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SUDBURY NORTHERN ONTARIO CHAMPS
11 au 16 avril 2011 - ONTARIO, CANADA |
16-Apr, Final:
Tireless Razik Scores In Sudbury
Mike McCue reports
 Shahier Razik took another PSA title in another marathon match against Omar Abdel Aziz.
Razik had spent 210 minutes on court in his quarter and semi, compared to Aziz who invested a little over 100 minutes in his last two matches. Aziz looked in deadly form against top seed Rodriguez Friday night, ending the match with 5 dead rolling nicks.
He started the final in similar fashion, patiently working the ball around the ultra-bouncy court, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to drive a nick or feather in a drop. Balancing attacking and patient squash, he won the first and took a commanding 8-5 lead in the second.
This turned out to be the turning point of the match, as Razik really found his length and began forcing Omar into some tough twists and lunges. Omar seemed to tire slightly from five hard rallies and dropped the game 11-9.
He kept working hard in the third and served for the game at 10-9. However, as he had done several times throughout the event, Razik went into super retriever mode and refused to give Omar a single angle to attack.
The third game is often the most important, and Omar was exhausted in the fourth...much like Wan Adnan was the night before. Shahier quickly and quietly won the game and match 11-2.
The crowd was very appreciative of both players for so many reasons...we will surely be back (bigger and better) next year.
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Previous rounds |
 SUDBURY NORTHERN ONTARIO CHAMPS
11-16 Apr, Canada, $15k | Round One
13 Apr | Quarters
14 Apr | Semis
15 Apr | Final
16 Apr | [1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col)
11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (34m)
Eddie Charlton (Eng) | [1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez
11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 (49m)
[Q] Andrew Schnell | [1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (70m) [3] Omar Abdel Aziz | [3] Omar Abdel Aziz 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-2 (91m) [2] Shahier Razik | Michael Mccue (Can)
11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (34m)
[Q] Andrew Schnell (Can) | [Q] Matthew Serediak (Can)
11-9, 13-11, 11-3 (33m)
[Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra (Mex) | [Q] Erik Tepos Valtierra
11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (36m)
[3] Omar Abdel Aziz | Robin Clarke (Can)
13-11, 11-2, 11-5 (32m)
[3] Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) | [4] Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas)
11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-8 (56m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (Mex) | [4] Nafiizwan Adnan
11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (43m)
Eric Galvez | [4] Nafiizwan Adnan 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2 (102m) [2] Shahier Razik | Eric Galvez (Mex)
13-11, 11-4, 11-2 (47m)
Andrew McDougall (Can) | David Phillips (Can)
11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10 (47m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (Mas) | Muhd Asyraf Azan
11-1, 13-11, 11-13, 9-11, 11-3 (108m)
[2] Shahier Razik | Shawn Delierre (Can)
[LL] Mohamed Reza Sadeghpour (Iri)
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12-Apr-2011, Qualifying Finals
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 11-13 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 (75m)
Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Mohamed Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) 11-5 11-2, 11-9 (31m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 3-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 (60m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
11-Apr-2011, Qualifying First round
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bye
Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) bt Maxym Leclair (CAN) 11-9, 11-6, 14-12 (40m)
Mohamed Reza Sadeghpour (IRI) bt Eric Dingle (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (38m)
Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Maxime Blouin (CAN) 11-8, 2-11, 11-7, 11-3 (37m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Jonathon Ramos (MEX) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (38 m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (33m)
Andrew Schnell (Can) bt Geoffrey Demont (Fra) 12-14 11-4 11-8, 9-11, 13-11 (80m)
Tyler Hamilton (CAN) bye
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14-Apr-2011, Quarters:
Mike McCue reports
(3) Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt (Q) Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX)
11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (36m) |
Omar Abdel Aziz immediately showed his class against Erik Tepos in the opening match. He was in control from the start and will definitely be tough for anyone to beat. Consistent width, almost no errors and great court coverage overwhelmed the Mexican and the result was never in question. (1) Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt (Q) Andrew Schnell (CAN)
11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 (49m) |
Top seed and crowd favourite Miguel Rodriguez was next on against qualifier Andrew Schnell. Despite a slow start, Schnell found his game at the end of the first and carried his good form into the second game. Rodriguez, known to be an excellent mover, was covering everything but Schnell won points on a few easy winners and some roll-out drops.
Tension was high as the 19 year-old neared gameball, and he finished it with a perfect volley drop into the nick followed by a Lleyton Hewitt-esque "C'mon!"
Rodriguez started to turn the screws in the third and fourth however, and some great deceptive flicks took the wind out of Andrew's sails. An excellent tournament overall for Schnell, who will no doubt be pleased to take a game from the world #25. (4) Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan by Eric Galvez (MEX)
11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (43m) |
Malaysia's Wan Adnan was always slightly ahead and looked more comfortable against Eric Galvez. Galvez was never out of it, but some crucial errors at the business end of each game hurt his cause. Wan is looking very solid, especially around the middle of the court. (2) Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
11-1, 13-11, 11-13, 9-11, 11-3 (108m) |
The final match features two men known for marathon matches. The first was over in a mere seven minutes though, as Asyraf Azan tinned about seven balls.
He found his groove quickly though in the second, and earned six gameballs at 10-4. He wasted three of them shooting for nicks, and Razik played some great squash to force a tiebreak.
After several lets and controversy, Razik was two games up and looking good to finish it 3-0. Asyraf wouldn't budge though, and the interference become far too frequent as the match wore on. There were at least three lets per point, and the patience of all three referees was sorely tested (although Andrew McDougall maintained straight-faced and expressionless throughout!).
Azan battled to level at 2-all, but lost his focus going into the fifth and never threatened to take it.
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| 13-Apr-2011,
Round One:
Mike McCue reports
Some great matches on the first night of main draw action in Sudbury, and some great opportunities for qualifiers to continue their winning ways in the main event.
First up, Erik Tepos took out Matt Serediak in an all-qualifier matchup. Both players with a similar style and approach, but Tepos was (again) solid at the end of each game, and by the third was firmly in control.
At the same time, Wan Adnan and Alfredo Avila were on court two. Wan is extremely strong and balanced, with powerful strokes and movement, while Alfredo glides around the court and flings himself at unretrieveable balls. Wan's power seemed to overwhelm Alfredo in the first two, but the third and fourth were extremely close...experience probably made a big difference.
Miguel Rodriguez opened his campaign with a 3-0 win over Eddie Charlton. Eddie fought back from deficits in the second and third but couldn't convert the end-game scenarios.
Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz sped away with his match against Robin Clarke after a very tight first game. Same story with Eric Galvez and Andrew McDougall ... the veteran was able to put a lot of work on Andrew's legs in the first and it paid off as the match wore on.
Qualifier Andrew Schnell took on local wildcard Mike McCue in a matchup of the tournament's two youngest players. Schnell's pace and court coverage overwhelmed the junior, and by the third he was slotting in drops from all over the court to great effect.
Shahier Razik eased through against lucky loser Mohamed from Iran...the young man from Tehran was very grateful to have such an experience and gain some big ranking points.
In the match of the night, Asyraf Azan took out Canadian Dave Phillips in four. Two players with extreme racquet skills, they had some very tight exchanges along the walls and up-front. Phillips was often dictating but Asyraf was able to play defense long enough to get an opening and smash a nick. The match nearly went to five as the Canadian had gameballs at 10-8 in the fourth but Asyraf was desperate to finish it in four and did so.
The crowd massively enjoyed this display of smart, tight squash. The Razik/Asyraf quarterfinal tomorrow is a tantalizing prospect...as are the other three matches!
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| | 13-Apr-2011,
Qualifying finals:
Mike McCue reports
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN)
11-13, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 (75m)
Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Mohamed Reza Sadeghpour (IRI)
11-5, 11-2, 11-9 (31m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN)
3-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 (60m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN)
11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (29m) |
Two Mexicans and two Canadians earned coveted main draw spots in Sudbury tonight with some hard fought victories on a fast and bouncy court 1 at the YMCA.
Erik Tepos, who had a bye in the first round took on Adrian Dudzicki first. Dudzicki took the first game playing at a medium pace with lots of holds and flicks, Tepos looking a bit unsettled. The second game was key for Dudzicki, and a key error at 9-9 tipped the momentum in Tepos' favour. Same story in the third and fourth; long punishing rallies, Erik slightly fitter and able to stay strong in the tiebreaks to book his date tomorrow.
Matthew Serediak looked smooth and in control against the ultra-hyper Mohamed Sadeghpour. Mohamed is the tournament's most entertaining player so far...everything happens at 200 mph. Too many balls sprayed into the middle however allowed Serediak to dictate proceedings and slide into the main draw relatively unscathed after two qualifying matches.
The night's most anticipated matchup featured Dane Sharp and famously fast Alfredo Avila. Dane took a very quick first game before the battle truly began in the second. Dane was holding position very well in the middle of the court but couldn't put a ball down on the Mexican. The third game, as it often is, was the turning point.
Both players saved game balls with dives, backwall boasts and desperate retrieving before Avila finally closed it 13-11. He took a big lead early in the fourth and never gave Sharp a chance back in.
Finally, Andrew Schnell took out fellow Canadian Tyler Hamilton in three games and thirty minutes. The rallies were essentially 50-50, but Andrew was pushing forward a little more and benefited from a few Hamilton tins. A quicker match for the Calgarian after yesterday's 80-minute epic with Geoff Demont.
Shawn Delierre, scheduled to meet rival Shahier Razik in round one unfortunately withdrew due to an ankle injury. Therefore, a lucky loser was drawn and Mohamed Sadeghpour's name was first out...he will replace Shawn tomorrow, much to his delight.
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12-Apr-2011,
Qualifying first round :
Mike McCue reports
Qualifying kicked off with a real cracker of a match between Canadian Andrew Schnell and Geoffrey Demont of France.
After a few tentative opening rallies, both players started attacking the front at will. Demont looked to be struggling towards the end of the first but stole it in a tiebreak after a few errors from Schnell.
The Canadian began to put some hard miles on Demont's legs in the second and it paid dividends towards the end of that game as well as the third. Demont fought like mad throughout the match though and despite looking tired, put together some great rallies toward the end of the fourth.
The fifth was neck-and-neck until Andrew reached matchball at 10-8. Geoff saved both of those and then earned one of his own at 11-10. Andrew hit a millimeter-perfect drop from the mid-court to save that and quickly earned another matchball of his own as Demont tinned the return of serve. Schnell duly converted his chance and took the match after 80 minutes of all-court squash.
In other matches, Alfredo Avila downed compatriot Jonathon Ramos in three games. Avila is one of the fastest players around, as is Ramos, and they wowed the crowd with several dives and leaping volleys.
Quebecers Maxime Blouin and Maxym Leclair lost to Matt Serediak and Adrian Dudzicki respectively. Speedy
Iranian Mohamed Sadeghpour beat another Canadian, Eric Dingle. Finally, tricky Fred Reid succumbed to Dane Sharp's pace and retrieving in three straight games.
12 avril 2011 - Premier Tour des Qualifications Malheureusement, je ne jouerai pas le second tour, ce n'est vraiment pas passé loin, j'ai sauvé 2 balles de match dans le 5eme, j'ai mené 11-10 pour finalement m'incliner 13-11...
Déçu et frustré d'avoir loupé ma balle de match, et de m'arrêter maintenant, surtout que je ne vais pas marquer de points. Mais c'est comme ça, c'est la règle !
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| Merci à Geoffrey Demont pour les résultats des qualifs
The French Corner |
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