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03-Feb, Final:
Pilley saves the best for last
Rod Barnes reports ...
Australia’s Cameron Pilley saved his stunning best for the
final of the 2008 ASTI National Capital Open where he overwhelmed #1
seed LJ Anjema in three straight games.
Pilley started tentatively in the first game and tinned several
attacking drops giving Anjema an early 8-3 lead. In contrast, Anjema
appeared comfortable against the early Pilley attack and it looked
like he maybe able to nullify the lanky Australian in a way that his
previous opponents had been unable to do. As the play settled in the
first, Pilley began to reduce his error rate and lengthen the
rallies forcing his opponent to increase the intensity of his
attack. Subsequently Anjema began to use more short game including
his trademark trickle boast counter drops.
Pilley quickly demonstrated he was up to this challenge using his
substantial reach to cope with the short game that LJ’s earlier
opponents had struggled with. These retrieving skills proved to be
key, robbing Anjema of the opportunity of his favourite scoring
options and forcing the Dutchman to ever increasing tightness which
eventually raised his mistake rate.
Over the three games there was only one drop, a rolling nick, which
Pilley did not reach or receive a let on, in an incredible
retrieving display. Moreover, on many occasions the drops were too
often returned with interest, surprising his opponent and quickly
turning defence in to attack.
As Pilley’s dominance began to emerge in the second game, he
unleashed his own array of shots from mid court, several times
hitting unplayable nick drops from tight angles. After grimly
holding on in a more closely contested third game, towards the end
LJ’s head dropped slightly as if to signify he had no answer for
what he was facing and indeed the end came shortly after.
After the match Pilley admitted he ‘couldn’t believe how well he was
moving and retrieving’ and that he hoped to carry the form through
Nova Scotia and on to Toronto. LJ Anjema’s colourful personality
made him very popular with the Washington patrons and he was further
gracious in defeat, as he had been all week, suggesting he would be
back to do one better next year.
Tournament promoters, Rod and Connie Barnes of AussieNick Squash,
vowed to work with the National Capital Squash Association and
sponsors to provide a bigger and better National Capital Open 2009,
with use of a portable glass court a major ambition.
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 National Capital
Open 2008
Maryland, USA, 29 Jan to 03 Feb, $24k |
Round One
31 Jan |
Quarters
01 Feb |
Semis
02 Feb |
Final
03 Feb |
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
11/4, 11/6, 12/10 (34m)
Adil Maqbool (Pak) |
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema
11/4, 11/7, 12/10 (42m)
Tom Richards |
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema
11/8, 11/7, 6/11, 10/12, 11/3 (83m)
[4] Liam Kenny |
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema
11/9, 11/3, 11/7 (53m)
[2] Cameron Pilley |
[6] Bernardo Samper (Col)
6/11, 11/5, 11/6 11/4 (42m)
Tom Richards (Eng) |
[4] Liam Kenny (Irl)
11/9, 11/5, 9/11, 11/4 (56m)
[Q] Patrick Chifunda (Zam) |
[4] Liam Kenny
11/8, 11/5, 11/3 (38m)
[7] Ryan Cuskelly |
[7] Ryan Cuskelly (Aus)
9/11, 11/7, 11/6,7/11, 11/8
(99m)
Wade Johnstone (Aus) |
Martin Knight (Nzl)
6/11, 11/7, 11/9, 11/9 (48m)
[5] Tarek Momen (Egy) |
[5] Tarek Momen
8/11, 11/6, 11/6, 3/11, 11/6 (56m)
[3] Aaron Frankcomb |
[3] Aaron Frankcomb
11/7, 11/7, 11/8 (65m)
[2] Cameron Pilley |
[Q] David Vidal (Esp)
11/8, 11/6, 11/5 (34m)
[3] Aaron Frankcomb (Aus) |
[Q] Reggie Schonborn (Rsa)
3/11, 11/6, 11/3, 11/6 (47m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra) |
[8] Mathieu Castagnet
11/9, 12/10, 11/7 (49m)
[2] Cameron Pilley |
[Q] Jens Schoor (Ger)
11/3, 11/6, 11/4 (27m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (Aus) |
31-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Jens Schoor (Ger) bt Graeme Wilson (NZl)
11/6, 11/7, 11/8 (53m)
David Vidal (Esp) bt Fernando Lopez (Mex)
11/7, 11/3, 6/11, 11/7 (48m)
Reggie Schonborn (RSA) bt Jacques Swanepoel (RSA) 11/5, 11/7,
11/8 (25m)
Patrick Chifunda (Zam) bt Tom Pashley (Eng) 11/6, 13/11, 12/14,
10/12, 11/8 (81m)
30-Jan Qualifying Round One:
Jens Schoor (Ger) bt Colin Ramasra (Tri)
11/6, 11/3, 11/3 (27m)
Graeme Wilson (Nzl) bt Joe Millman (Eng)
11/4, 11/5, 11/6 (24m)
David Vidal (Esp) bt Page Lansdale (Usa)
11/2, 11/2, 11/4 (21m)
Fernando Lopez (Mex) bt Rod Barnes (Usa)
11/6, 11/1, 11/2 (17m)
Jacques Swanepoel (Rsa) bt James Snell (Eng) 16/14, 13/11, 5/11,
9/11, 11/8 (65m)
Reggie Schonborn (Rsa) bt Ian Brown (Jam)
11/2, 11/3, 11/4 (23m)
Tom Pashley (Eng) bt Johan Bouquet (Fra)
11/9, 11/9, 11/4 (50m)
Patrick Chifunda (Zam)
bye
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02-Feb, Semis:
Top two battle to final
Rod Barnes reports ...
The $24k ASTI 2008 National Capital Open saw its biggest gallery so
far for the tournament as well over one hundred people packed the
bleachers on Saturday to watch the top seeds battle their way to the
final. First on court were Aussies Cameron Pilley and Aaron
Frankcomb.
 Pilley
appeared very sharp from the outset striking cleanly and accurately.
Both players found some touch on the drops and demonstrated great
capability to retrieve up front. Up until midway through the third
there was not much between the two, with Pilley just edging ahead at
the end of games to clinch the results.
Then the two managed to produce the rally of the tournament when at
the end of an intense exchange Frankcomb deliberately smashed a
backhand crosscourt down the middle of the court and behind the back
of Pilley who was sweating on the forehand quite close to the front
wall. In nothing but pure reflex Pilley swung the racquet around
hitting the ball behind his back with startling power. It took every
bit of Frankcomb’s speed to recover the ball from the back court,
and he duly followed his back wall lob to the front only to be
greeted by a deceptive drive come boast that left him dumbfounded
and on his heels.
To his credit Frankcomb shut the hooting audience out of his mind,
and towards the end of the third actually began to look sharper than
he had for the whole match. Conversely Pilley was starting to slow
and for a little while it looked as if the smaller Australian could
take Pilley to a fourth. It was not to be however as Pilley settled
and held on to seal the win.
 Meanwhile,
it looked pretty routine for tournament top seed LJ Anjema as
he rattled up a 2 games to 0 lead. However his opponent Liam
Kenny had different ideas and slowly began to turn the tide.
Kenny took the third and then managed to fight out a tense and very
closely fought fourth game. At this stage the gallery seemed a
little surprised that the big Dutchman, who had been so dominant
previously, could possibly be exiting prematurely.
In the fifth however, all the beautiful touch that Kenny had
displayed in the previous games seemed to desert him and LJ appeared
particularly focused. The fifth ended relatively quickly, setting up
an exciting prospect with an Anjema – Pilley final.
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01-Feb, Quarters:
Top four move into quarters
Rod Barnes reports ...
The venue for the National Capital Open 2008 moved states on
Thursday, with the final rounds being scheduled for Worldgate Sport
and Health in Herndon, Virginia. Virginia seems to suit top seed LJ
Anjema who, after a less than convincing display on Wednesday,
unleashed an eclectic display of power and touch against which his
opponent, Tom Richards, could not settle. Richards tried everything
to develop a rhythm and in the third game did manage to string
several points in row to put some pressure back on Anjema. in the
end though it was dramatic change of pace that forced a series of
totally miss-hit shots from the racquet of Richards allowing Anjema
to take the match 12/10 in the third.
Cameron Pilley did not look as comfortable against Mathieu
Castagnet, finding it hard to develop the winning rhythm that he may
have hoped for given the rankings gap between the two. Castagnet
demonstrated much resilience and determination to hang in as he had
done the night before. Pilley’s court coverage was again a factor
and gave him the edge to take the match in straight sets.
Aaron Frankcomb and Tarek Momen provided the most competitive match
of the quarter finals. As he did against Martin Knight the day
before, Momen consistently varied the length of his shots forcing a
lot of frenetic recovery efforts from Frankcomb. In contrast though,
Frankcomb was able to unleash his own firepower against Momen
putting more pressure back on the Egyptian than Knight could manage
in the previous clash. Momen’s cross court drop which he unleashes
at the most unexpected times was a treat to see and resulted in
several clear winners. Early in the fifth match the young Egyptian’s
concentration wavered and he found himself down 10-1. He then
rattled off 5 straight points in extremely determined recovery
attempt, but it was not enough to stop Frankcomb reaching the semis
for another Aussie showdown with Cameron Pilley.
Liam Kenny was not overly troubled by a tired and sore Ryan
Cuskelly. Yesterday’s 99 minute marathon and Kenny’s superior touch
and control took its toll early on Cuskelly, putting the Irishmen in
the semi-finals and in the path of the rampaging first seed LJ
Anjema.
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31-Jan, Round One:
Richards provides the upset
Rod Barnes reports ...
It was not until the last match of the night that Tom Richards of
England provided the only upset of the night in the opening round of
the National Capital Open. His opponent Bernardo Samper started well
taking the first game relatively easily, but the momentum soon
changed and by the last game Samper was having difficulty having any
impact on Richards at all. Richards displayed a well rounded game,
was very quick and demonstrated lightning reflexes up the front of
the court. In the last game his flair with the racquet also began to
emerge as he mixed in some lively deception and some unusual top
spin and flicks to send Samper the wrong way on several occasions.
It was plane sailing for the two top seeds LJ Anjema and Cameron
Pilley who handled their opponents with poise. Pilley was especially
dominant. The rangy Australian made the court look small when
playing against Jens Schoor who himself had played well to get to
the first round of the main draw. Pilley showed his ability to
routinely hit unplayable drops, which with his superior court
coverage, spells trouble for his upcoming opponents.
David Vidal impressed the Washington gallery this week with his
emerging form and he is certainly a player to watch in the future.
He was not quite ready to overly trouble Aaron Francomb however, who
was too disciplined and controlled for Vidal. Vidal did much of the
work in the match and could not find opportunities to turn the
pressure back towards his opponent.
In one of the most entertaining matches of the round a gallant
Martin Knight went down to Tarek Momen in 48 minutes of superb
competition. Momen played short almost continually, using slow
working boasts and straight drops on over 35% of his shots. Knight
showed he was ready for that challenge and early on was sharp enough
to counterpunch Momen’s attack and surprise the young Egyptian.
Momen’s accuracy improved through the match and Knight had to
scramble in ever increasingly desperate fashion to recover the ball
from the front nicks and low off the wall. Knight’s retrieval of the
constant barrage of would be winners can only be described as
brilliant but it was still not enough to deny Momen who sealed it in
the fourth 11/9.
Reggie Schonborn looked composed against 8th seed Mathieu Castagnet
and a casual onlooker may have thought he was winning the match,
which indeed he was after one game. Overall however Schonborn lacked
the intensity to match Castagnet’s persistence and hard work in
running down balls whilst minimizing his errors.
Ryan Cuskelly and Wade Johnstone provided the most closely fought
match in an all-Aussie battle on Court 1 of the Bethesda Sport and
Health Club. Both players looked to strike the ball early and used
power to press for advantage, and this provided a dynamic and
spectacular contest. There was little to discriminate the two
throughout the match and it was obvious it was likely to go to the
wire. In the last game it was Johnstone who appeared to be striking
the ball more cleanly and towards the end he reeled off several
winners including a couple of powerful volley nicks, to put himself
within striking distance of winning. At the last however the toll of
moving his larger frame around the court for over 90 minutes
appeared to take its toll. Cuskelly on the other hand seemed
relatively unperturbed by the grueling scrap and held his form and
consistency long enough to edge his opponent and take victory.
Liam Kenny was very workman like in contending with livewire Patrick
Chifunda. Chifunda was striking the ball well but Kenny seemed to
work out an answer to contain him. Yesterday’s 81minute match
against Tom Pashley appeared to be another factor as Chifunda
flagged towards the end. Kenny was a classy enough to capitalize on
this and take the match in the fourth with a degree of conviction. |
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30-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Swanepoel ousts Snell
Rod Barnes reports ...
 Tom
Pashley hung in gallantly against an attacking barrage from
Patrick Chifunda, but failed to win a long battle in the second
round qualifying for the National Capital Open 2008.
Chifunda stormed out of the blocks punishing the ball in the first
game as if to unleash pent up energy from his first round bye. As
time went on though, it was Pashley’s efficient, working game that
began to shine wearing down the Zambian and, much to the delight of
the Washington gallery, forcing the match to a fifth game.
Early on in the last Pashley appeared to lose the confidence he had
found in the third and fourth, allowing the ball to the back too
often, and in turn permitting Chifunda to regain a foothold in the
match. Just as quickly Chifunda then appeared to hit his own
physical wall and this provided a moment for Pashley to regain
composure and his volley.
In what turned out to be the decisive tactical play Chifunda,
somewhat uncharacteristically, slowed the pace of the game and was
rewarded by drawing match point. After nearly 90 minutes Chifunda
finally triumphed after he sent Pashley the wrong way with a
deceptive, trickle boast at the end of a desperate rally. Pashley’s
pleas for a let after an adroit attempt at recovering from the wrong
footing went unheeded.
Jens Shoor demonstrated the legitimacy of his high qualifier
seeding, holding off a determined Graeme Wilson of New Zealand in
straight games. The playing style of both players was not
dissimilar, and both spend much of their 53 minute game attempting
to pin the other deep in the backhand court.
The match was quite physical with both players programmed to assert
their authority at the tee. Schoor’s physical presence and ability
to routinely play tight drops off his opponents weaker shots
appeared to give the edge he needed, shading Wilson in a long, close
entertaining three setter.
One South African was guaranteed to make the main draw, and it was
Reggie Schonborn who took the spot, getting the better of
compatriot Jacques Swanepoel in straight games.
The fourth spot went to Spain's David Vidal, who overcame
Fernando Lopez in four. |
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29-Jan-08,
Qualifying Round One:
Swanepoel ousts Snell
Rod Barnes reports ...
Jacques Swanepoel (RSA) and James Snell (UK) fought
out a closely contested match at Bethesda Sport and Health squash
center, providing a highlight to the eager audience in the first
round qualifiers at the 2008 National Capital Open.
The two players demonstrated a contest of styles, typified by
Swanepoel’s raking backhand power game in contrast with the more
finessed strokes and darting movements of Snell. Swanepoel’s large
frame and firepower tested Snell’s agility and retrieving ability,
also resulting in several difficult line ball calls for the referee.
Swanepoel looked weary in the third but gradual built enough second
wind momentum through the fourth and last games to edge Snell in 65
minutes of solid contest.
The competition was more lopsided in the match featuring Gemany’s
Jens Schoor and Colin Ramasra of Trinidad. Schoor was
very impressive and dominated all domains of the game. Towards the
end Schoor pleased the crowd with a series of crash nick volleys as
Ramasra wearied under the onslaught.
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Back for 2008
Preview from Rod Barnes
After the success of the inaugural local PSA event in 2007,
AussieNick in conjunction with NCSRA, SquashEmpower and Sport and
Health, are proud to announce their hosting of the 2008 National
Capital PSA Open Squash Tournament.
The event is a 2 star ($20,000) and is coordinated with several
other regional professional events, including the Richmond super
series, allowing the National Capital event to attract some of the
world's top squash playing talent to the region.
The tournament early rounds will be held at Bethesda Sport and
Health and quarter-finals on will be held at Worldgate Sport and
Health.
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