m happy with that.
"When I lost in Egypt in the first round last year, Greg had
some nice words of advice for me. And that helped me a lot. It’s
really nice when squash players can help each other out like
that.
"Now, I’m going to get treatment, as we’ve got a heavy schedule
ahead of us. And I really wish Greg all the best, he is playing
really well this week, and he is hard to beat…"
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[5] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [9] Daryl Selby (Eng)
11/6, 11/2, 11/1
(35m)
DARYL SLIPS…
 The Englishman is so tired mentally that he didn’t even realise
when he got injured….
After giving it such a big push as he was down 7/0, and starting
to take Greg to the front, making the Frenchman doubt till the
end of the game, Daryl was still very much in it, when at 2/1,
he slipped on Greg’s foot apparently, and found himself on the
floor. Really quickly he stood up, and went on with things, the
but damage I think was done.
From that moment on, he was moving with difficulty, and I didn’t
see him stretch once after that. Mathieu Benoît, who was sitting
next to me, who happens to be not only Greg’s coach here but
also a physio, told me immediately that Daryl couldn’t push on
the right leg, and that he injured his back.
And perfectly right he was.
 "I’m
enjoying the court so much, and I’m glad I had a tough match
yesterday, it helped me a lot for today.
"We had a very hard first game, I was up 7/1, and he gave it a
big push, all credit to him, as I knew he would probably
struggle today after his big win yesterday.
"Sometimes, players get through phases where they lose
motivation, it was the case with Daryl last week in El Gouna,
and it’s nice to see him playing well again yesterday."
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[3] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [8] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/8, 11/5, 11/5
(38m)
SHABS SHARP…
 Shabana
was so good and accurate tonight. Honestly, he didn’t give much
chances to the Englishman, who still made it hard for him in the
first rallies by making them last very long indeed.
But the Egyptian’s length was just too perfect, on both side,
and that “battle of the lefties” quickly turned to his
advantage, Peter looking a bit flat to me, more mentally than
anything else either.
And I don’t think the extreme hot temperature on the court
helped him much either… They rarely get those kind of conditions
back in England, I tell you!!!!
 "I
felt that I had a great advantage on him, as I played already
twice on that court, and that at some point on the match, he
wouldn’t see the ball as clearly as he would have wished.
"Peter is a fighter, he won’t give you anything, and I’m happy
to get through 3/0…"
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I’m
not going to make any excuses, as Shabana was just too good, and
he dealt with the court much better than I did. Mind you, that’s
maybe something to do with the fact he had two more matches than
me on it!!!
No, I was mentally a bit flat after my two first rounds. I
thought that I was actually hitting the ball well, but he was
much too sharp, stepped up and punished me.
Shabana is class, and whether win or lose, he is always a class
act. His racquet skills and temperament are second to none.
Now, two days rest, and then Qatar. What a change of conditions
that will be, playing on a air con court…
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 "It
was not easy, and why should it be… The Man has such a trade
record…. It was a real battle out there, a real battle, and I’m
happy to be at the better end of that.
"Yes, I did expect to win, like I do expect to win any matches
really. I feel good, and I had a good week here, much better
than last week that was a bit of a disappointment. I didn’t feel
I was at my sharpest, but then again, that may be coming from
the heat.
"The conditions wer hot, so hot, so hot, I think we both had
periods there where we suffered, but maybe it’s a good thing in
a way, your body gets warm quicker. And you just have to make
sure you drink a lot of water, because you are losing gallons!!!
"Do I still want to get to number 1? Yes, I’m doing everything I
can to achieve it, and if I get there, fantastic, but at least,
I’ll know that I would have done my best."
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[6] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [4] Karim Darwish
(Egy)
5/11, 11/8, 11/3, 6/11, 11/6 (85m)
JAMES IMPRESSIVE
This was the match all the players came to see. And boy were
they right to do so…
James looked impressive to me all week. He was accurate, strong
both mentally and physically, and sharp. Very sharp. Karim was a
bit “wobbly” on the first round, as it often happen between a
qualifier that has nothing to lose for one, and in this case, a
player that has improved and change his game completely (Mark
K), but very strong, fit and determined on the second round.
 And
tonight, it started very well for Karim, who had the advantage
to have played his two matches on the glass court, whereas James
played his opening match on it, then yesterday went back to a
traditional court.
I guess that helped the Egyptian to a point, but also, Karim
really took an excellent start, leaving very little for James to
achieve.
But in the second, the match started to unfold, with the
Englishman taking the lead, 3/1, 6/3, then 9/6. A few lets,
crucial point for both, the difference between down 2/0 or 1/1,
& 2/0 up or 1/1 being immense. And it’s James that gets his way,
1/1.
Extremely disappointed with the loss of that game, and maybe
suffering a bit from the heat on the court as well, Karim just
lets that third go, 11/3 for James.
But if the Yorkshire man thought that it was a done deal, he had
something else coming. Karim, refreshed, pumped up, comes back
explosive, aggressive, playing a clever accurate game that sends
James to the four corner, forcing him to retrieve an awful lot
and under pressure, and to make a few unforced errors. And we
are at 2/2.
 The
decider is bound to be close. And it is. 1/1. 2/2. James slips
on the floor, whereas it has been pretty good so far. He takes a
little while to come up. I always worry when a player falls… But
no, everything is fine. James goes ahead, 4/2, then 5/3. Karim
claws back by wrong footing his opponent twice. 5/5.
But James suddenly gives it a big push. Some ridiculous rallies,
stunning squash, volleying, lobbing from James, superb drop
shots from Karim. A long long LOOOONG rally at 6/5, that the
Englishman finishes on one leg, completely out of balance, and
still finds the volley nick.
At that point, my brain tells me that James is the winner
tonight. A few rallies later, 10/6 match ball. And match to
James. As often, it was came down to a few last points. After
85m of wonderful, beautiful and fair squash.
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[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [7] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/4, 11/7,
11/4 (33m)
RAMY “E.T”…
 The
Boy is not from this planet. The pace, the shot selection, the
accuracy that he shown us tonight made us wonder if Ramy is
really from Planet Earth. Because choosing shot angles that
fast, that precise, again, and again, and again, and being so
focus, so hungry on every shot. I mean, every shot.
Yes, Thierry played still some great squash, found some lovely
lobs, a few beautiful volley drop shots and drop shots, but
whereas the Egyptian was in control, he still run like a
lunatic, retrieving every single shot that Thierry sent him.
Tonight, Ramy reminded me of Nadal. Who fights for every ball as
if it was match ball. They are both unreal of talent and
determination.
Ramy deserves his
number 1 status. He is hungry for every match, every tournament.
His pace was just incredible tonight…
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