Joshana Chinappa (Ind) 3-1 [1] Raneem El Welily (Egy)
                      11/9, 11/6, 4/11, 11/9 (37m)
 Yathreb Adel (Egy) 3-0 [13] Dipika Pallikal (Ind)
                       11/5, 11/7, 11/7 (36m)

Two upsets as Joshana takes out world #1

If you'd told anyone that there would be one Egyptian and one Indian winner in the first pair of matches, no-one would have been surprised - but few would have predicted it this way round !

A bad start for Raneem, feeling the pressure of her new ranking no doubt. Joshana didn’t have any though, and played from the start with poise and aggression that I rarely saw in her really. Raneem made her normal quota of unforced errors in the first two, to show the Champion she is and why she is in the 3rd, stringing 7 points from 2/3 to 9/3, taking that game in 6m, 11/4

And it looked we were in for a little hiccup in the first round of a top seed when she took complete control in the 4th, 9/5 in 3 minutes. But Joshana finds a winner, backhand volley kill, then another, and another, and we are suddenly at 9/9 after a superb rally, stunning and intense, where Raneem clips the tin.

Another long rally, ending with a no let, that will stay a not let after video review, 10/9 match ball. And match. Joshana just score 6 points to oust our World number 1 and seed 1….

How’s that for an opener???

Oh my God, I don’t know what to say, it’s almost like, everything just worked for me today. In patches, she was dominating completely, but then at 9/5 in the 4th, I just found a better length, I got a couple of nice winners and I also got a few decisions in my favour.

This is by far the best win of my career - it doesn’t get any better than beating the player at the top of the world rankings.

I’ve not been looking at my rankings or anything like that of late and I think that’s showing through in my game. I’m more relaxed on court and hopefully I can keep my momentum going now and take that into my next match and see how far I can go.

It’s my first time ever beating a top 5, last few times we played, she beat me 3/0. I don’t know what I’ve done differently, I don’t think it’s anything in particular, since my ACL injury a few years back, I am more relaxed, and just enjoying my squash better. It’s all about putting the work in and let it happen…

A very short affair between two shotmakers, Yathreb and Dipika.

Short rallies, lots of beautiful shots on a cold traditional court that takes the ball short very well indeed. With the lower tin, the first one that was dominating the middle got away with a winner.


A few decisions that seemed a bit strange from where I was standing, far left, that seemed to unsettle the Indian player, but I didn’t manage to see the last game as the World Number 1 was in trouble on the glasscourt and I had to rush to that match…

Really pleased with my match today, I was coming from the qualifiers, I was relaxed, no pressure on me whatsoever. I was looking forward to playing Dipika and was up for it.

The only time we played was during the World Juniors, I was 13, and she chopped me 3/0. It was revenge time I guess, 6 years later!

Basically, I had to be on my toes the whole time, she plays that amazing boast, so it was always on my mind and I had to be ready to move. I focused on playing tight, to take away the centre from her, because she is very dangerous there.

It was our first time playing a PSA event, and I thought, just go on there, enjoy it, and the game will come…

"It's never easy to play someone from your own country, especially when it's your best friend - we played a five setter the day before we left to come to Qatar !

"We know each other's game so well, you have to try to do something different, that backhand crosscourt isn't one of my shots at all.

"She played well and wasn't nervous like she sometimes is, it was a good match with some tough rallies, but I'm just glad to be through to the next round."

"It's not good to see top seeds going out early, but you can't let the carnage going on around you affect you, you just have to prepare for your game, if anything it maybe makes you take every opponent a little more seriously.

"I'm used to playing young Egyptians now, and Mena is obviously a good player having come through two tough qualifying matches, but she maybe hasn't got as much experience on the glass court.

 I was pretty happy to get a match on there to start, and felt I was playing well."

[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-1 Line Hansen (Den)
                           11/7, 16/14, 4/11, 11/6

A superb display from Line Hansen today, who had nothing to lose and really played out of her skin. She managed to see through Omneya’s attack pretty well, not only getting to her shots, but early enough to create a lot of trouble for the world number 6!

The second game is crucial, truly. Both girls will have 3 chances, but it’s Omneya that clinches it 16/14. And even if Omneya is a bit tired in that following game, while Line is really going for the jugular, 5/0, 7/2, 11/4 in 8m, Omneya is still in charge in the 4th, 6/2, 7/3, 10/5 to take the match 11/6 superbly it has to be said.

A truly entertaining match, it was nice to see how well Line was moving on that court, she is fitter than she ever was, up for it, and fighting as ever for every shot. It’s a pleasure to see her out there and the mix Omneya’s attacking skills versus Line physicality and anticipation, made a truly entertaining encounter. Loved it.

Of course, Raneem was on my mind today, I watched the whole match, Raneem and I have similar games, and today, she made so many errors, I don’t know why, it’s not her normal game. So I tried and focused on my own game, losing my match wouldn’t help, now…

It was not an easy match, Line is a dangerous player, she had a few nice wins, she can smack or nick the ball in the court easily, so I had to be 100% focus. She was reading my game so well, I think because she was stepping a few further up.

I had to mix my shots all the time, pace, height, weight, fast slow, mentally it was really hard to keep switching, and I still was thinking about Raneem. Plus, the court is cold, so you have to adapt the way you hit the ball when you try and play a drop shot, you have to hit harder, it’s not the same sensation in the racquet. And the lower tin, we like it, but strangely, we still hit it, because I think we feel it’s lower than it’s actually is!

Tomorrow, a day of rest, that’s good, and I’m happy I got through that one.

[Q] Amina Yousry (Egy) 3-2 [13] Emily Whitlock (Eng)
                   13/11, 14/12, 9/11, 9/11, 11/7 (67m)

Basically, one more upset, and I’m going home… You guys have no idea how it puts under pressure! Like when Cubs asked Joshna if she realised how much extra work she was giving us? “I don’t care”, she giggled. Imagine that…

Joke apart, this has been an eventful day, normally first round days are long but you can sort of organise yourself. I haven’t been able to breathe basically since 12… And Amina/Em match was not going to make my life easier now was it.

I arrived at 4/4 in the second, while young 15 years old, 140 in the world Amina Yousry just took the first one 13/11 against Em Whitlock, 21, WR 18. Bit of a gap. But those young Egyptians, they are afraid of nothing, or nobody. And that makes them lethal.

Emily didn’t put a foot wrong today. It’s not like she went wild with tins, or lost her length, or played the wrong tactic. It just that today, there was a little girl on there that basically played each and every rally as if it was the last one she would ever play. I mean it. I rarely saw that in such a young individual.

What made that 15 years old special too, was the cleanness of her game. I didn’t ask the ref, but there wasn’t many decisions, despite the length to the rallies/match, their movement was very fluid, and they managed to visit the court 1 million times with very little contatct. Boys, look and learn.

You add to that an extraordinary maturity in the mixing of the shots, and an excellent fitness, and you have a SquashBomb really. Emily just was facing a little girl, that still made a few wrong choices, still showed she is still very much of a junior, but with a determination and heart you rarely find on his planet. And with nothing to lose…..

The second game was as close as the first one. From 4/4 though, Amina was always the nose in front, 7/5, 8/6, 10/8. Nerves finally got to the little girl, while Emily’ experience and deep length forced a few errors out of the junior. But after 28m of game, she clinches the 2nd game to go 2/0 up, on her 4th game ball, while Emily couldn’t finalise hers.

To be honest I thought as we started the 3rd, and looking at the fighting in Emily, and her will to not let go, that we were in for a 5 setter. And we were indeed. Emily fought hard and for every single point in the that 3rd, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 6/6, 7/7, 9/9, a no let and a ball that touched her opponent in the middle, 11/9 Emily.

The fourth was as close people, I kid you not, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5. Amina takes the lead, 8/5, rallies are getting more and more intense, while the little girl’s voice is getting higher and higher as she encourages herself after every wining point. Or losing point for that matter bless her.

But at 8/5, she is back being a tired little girl. Too short too early, not making Em work hard enough, a few tins under pressure, and Em will take that 4th, against 11/9.

Emily, who never let her emotions transpire or overwhelmed her the whole match, is fighting beautifully, and still believes she will take this. A very close start of the game, 2/2, 3/, 4/4. But from that point on, Amina will be one or two points ahead. She is exhausted, it’s obvious. But the adrenalin now has taken over the fumes in the tank. And Em seems a bit slower in her movement (she will say after the match that her back seized but as it was warm, she thought she would get away with it).

8/5 Amina, Em claws back, 7/8, two errors and a winner later, Amina is shaking the hand of a distraught Emily, 11/7. “It’s my own fault, she played very well”, said Em a little later as she left the physio table. “But it’s the first time I leave a tournament injured, and it’s a bit too much for me at the moment”.

Don’t believe that Emily was taking away anything from Amina, she was not. But frustrated she was for sure. As for the SquashBomb, here is a frightening thought for you: there is some room for improvement in her game, and choice of shots. Yop. Frightening.

Believe it or not, this is the first time ever I have that fighting spirit on the court. I’m not normally like that. But today, I thought, you die on this court, or you come out a winner. Every point, I thought about that. You die or you win the point. And that’s what got me through today.

She is a true English player, so dangerous because her game is so solid, it was my first time playing her, and up to recently, I never believed my game would be good enough to beat somebody of that calibre. But I realised a few week ago that my game could be good enough.

I train in the club of Champions, Wadi Degla, Raneem and Omneya, and I hope one day I’ll be like them! Having Omneya, Nour El Sherbini and Nouran made a huge difference to me today, having them supporting me made me believe I could do it.

So thanks to them, thanks to my parents, first and foremost, but also to my coaches, Haitham and Samy Farrag.

So happy I won this match. I truly don’t know what I feel at the moment…

[Q] Fiona Moverley (Eng) 3-1 [15] Salma Hany (Egy) 7/11, 11/8, 11/5, 11/5  (32m)

First game Salma was hitting the ball as sharply as she normally does, but as the game unfolded, she didn’t seem to move and play as she normally did. All credit to Fiona of course that was blasting that ball all around the court, forcing Salma to get deeper and deeper at the back, but her heavy strapping on the right shoulder could be another factor that didn’t help the 19 years old Egyptian.

[actually, Salma was in hospital after the match, and has now her right shoulder heavily strapped]

I was personally impressed with Fiona’s game today, she was despatching those heavy shots like UPS on Christmas Boxing Day, with precision and diligence!

Amazing to think that one year ago, Fiona came back on the Tour, having stopped for 4 years, and started back at the very bottom, WR211. Welcome back Fiona, nice to have you around…

I was on the tour about 5 years ago, I went up to 43, and I was 22. Then, lack of sponsoring, no money, I just didn’t want to go half way, I wanted to be a full time pro or nothing, so I just found myself a job, in schools, organising Sports Schedules and Programmes, and was playing leisure squash.

And a bit of a personal thing happened, my marriage broke up, I moved back with my mum, and I thought, ok, a few unfinished business, let’s see what would happen if I was going back to what I didn’t manage to finish. So I quit my job, took all my savings, and went back on the tour. That was a year ago, I started at 211 in the world, and I’m now 50.

The first game, I found it was very hard to play against her, all the rallies were 2, 3 shots, no more, she was playing only shots, it was going so fast! So I had to do something, I had to try and lengthen the rallies, and started to pushing the ball back in the backcorners. And maybe she started to get a bit frustrated, having to attack from not so good positions, and the errors started to creep in. And there was a shifting in the energy, I was now much more in control of the rallies.

But you know, it’s not like I ever qualified for major tournaments or anything, I guess I must have played 3, 4 times on the glasscourt!? So I think I need a lecture on how to play on there now…

   

"This is the third time we play this month. First time, I beat him in SF, 3/2, and in the US Open, he beat me 3/0, but it was on traditional court. On the glass court, I thought I would have a bit more chance, as it was deader.

That’s a massive win for me. He’s such a tough guy but once I started to get my rhythm going I was able to attack and that was my game plan.

The first game, I was like a beginner, I couldn’t get the ball to the back at all, I hadn’t played on a glass court for a while, and I was struggling to find my rhythm.

Once I got a bit more used to the court, I took the volley from him (my backhand, his forehand), because I know he like attacking from there. So I stuck it to the back, and as soon as I was in front of him, I would hit a shot, the court being very dead, as soon as you hit a good length, you can kill the ball. I think I got it tactically right today.

I was not feeling at my best, flying back straight from Halifax, my biggest win so far, had to play two qualifying matches, didn’t sleep well at all.

So it’s good I get a rest day tomorrow, I may sleep all day, and get some energy from there. I’m lucky, I’m in a good part of the draw, and with a bit of luck, we can create a few more upsets…

[Q] Ryan Cuskelly (Aus) 3-1 [7] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra) 3/11, 11/9, 11/4, 11/2 (49m)

Invoicing Mathieu for the lesson?

What a squash masterclass the “man of the hour” Cuskelly gave today to Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet. After a slow start where Mathieu chopped him, the Australian just never gave a chance to his opponent. The second was probably the turning point, but it’s the Australian that grabs it 11/9.

From that point on, Mathieu was pushed, twisted and turned out of his comfort zone, and just didn’t that the time to breathe or construct his patient rallies he dwells on. Ryan took the time to the ball completely away from him, forcing Mathieu to try and force the issue from the wrong position, at the wrong time, forcing uncharacteristic errors from the Frenchman.

A truly impressive display from the Australian, again advised by Squash Legend Geoff Hunt who used to coach in Aspire, and now still works as an adviser to the Federation and still helps Abdullah who just played against Mohamed.

[Q] Mohamed Abouelghar 3-2 (Egy) James Willstrop (Eng)
                   5/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/3, 11/9 (73m)

Another upset to this day that seems endless… A stupendous effort from both players, a game of 2 halves, really, with very long, patient, mid pace, accurate and gruelling rallies in the first two games (scoring 8 points from 4/0 down in the first), dominated and controlled (only just but still) by James.

A truly nailbiting third but where the pace is much much faster, the Egyptian more confident, attacking more quickly and with nothing between the players yet again.

Still, we can see the hard work taking its toll on James, who tries and gives it all to close that crucial 3rd game. Not more than a point between the players, clinched from 9/9 by the young Egyptian who lobbed James to perfection, 11/9.

The 4th, James doesn’t show up, 9/0 11/3 in 4m. But he is up on stage for that 5th I tell you. But it’s the young Birdsbrain in control, James is retrieving a heck of a lot, always trading being in the points, from 6/6. Rallies outrageous of pace, angles, retrieving, attacking. So few decisions for such a fast and intense pace, two great warriors, fair and fluid.

You need a winner, it’s Abou, 11/9 in 73m. Only problem, I may have to find another nickname for the Egyptian, who did 8 errors in the whole 5 games. 8. It’s normally what he does in half a game…

  

Before the match, I knew how dangerous of a player he is, so I had a game plan, trying to keep the ball in the back, and play as fast as I could, even if I was getting tired. I had a chance to close it in the second, but I didn’t. So before the 3rd, I decided I would give it a push as hard as I can. And that I wouldn’t get out of court without a fight.

I am more than happy with my performance today and to come from 2-0 down against someone like James and win is huge for me.

He came out determined in the fifth and I’m really happy I managed to hang on.
I am very happy, not only because it’s a big win for me, but also before I have been working very hard for this. It was my first time ever playing James, he is such a gentleman, I just read his book this summer actually, and I have learned a lot from him.

I’m looking forward to playing against Mohamed now. I know how tough he is but I feel like I can compete at this level so I’ll give it everything.

I want of course to thank Ali [Farag] and Mazen for coaching me between the games and my coaches in Cairo, Mohamed Farid and Omar Abdel Aziz.

[5] Simon Rosner (Ger) 3-2 Steve Coppinger (Rsa)
              11/7, 12/14, 6/11, 11/9, 11/9 (86m)

Simon survives - just

We were that close, I mean, THAT close to yet another upset.

Rewind , with Simon taking the 1st comfortably, only to see the South African impose his mad squash in the 2nd. I mean, I have never seen Steve play so many volleys and react so beautifully ever. It was magnificent to watch those two react to each other, moving from one side to the other, at the speed of light really! Simon was pushing in making 4 errors, Steve only 2, but the pace was surreal. 7/7, 8/8, 9/9, 10/10, 11/11, 12/12… Superb, fast, intense rallies, ridiculous squash, finally Steve takes the 2nd, 14/12 on a gigantic rally, Simon having had 1 game ball.

Five unforced errors for Simon in the 3rd, game dominated by Steve completely, 4/1, 8/4, 11/6, 0 error for the South African. Scary stuff….

At 6/4 in the 4th, Cops looks bleeping good he does. But 2 strokes, and you are back at 6/6, and he gets his second wind, while you get a bit too excited, play the ball too quickly to the front, make one or two errors, and you lost that crucial game, 11/9, taking your opponent right back in it, and forcing a decider.

The 5th looks it’s going to be over quickly, 4/1, 5/2 6/3 for Simon, but our South African just won’t let go, and claws back 6/6. Simon from that point on will always be in front, to get to 10/8 match ball and match 11/9, on yet another gigantic rally, ending with an uncharacteristic tin from Steve.

To be noted some video review funny moments, when the video review just refused to work – I think 3 times within a few rallies. And then on one single point, Steve that can’t get a decision overturn, stays at the let, while the next rally, Simon tries to get a let into a stroke and gets a no let! Nice one that…

When I was a kid, being a top 10 player was just a dream, so when I reached it last year, I truly enjoyed it, and it’s nice to be there, although you’ve got all those young kids that are coming to try and take your place!

It was as expected, an extremely tough match. That man, I mean, I thought I was volleying a lot, but he just chopping everything on the volley, I mean everything, whether it’s high, or low, forehand, backhand, he just jumps on every single ball!!!

When I was 2/1d down, I thought I would never recover, that I would quickly lose, but I found my second wind in the 4th and 5th, thank God for that, because if I had stay in the same physical shape, I would have been out of the match very quickly.

I’m so happy and relieved to get through against such a worthy opponent. Steve has improved so much for the past two years, since he is working with Palmer. He is up in the rankings, and he will still go higher, it’s just a matter of time, he’ll be top 10 for sure.

I would consider myself “lucky” today. I say lucky, it might seem strange, but there were a few points at crucial times where he was in front of me, with the racquet in position, and he just found the tin, whereas he didn’t for the rest of the match. That’s why I say I’m a bit lucky.
 Sometimes, you need a bit of luck, that compensate for all those times where you should have won, and didn’t, and it was just a bit of luck. So today, I’ll take that one, even if I think that Steve must be feeling very disappointed, because I think the best player lost tonight.

Adrian Waller (Eng) 3-1 Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
              11/9, 12/10, 6/11, 11/7 (46m)

I think we started a bit both tentative, it was a big match for both of us. It was point per point, he was up 9/7 but I still managed to sneak that first one by getting some good opportunity as the end of the first.

At the start on the second, he gets off firing as he does, he gets a healthy lead, 9/3, but a few errors from him, a few winners for me, and somehow, it gets the scoreboard close again, and I win that one 12/10. As you may imagine, that makes a big difference, when you find yourself up 2/0.

All credit to him, he came back strongly in the 3rd, it’s a bit like the 2nd, but this time I cannot catch up, but I regrouped well for the 4th, kept my concentration and finished the match on a high, believing I could do it, being positive with the opportunities that got presented, and finding the right balance….

Quite happy with that result, tomorrow a day of rest, lucky for some… I may even get a bit of sun, with sunscreen factor 50 of course!!!!

Chris Simpson (Eng) 3-1 Marwan Elshorbagy (Egy) 
            13/11, 6/11, 11/3, 14/12 (65m)

"I didn't feel I played as well as I did in the semis of final in St George's last week, but Marwan's game doesn't suit me, he attacks and makes me uncomfortable, so to be able to come through that one like that was good - he beat me 3-1 in India last month and it was a convincing 3-1, I never really felt in control whereas today I felt more comfortable.

"Winning a tournament gives you confidence, and even though I wanted to win today I wasn't desperate to win, which is never a good thing. I was game balls down in the first and fourth games but managed to play the big points well, which is always the key to winning matches."

[3] Miguel Rodriguez (Col) 3-1 Cameron Pilley (Aus)
                   11/7, 11/8, 12/14, 11/5 (63m)

Cameron didn't have the pressure I had after our match in SanFran, 3/2, I didn't want that to happen again, so I tried and was more positive, aggressive.

He made a lot of errors in the second and the third which helped me.

At the end of the day, you've got to play each match as if it was the final, and that from the first round. There is no easy match anymore, and you need to give everything for each single rally.

I had a few days back home, to rest and regroup before coming here, I just love coming to Qatar, it's truly one of my favourite places in the world.

I'm happy to win, not sure who I'm playing in the next round, whoever I'm playing I'll enjoy it.

Tomorrow, going to rest, enjoy the sun and the warmth, and get ready for the next battle

Day Two Match Reports |  Day One match reports