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TODAY in Delhi -
Wednesday 14th, Day THREE |
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Vanessa's Extras #3 |
Round Two, Top Half:
Full Draw
[6] Mohamed El Shorbagy
(Egy) bt Borja Golan (Esp)
11/6,
11/8, 6/11, 11/7 (63m)
[2] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Tom Richards (Eng)
11/3, 11/4, 11/6 (37m)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
11/7,
11/6, 11/8 (39m)
[8] LJ Anjema (Ned) bt Omar Mosaad (Egy)
11/4,
7/11, 11/7, 11/5 (60m) |
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Seeds sail into Masters
Quarters
Day three of the Punj
Lloyd PSA Masters in Delhi saw the four seeded players
through to the quarter-finals in the top half of the draw
without too much drama.
Mohamed El Shorbagy beat Borja Golan in a tough four-game
match and faces fellow Egyptian Karim Darwish, who
brushed aside England's Tom Richards, in the last eight.
France's Gregory Gaultier was equally impressive as he
despatched Malaysia's Azlan Iskandar. LJ Anjema's four
game win over Omar Mosaad in the final match of the day set up a
repeat of his World Open thriller with Gaultier.
QUICKIES...
On the glass court, Mohamed was always going to feel more
comfortable than he did in Kuwait two weeks ago, on a
traditional and bouncy court. If Borja put him under pressure
from the first rally to the last, the Spaniard still had more
trouble containing the Egyptian. 3/1 to Mohamed.
For the second match, well, a few words come to mind, like
Masterclass, Squash Lesson, Superb Exhibition... In other words,
a superb accuracy and pace from the former number 1. Tom did his
best, tried everything, stayed patient, and weathered the storm.
But nothing worked enough to get Karim out of his comfort
zone... 3/0 Karim.
A bit like Karim previously, Azlan didn't do much wrong, but the
Frenchman was too good. Very relaxed and accurate, Greg was
pretty much ahead the whole time, although Azlan still manage to
surprise his room mate a few times, making this match a pretty
nice one to watch,
And finally, LJ gets the better of Omar to reach another World
Series quarter-final.
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[6] Mohamed El
Shorbagy
(Egy) bt Borja Golan (Esp)
11/6,
11/8, 6/11, 11/7
Shorbagy safely into quarters
This was probably the most intriguing match of the last sixteen
round, the most recent encounter ending in a tiebreak fifth in
favour of Shorbagy.
A place in the quarter final awaited. Golan began as if trying
to negate Shorbagy's preference for pace, but the young Egyptian
found enough opportunities to lead 7-4 and later 9-5, before a
demanding rally ended in a let, as they perversely often do. An
off balance error from Golan meant 10-5 and a deliberate winner
down the middle gave Shorbagy a 1-0 lead, a bit easier than
might have been anticipated.
Golan, undeterred it seemed took an early 3-1 lead in the
second, but Shorbagy was soon back on level terms at 3 all and 4
all and then led 5-4 with a perfectly paced straight backhand; 5
all, another cleverly disguised backhand volley straight gave
Shorbagy a 6-5 lead, but an equally clever forehand cross court
volley by Golan levelled the score at 6 all.
Then 8 all after Golan had held a 2 point cushion at 8-6, as
Shorbagy crashed a forehand crosscourt into the nick .A
monumental rally at this point ended in a backhand volley error
from Golan.9-8 now, then 10-8 quickly and not long after 11-8
and 2-0 to Shorbagy-uphill now for Golan.
A giveaway error off the first return of serve was not a good
omen for Golan, but he found himself 4-3 up after a couple of
Shorbagy errors on the backhand. Two strokes and the Egyptian
led 5-4;another stroke, this time the other way and 5 all-6-5
with another backhand error from Shorbagy,7-5 as Golan hit a
forehand cross court winner; a forehand straight drop from half
court gave Golan an 8-5 lead; yet another backhand error again
from Shorbagy 9-5;a review by Shorbagy of no help to him meant
10-5 game ball and Golan was back in the match at 1-2,unfazed it
seems from the 2-0 deficit.
Errors on the backhand were not helping Shorbagy and he made
another for Golan to lead 2-1 in the fourth. What looked a
stroke to me to Shorbagy, which would have given him a 4-2 lead,
but led to 3 all, then 4 all, as Golan continued to resist with
all his might.
From 6-5 to the Egyptian, aided by errors from Golan, he pulled
quite quickly clear to 9-5.A fluke gave Golan hope to 7-9,but a
forehand drop settled matters and it was Shorbagy who progressed
to the quarter finals.
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"Very happy to win..
I was ready from the first point ... and I was up for it .. the glass
court suited me much more than when I played him in Kuwait in the
normal courts where it was so bouncy..
I am still disappointed to lose the third .. in Kuwait I was always
winning the first 2 games and losing the third ... when I lost that
third yes I did think about my match with him in Kuwait about I am
glad I got my concentration back again...
I have been working on few things with Hadrian stiff in Bristol the
past few months and he is making me understand things about the game
so I am happy and enjoying my squash right now"
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I'm really happy
to be in the quarters after playing an up and coming Tom
Richards. I'm really enjoying playing at the moment and felt
good on court today. The schedule is very tough but it's the
same for all the guys so we just have to get on with it.
Well that was a
good old fashioned chopping! Darwish was far too good
today...all that's left to do now is get home, preferably in
style!
Tom Richards
on Twitter @TomRichards86 |
[2] Karim
Darwish (Egy) bt Tom Richards (Eng)
11/3, 11/4, 11/6 (36m)
Darwish dominant
 This
was always going to be a tough prospect for Richards especially considering
the Darwish form of late. However, I think even Darwish may have been
surprised at the quality of his play today.
In the first, he raced to a 6 love lead with Richards wondering what had
just happened. Every ball hit its target in the back and the finish was
equally devastating. Richards got his first point with a stroke only for
Darwish to return his service with a cross court volley nick. At 10/3
another dead nick, this time a cross court drop, gave him the first
comfortably.
Richards gathered himself well coming back on in the second and stayed with
Darwish till 3 all, however from there Darwish raised the bar once again and
reeled off 6 points in a row to go to 9/3. Richards clawed one back on game
ball but a clinging backhand length gave Darwish the game 11/4.
The third followed a similar pattern with Richards doing all he could but
the quality of the Darwish game was just too much for him today. Certainly
an experience for the Englishman though and overall he should be happy with
his tournament.
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[4] Gregory
Gaultier (Fra) bt Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
11/7,
11/6, 11/8
Gaultier at a canter
 Two
players, Gregory Gaultier and Azlan Iskandar, who have been in
excellent form recently, Gaultier at a more exalted level, but
Iskandar sufficiently to take him into the World's top ten were
next to do battle.
Gaultier, assisted by errors from Iskandar, established early
leads in the first two games and although Iskandar came stronger
in the middle of the games it was Gaultier who finished the
stronger in each of them. Playing slightly within himself.
Gaultier found himself 6-5 down in the third, but another
backhand error brought him level and when the Malaysian hit it
straight back to himself down the middle of the court it was
8-6, then 9-6, Gaultier at a canter, winning the game and match
11-8. Gaultier will be pleased enough :a solid workout without
taking too much out of himself.
Laurens Anjema awaits. |
I wasn't actually supposed to play Azlan, we were in different halves of the
draw until Nick pulled out but then the draw changed and we realised that we
could meet second round. So we still just spend time together and one hour
before the match he goes one way and I go another.
He's a good friend of mine but once we step on the court I just shut off my
mind, shut the door and play.
I'm happy with this match because it's a good preparation for my next one.
Azlan plays a fast pace which helps me to get ready for the next round.
LJ and Omar played for 100 minutes last time. Yeah it would help me, but if
they play for 100 minutes or 200 minutes it doesn't matter. I will enjoy the
match.
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Beat Mosaad tonight 3-1. Happy with
that performance. Another rest day tomo. Give me a rest! No more
rest days please
LJ on twitter
@ljanjema |
[8] LJ Anjema (Ned)
bt Omar Mosaad (Egy)
11/4,
7/11, 11/7, 11/5
Anjema resolute
 Two
big men Omar Mosaad and Laurens Anjema, with a heavy recent battle fresh in
their minds, provided the last match of the evening.
Early rallies were surprisingly quickfire, both players very positive. A
perfectly weighted forehand took Anjema to 6-3 and a backhand drop to 7-3
and at 10-4 he had total control of the first game, finishing it with
another backhand drop 11-4,easier I am sure than he expected.
Mosaad was more competitive in the second and led 6-4 and 7-5,his clean
striking of the ball more consistent now. Anjema, though, was back for more
at seven all, as determined as he always is.
A call against a pick up of Anjema's that both he and I thought was good
gave the Egyptian a 9-7 lead, then a stroke 10-7,a tin 11-7.
 Mosaad
had played a better second, which did not always run kindly for Anjema. One
all and there could be a lot more to come.
Anjema was out of the traps quickly in the third, all purpose, and led 3-0
and with the aid of a couple of strokes, 4-2.Lots of lets now, expected with
two such big men, but it didn't stop Anjema, busy and focused, leading 6-2
and 7-3.
Lets were tending to spoil the match overall, as Mosaad fought back to 6-7.
It was Anjema who profited from a new ball at that point-the original one
was lost - and he served at 10-6 for the game to win it 11-7 with a ball
that died in the back.
Mosaad looked by no means beaten as he stepped out for the fourth. Despite
three strongly contested games, neither player was looking in any way
fatigued.
Anjema went 3-1 up on a Mosaad error,4-1 on a stroke; more disputed lets,
even the taciturn Mosaad moved to talk. At 5-2 Mosaad hit a vicious forehand
cross court kill; a fluke at the back gave Anjema a 6-3 lead, lets still
spoiling the action, both players running into each other often.
It was the resolute Anjema, though, who took the fourth and booked his place
in the quarters to face Gaultier on Friday.
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