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TODAY in Cairo ... Sat 2nd, Quarter-Finals: |
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Quarter-Finals:
[1]
Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [6] Peter Barker (Eng)
9/11, 11/8, 11/7, 11/7 (63m)
[5] Wael El Hindi (Egy) bt [9] Adrian Grant (Eng)
16/14, 6/11, 11/8, 11/2 (91m)
[4] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Farhan Mehboob (Pak)
11/9, 11/4, 11/2 (32m)
[8] Azlan Iskandar (Mas) bt [Q] Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/4, 11/8, 5/11, 4/11, 11/8 (60m) |
En Bref #5 |
Azlan denies Egyptian
domination in Cairo ...
With Egyptian representation in all four quarter-finals at the
Sky Club, the prospect of all-Egyptian semi-finals loomed, and
with just one game to on a late, hot night in Cairo, it was
still very much on the cards.
Top seed Amr Shabana fought off a determined challenge
from Peter Barker, despite the Englishman taking the first game.
Few would have predicted a short match between Wael El Hindi
and Adrian Grant in the hot conditions, and so it proved. Saving
several game balls to take the first on extra points proved
crucial for El Hindi, who went on to win in four, easing home in
the decider after an hour and a half.
Karim Darwish pulled the schedule back a little as he
ended the sensational run of Farhan Mehboob in a little over
half and hour
That left Azlan Iskandar and Tarek Momen to go on court,
just after midnight. The Malaysian took a two-game advantage,
but Tarek recovered to two-all to maintain the dream. Azlan took
control in the fifth though, and despite a few hiccups at 10/4,
held on to reach the semi-finals. |
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[1]
Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [6] Peter Barker (Eng)
9/11, 11/8, 11/7, 11/7 (63m)
PETER SO FAST
Framboise
reports
As you know, I’ve been following Peter’s career since he had to
qualify to get to main draws. I remember the time he got to the
English Open main draw, and got to beat Shahid Zaman, at the
time a very dangerous player. So happy he was… That time seems
so far away now.
Far away too is the period where Peter was only rallying up and
down the wall, counting on his fitness only to win matches. Now
Peter backs up his short game with an extraordinary fitness and
speed around the court. And believe me if I tell you that it was
the Englishman who was attacking and finding the nicks all
during the first game, leaving the Prince of Egypt calling for
taxis…
But come on, we are in Egypt, in Cairo, and Shabana just
concentrated again – even if he did hit too many tins again –
and found some good glued to the wall drives, and superb nicks.
But Peter wouldn’t say die, he just retrieved and retrieved,
putting a lot of pressure on the Egyptian.
But in front of a crowd that is the most educated I’ve seen for
a long time, clapping points of both players, not getting too
excited, Shabana was at his ease – he hates the boxing shouting
loud clamour style. And with not too much pressure coming from
the audience, he was able to close the match in only 63 minutes,
which against Peter Barker the fighter, is an excellent
result indeed …
 "Peter
is a lefty, and I hate playing lefties. Peter has improved
tremendously, his movement is so good now, and I really had to
be at my best to beat him.
"What makes him so dangerous at the front is that he moves so
well, gets to the ball very fast, and as he plays his shots by
the book, right foot first, his body angle hides the ball, and
you constantly have to watch over his shoulder to see where the
ball is going.
"They are so many good players these days, you’ve got to keep on
your toes!!!!"
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 "It’s
such a pleasure to play against Shabana, he is such a player and
gentleman, and he fully deserves the adulation and respect he
gets all over the world.
"He is a good friend too, and I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t
beat him today, hopefully, I’ll get another go soon…
"It’s such a fantastic effort to have organised this event in so
little time, and hopefully, it’s an event that we’ll play for
many years to come, here, in this stunning venue.
"It’s also such a pleasure to play in front of such a
knowledgeable crowd, as we don’t get that everywhere we go
unfortunately, such a treat…"
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"The first game was a long game,
but a crucial one. The conditions are so tough on there, it's
not only very hot, but it keeps changing, as in you play a
drive, and it keeps going, and then the next one it just stops!
From one rally to the next, you never know what’s going to
happen…
"It was truly a physical battle tonight, and at the end, maybe I
had a bit more left in the tank, I feel that he had a drop of
energy suddenly. I guess that the longer the match was, the
better it was for me, as I’m used to the conditions here…
"Adrian put up a good fight, and it could have gone either way,
so I’m glad to get to the quarters, and to get to play Shaabz
again here, like we did in Cairo for the Worlds in 2006, and on
the same court…
"Here I come, Fabuloso…"
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[5] Wael El Hindi (Egy)
bt [9] Adrian Grant (Eng)
16/14, 6/11, 11/8, 11/2 (91m)
BATTLE AWAY IN THE HEAT…
Framboise reports
You’ll believe if you want, but it’s now 11.30pm, I’m outside in
the stands, there is a little breeze, and it’s about 30°. I
can’t imagine the heat on the court… But we could all see how
hard those two were working.
As ever – sorry Wael – playing against the Egyptian is not an
easy task, although he improved tremendously in freeing the way
to the ball, and the three excellent referees, one Egyptian, one
Australian, one English, did a very good job, keeping the match
under control as we had two very healthy, strong minded and very
physically impressive young men both wanting to get to the ball…
 But
I thought Adrian was doing super well, as they say in France,
and I need to stress how he’s found a perfect balance now
between the length game and short attacks, dropping the unforced
errors along the way, something I know he’s been working on for
years now. Still, not a good week here for the Englishman, as
he’s been suffering from a stomach bug, and when you know how
demanding our sport is, you just know how hard it must have been
for Adrian to keep fighting for over 90 minutes…
Still, he had so many chances in the first, I counted four game
balls, and again in the third, he was down 10/5, and comes back
playing beautifully at 9/10, only to serve out! How frustrating
is that…
Like Wael said, it could have gone either way. Wael gets it this
time, and now meets his team mate and close friend Shabana.
Can’t wait, people, just can’t wait… |
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[4] Karim Darwish (Egy)
bt Farhan Mehboob (Pak)
11/9, 11/4, 11/2 (32m)
KARIM STILL IN CONTROL
Framboise
reports
I know it was hot, and humid, but as those two are both from
countries that are used to those conditions, I guess it didn’t
really matter that much…
If the first game was close, with some good shots from both
players, Farhan just went too short too soon, as he has a
tendency to do too often. And at that game, Karim is so strong,
just counter attacks everything, and got so many strokes, as the
Pakistani didn’t expect his opponent to be there that soon!
Just some tactical adjustments, a bit of maturity, and Farhan
will be extremely dangerous. Meanwhile, Karim spent a minimum of
energy here, and will be in perfect shape for the semis, having
only dropped a game so far ...
 "It
was so slippery on the court, I really was struggling on there
tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever played as badly as I did
tonight, my favourite shot, my drop shot, was so high!!!!! And
so many tins… But I guess that's a bit the result from my two
very tough matches, I was feeling a bit tired…
"But I can’t complain, I was playing against the number four
seed in a major tournament, he is such a player, he played too
tight. And because of my performance here, I hope that my
ranking is going to improve and that I’ll reach the top 30…
"I hope that next time, I’ll play better…"
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 "He
is so fast, if you give 1%, he’ll just seize the opportunity,
and go for shots! So I had to play very focused, play deep, and
concentrate on every shot…
"I think after a close first game, he got a bit frustrated, and
maybe lost a bit of concentration after that.
"I’m happy with my performance in this event, still two more
matches to go, and I hope to win this tournament…"
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 "I’m
not at my best physically at the moment, struggling a bit with
my legs, but I just can’t believe that boy! I can’t remember
anybody
backing up 20 games like that.
"And I was 2/0 up, I just switched off a bit in the third, and
he ran away with the third, and the fourth… He is such a tough
little nut, man…
"But I stayed calm, you know, I didn’t lose my focus. The first
time I played in quarters, I was way too excited, but I just
need to be able to play the squash I can play!
"All credit to him, I just don’t know how he kept running, and
running… There are a bunch of kids coming up, him, Farhan,
Mosaad, and players like me, who are squeezed in the middle,
that’s not easy….
"I’m lucky that at 10/8 I just thought that was the right time
to go for a shot, and it just went in."
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[8] Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
bt [Q] Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/4, 11/8, 5/11, 4/11, 11/8 (60m)
DURACELL TAREK…
Framboise reports
Whatever that boy is on, I want some, and by LARGE QUANTITIES.
Tarek hasn’t ceased to amaze me. Nobody believed in his chances,
and he played like a wizard, coming back from 2/0 down from his
two first matches, Steve and Greg – seeded 2 - then nearly dying
off in the fourth game against Golan, finding energy I honestly
don’t know how or from where to walk away with the fifth and
match…
And again tonight, 2/0 down, he whizzed through the third and
fourth, to take an awful start in the fifth, giving a
comfortable lead to Azlan, 10/4 match ball.
And then, the miracle happened all over again! He found all his
shots, picked up everything, energy back, and with a bit of help
from the floor that made the Malaysian slip just at the right
time, Tarek came back to 8/10. And the crowd, yes, still present
at 1am, believed in it, started chanting, and supporting his
man.
And I truly believed that he was going to make it yet again,
that the semis would be an all Egyptian story. But no, with the
guts we know he has, Azlan, throwing all caution to the wind,
went for it. And it worked.
The Wizzard is out, but my God did he made us vibrate tonight.
And Azlan must be extremely proud of himself, because beating
that “tough nut” as he called him tonight, was probably more
difficult than beating a top five player.
Well done, to you both…
"I don’t know what to say, can’t find the words, seriously. I
was physically and mentally exhausted, I'm tired and played the
best I could and I’m happy with my performance …
"He played very well, he deserved to win, but don’t ask me what
he did well or not, as I was so tired I just tried to
concentrate on my game, and I just can’t remember anything from
the match ..."
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