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TODAY in Kuwait
Fram & Steve report from the Kuwait Open ...
Fri 25th
- Day FIVE,
Quarter-Finals |
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Quarter-Finals:
[1] Amr Shabana
(Egy) bt [14] Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
12/10, 12/10, 12/10 (43m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt
[7] Karim Darwish (Egy)
11/9, 11/9, 15/13 (54m)
[6] Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt [4]
James Willstrop (Eng)
9/11, 4/11, 11/8, 11/8, 11/5 (70m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [10] Lee
Beachill (Eng)
8/11, 11/8, 6/11, 11/4, 11/4 (53m)
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En Bref Issue #2 |
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Shabana & Gaultier
squeeze through ...
The first match of the evening saw world number one Amr
Shabana come through in straight games against Ong Beng
Hee, but that scoreline doesn't really do Bengy justice.
There was rarely more than a point or so between them throughout
the entire match, the Malaysian - coming into the match off two
3/2 wins - matching his illustrious opponent all the way.
It was Shabana though who won those crucial extra points, all
three times, and it was hard not to feel sorry for Bengy as that
last dropshot went in. But that, as they say, is the stuff
champions are made of ...
It was pretty much the same story in the second match, as Karim
Darwish led in all three games against Gregory Gaultier -
10/6 in the third - but ended up losing all three by the
narrowest margin.
Lincou comeback halts Willstrop,
Ramy wind Beachill battle ...
Having won his last five tournaments, and his last 24 matches,
James Willstrop looked well on the way to extending that run as
he took a two-game advantage against Thierry Lincou, a
well-deserved lead on the balance of play.
But then it turned, and comeback king Thierry did it again. As
James himself said, "I totally outplayed him for two games, then
he totally outplayed me for three, all credit to him." All
credit indeed ...
The final match was also a five-setter, one which proved that
Lee Beachill is back to his best. Tremendous length and accuracy
from the Englishman wasn't quite enough to depose defending
champion Ramy Ashour though, as the Egyptian recovered from 2/1
down, unleashing a barrage of attacking shots in the last two
games to reach the semi-finals.
More photos to follow ...
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[1]
Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [14] Ong Beng
Hee (Mas)
12/10, 12/10, 12/10 (43m)
MY HAT TO YOU, BENGY
 If
that boy is able to hit the “self destruct” button, he proved
tonight that he could hit the “nuke the world” button! What a
performance from the Malaysian, who showed us tonight as much
guts as can be shown in a squash match.
 Dead
as can be, a huge blister that has handicapped him all week, we
all expected a walk in the park for Shabana.
But not only did Beng Hee fight for every point, every shot, but
he was being more aggressive than I’ve ever seen him play. Pure
joy of attacking, clever and accurate squash, with never, never
more than two points between them…
The Prince of Egypt, like all of us, must have expected an easy
match. And instead, he had a bleeping battle on his racquet that
nearly cost him a fourth, and even worse.
Shabana will be delighted to get away that lightly, and I know
that in Malaysia, the Press has been very tough with Beng Hee in
the past. After what he did tonight, they should build him gold
statues…
 "I
couldn’t get the rallies going, I kept on expecting him to go
nick, but he was so confident, it was so annoying to play him
today!!!!
"During the game, I kind of knew that we were going to go to
10/10 every time, it was that kind of game…
"But in the end, I just thought to myself, “you’ve got to enjoy
it the way he is enjoying it. He is having a good time, why
don’t you…”
"But I’m so happy to go 3/0…"
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"I felt no pressure at all tonight, playing the world number
one, but I’m not sure he played as well as he would have liked,
he made a few unforced errors…
"After playing two matches on traditional courts, and struggling
to beat Jon and Cameron, it felt so good to be on the glass
court, and having no pressure, I just went for it.
"Three times 12/10 is a bit painful, I just needed one game, but
that’s why the top guys are so strong, they are so steady and
confident, whereas I got excited, played silly shots, and went
for the wrong shot at the wrong time.
"I thought I would be tired after two hard matches, but no, I
was fine, no excuses, too good. Still now, I feel confident, and
looking forward to the rest of the season…"
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[3]
Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [7]
Karim Darwish (Egy)
11/9, 11/9, 15/13
GREG TOO ACCURATE…
If
Karim played very well tonight, although he rushed things a bit
at the end of the game, he just didn’t have the answers to
Greg’s short game.
If the Frenchman didn’t seem that comfortable on the traditional
court, he dwells on this Kuwaiti splendid court, and seemed to
find nick after nicks, patience and good rally construction.
I found Karim a bit less aggressive territorially than he’s been
recently, although he was very patient, and found some stunning
drop shots . Maybe he was expecting a bit too much from himself,
and it has to be said that Greg was ruthless tonight, and didn’t
take any prisoner, making only a few unforced errors throughout
the match..
 "I
had the advantage of playing on the glass court yesterday
against Olli, so I took it. Karim had five game balls in the
third, but I didn’t want to spend too much energy, so I tried to
come back into the game, and then, at the end, I was a bit
lucky…
"This is one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and we are
so grateful to Kuwait and to the Kuwaiti federation to welcome
us here. I know I always try and prepare very well before the
big events, and I actually prepared as if this was the World
Open. We rate it that well….
"There is very little between the top five players, maybe only
Shabana had a better end of a season, but it’s so close now, and even
from the first round, you’ve got to be on your toes…"
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"I was ahead in all three games,
9/6 9/7 in the first two and 10/6 in the third, but I couldn't
finish any of them off, it's so frustrating.
"I rushed a bit at the end of the games, trying to finish the
game as early as I could. With Greg I know you can't do that,
though, you have to play it to the back corners, trying not to
give him any chances, so that wasn't right ..."
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[6]
Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt [4]
James Willstrop (Eng)
9/11, 4/11, 11/8, 11/8, 11/5
TYPICAL LINCOU….
8/2
down in the first game, to lose it 11/9. 7/2 down in the second,
to lose it 11/5. And 4/2 down in the 3rd, to get to 5/5… And
after that, in the lead for the rest of the match.
I know that once again, James categorically refused to blame his
tiredness from yesterday’s match for his defeat – but here is my
point of view.
Yesterday’s match against Peter took so much not only
physically, that, James is used to it, that’s what he trains so
hard for. But also mentally. That 44 minute third game that he
loses, to claw back in the 4th, and wins 11/9 in the 5th against
a team mate, as in somebody you actually do like rather a lot,
must have drained so much mental impulse from him, much more he
actually realises.
Today, James went out firing with all guns (must be a Pontefract
thing in the water, because Lee did exactly the same). Honestly,
the variety of shots he used against Thierry made the former
number 1 look like a mere top 20 player, constantly on the back
foot, unable to exert any kind of pressure or decision on the
match.
I truly believe that unconsciously, James knew he couldn’t last
more than 3 games. And he gave everything he had, hoping for a
3/0 victory. Which he came very close to get. But his legs, his
heart, came to a grind at 5/5 in the 3rd.
That’s the moment Thierry pressed on the accelerator, giving a
last push, as he did so many times in his career, having nothing
to lose anymore, and finding length, accuracy, splendid volley
drop shots and pushing James further and further in the back,
preventing him from attacking from a good position.
A superb victory for the Frenchman. But on a personal note, I
was once again impressed by James’ after match interview, where
the boy couldn’t give enough credit to his opponent talent and
tenacity. The professionalism, the honesty, the kindness of that
young player is beyond belief, and squash is a better place for
having him.
 "I’m
over the moon. Over the moon because I made this effort on
myself.
"I came on court to do well, but not to win, and it showed, I
was playing well every other rally. So this victory is before
and foremost a victory on myself.
"He surprised me by his start, he “cuts my legs”, he was playing
the ball so early, he was totally outplaying me. And then, I
starting increasing my pressure, and he had a drop of energy,
and the graph reversed…
"It’s hard when you past 30, you get through a tough
motivational period, but now, it look like I’m getting a second
wind…"
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 "It
wasn't tough physically, but it was hard in terms of the squash
we played out there. The whole match turned, from me outplaying
him for two games to him outplaying me for three, to such an
extent that I couldn't win a rally.
"I felt in complete control for two games, but he's such a great
competitor, it's testimony to the guy, you don't get to be world
champion and world number one for no reason.
"I made a lot of errors, but that was mainly down to him and the
pressure I was under. There was a little heaviness in the legs
from yesterday, but it would have been the same for him.
"In the end he outdid me in every department, what he did out
there today was world class."
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[2]
Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [10] Lee
Beachill (Eng)
8/11, 11/8, 6/11, 11/4, 11/4 (53m)
SPIDERMAN, THE RETURN…
After the match, Ramy compared his return from 2/1 to the
Spiderman movie, where the hero gets beaten, and beaten, and
beaten, and then kicks everybody’s butt in the end….
You cannot help loving that boy….
You can’t stop loving him, yes, but you could also kick HIS butt
for not taking Lee as seriously as he should have. Because like
I did say yesterday, do not underestimate Lee’s chances for the
title. The way he’s been playing in the event is top 5, people.
And maybe above.
Again like yesterday against David, Lee went for the jugular:
heavy length, heavy length, heavy cross court perfect length,
volley drop shot, you’re dead. Let’s do it one more time… It was
astonishing to see Legend Ramy being twisted and turned like
that, totally out of his comfort zone. Lee was the Egyptian.
Ramy was in the back, retrieving, or not…
But like he does when lost at sea, Ramy just stops, thinks, and
regroups. Stepping up the pace 10 notches, remembering himself
that he could play squash, that he could outplay the Englishman,
the boy just found his rhythm – and his nicks – back…
Lee lacked maybe 3 or 4 rallies in the legs tonight. Not more.
He gave the young Egyptian a good scare, and a good lesson.
There are never easy matches. Only early defeats…
 "Oh
man, we always have tough five-setters together.
"He always gives you the feeling that he's going to drop then
suddenly the ball goes deep, so I have to be on my toes all the
time, watching every shot.
"How can he be ten years older than me and still be that good
?!?!
"Today he really pushed me. From the warmup and the first game I
couldn't feel me inside, but as it went on I got more into it
and found myself.
He just keeps it in the corners and you have to step it up. I
learned a lot from playing a basic game today, that's a big step
in my learning ..."
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 "I
took a terrible start in the 4th, I was making too many unforced
errors, but then again, I was one yard further back, and he was
one yard further up, which makes a big difference in the
rallies… And from that point on, he was able to do to me what I
did at the start, playing wide and tight enough to go past me.
"It’s hard to explain to people how hard it is to come from
“there” [the traditional courts] to “here”, [the glass court],
and the advantage that it gives when you when you had a couple
of games. As if playing the world number two was not hard
enough! But considering, I’m happy with the way I moved..
"I think that my level went up a bit during this event, I played
pretty well, apart from a bad start in the 4th and 5th, and when
Ramy gets two points lead, he is very hard to stop, he gets in a
sort of momentum… And yes, maybe having longer matches
"But you’ve got to give him credit, he came from just clipping
the tin a few times to getting the nick every shot…"
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An outrageous
behind-the-back shot rolls out of the nick for Ramy at the end
of the fifth ... |
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