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13-Mar, Day ONE, Qualifying Round One:
SW19’s biggest pro
squash event
under way at Wimbledon ...
The Wimbledon Club Squash Squared Open got under way today with
eight qualifying matches.
There were a trio of upsets as Jan Van Den Herrewegen,
Josh Masters and Youssef Soliman all beat seeded
players, but the top three seeds Peter Creed, Richie
Fallows and George Parker all made it through to
tomorrow's qualifying finals.
Welshman Creed meets UK-based Aussie Matthew Hopkins, Fallows is
up against Spain's Carlos Cornes, national U21 champion Parker
faces British Junior Open chjampion Soliman while Hereweggen and
Masters meet for a place in the main draw.
Qualifying Round
One: Finals at 18.45/19.45 on 14th
[1] Peter Creed (Wal) 3-0 Mark Fuller (Eng)
12/10, 11/8, 11/7 (53m)
[8]
Matthew Hopkin
(Aus) 3-2 Lyell Fuller (Eng)
11/6, 9/11, 7/11, 12/10, 11/9 (54m)
Jan Van Den Herrewegen (Bel) 3-0 [6] Joel Makin (Wal)
14/12, 11/8, 8/5 rtd injured
Joshua Masters (Eng) 3-2 [4] Evan Williams (Nzl)
6/11, 7/11, 11/6, 12/10, 11/4 (53m)
[3]
George Parker
(Eng) 3-1 Lewis Walters (Jam)
9/11, 11/3, 11/6, 11/5 (55m)
Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-1 [5] Chris Fuller (Eng)
7/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (64m)
[7] Carlos Cornes (Esp) 3-0 Ben Ford (Eng)
11/4, 11/9, 12/10 (45m)
[2]
Richie Fallows
(Eng) 3-0 Ashley Davies (Eng)
11/5, 11/4, 11/8 (43m) |
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I could have
stepped up the court a bit better. I somehow managed to create a
good lead in all three games by playing good solid squash, but
then relaxed a bit too much and opened the court at the very end
of the game. He took advantage of that.
I had what I thought were a couple of bad decisions, but I
handled them well, just stop and breathe, and smile really! I
think I got my point across in a nice way.
I must say that working with Pilley is helping me a lot. He is
helping me to relax, not to get too feisty – which is me, small
guy, feisty character! So it’s a question of learning to relax
between the points.
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[1] Peter Creed (Wal) 3-0 Mark Fuller (Eng)
12/10, 11/8, 11/7 (53m)
[8] Matthew Hopkin (Aus) 3-2 Lyell Fuller (Eng)
11/6, 9/11, 7/11, 12/10, 11/9 (54m)
 I haven’t seen Lyell play a lot, but today, I was able to have
a good look at his game. He is very decent player, accurate and
moving very well, but for some reason, lacking confidence in
himself, in his game. He was playing his best squash when led.
After losing the first game, he would his pace, imposed some
lovely long rallies. In front, Matthew was just a bit short
physically, and would go for a silly shot at the end of long
rallies, although he found some great short shots.
The fourth was led the all way by Lyell, 9/6 10/8 match ball,
but he stopped doing what he was doing so well, got a bit
negative, 12/10 Matthew. The 5th was close the whole
way, but this time, it’s the Australian that got the first blood
10/8 match ball. As he was back against the wall, the English
played relaxed saving it, only to lose the match on a stunning
return nick roll.
Lyell played
really well, he takes his space really well, not blocking at
all, but he kills the ball and you don’t know where it’s going
to go, especially on the forehand kill.
Maybe what made the difference today at the end is that he was
overhitting a bit where I just lifted the ball up to get me out
of trouble…
I’m 24, Australian, been in London for 6 months, came here for
my squash. I train in Roehampton and Charing Cross with Ben Ford
and Robbie Temple.
I had a wrist fracture 6 weeks ago, couldn’t do anything for the
past 5 weeks, this is my first tournament/match back! Fitness is
not what it should be, it’s good to be back on court doing
something but now my wrist is killing me!
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Jan Van Den Herrewegen (Bel) 3-0 [6] Joel Makin (Wal)
14/12, 11/8, 8/5 rtd injured
Joshua Masters (Eng) 3-2 [4] Evan Williams (Nzl)
6/11, 7/11, 11/6, 12/10, 11/4 (53m)
Joshua a bit Up and Down …
 Not that he is that young – in squash terms that is – as
Joshua Masters is going on 21, but he has phases where he
plays a bit of junior squash, going for too much followed by a
few stunning winners bless him!
Still, Evan Williams will not be happy to have left his
opponent come back in the match. 2 game 1 and 8/4 up, the New
Zealander was, but he couldn’t stop the rollercoaster of
winners, and lost the game 12/10, not having had a chance to
close the match. The 5th is all about Joshua finding nicks all
over the court 9/1 to finally take the match 11/4 …
In the first two
game, I didn’t play my game at all, I was playing his, only
chipping the ball to the back, not putting him under pressure .
But from the start of the 3rd, I was able to impose my pace and
game, my shots went in, he lost a bit of confidence and I gain
some.
I got a good start in the 5th, which always helps, went up 9/1.
Very happy to get through coming back from 2/0 down
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It’s a shame Joel
had to retire, he got injured last week in Canada against
Delierre and got a strain hamstring.
I guess it flared up today,
I think it was bothering him the whole match, but still it was
hard work on there to try and break him down, he puts so much
pressure on you.
I had shoulder surgery 2 months ago, I’ve been playing for 3
weeks now, and although it’s nice to get a win, I’m just happy
to be back on court injury free.
I am now based in Birmingham, I’m doing a Masters, it’s my last
half year of studies, so I’m looking forward to the end of that.
But the move was a good idea, I’m enjoying the trip, I found a
lot of playing partners, and I’m training with Rob Owen and
still with Mark when I’m back in Belgium.
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I had
never played Lewis before, he is a strong boy, a strong athlete
who picks a lot of balls up really.
I stepped up the court a bit better after losing the first game,
put him behind me, mixing the shots. And I stayed in control
from that moment on…
I
landed a bit late last night, so a bit tired today, but all
credit to him, he played extremely well, attacked more than me!
I was the one doing all the running today, his shots were very
accurate and tight.
I was trying to get him out of his comfort zone to unsettle him,
I was hard and fast, but I’m lucky to get the 4th, he played so
well…
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[3] George Parker (Eng) 3-1 Lewis Walters (Jam)
9/11, 11/3, 11/6, 11/5 (55m)
Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-1 [5] Chris Fuller (Eng)
7/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (64m)
Youssef had to run
and run …
The Egyptian landed last night at 11pm and was not in the match
at the start really bless him, thanks to a superb performance
all way through from his opponent, another Fuller – jzzzz how
many are they??? - who found some tight accurate attacks today,
only failing here and there with a few unforced errors due to
his high percentage/entertaining squash.
A few calls too many with the “Coach to the Stars” Steve
Richardson as the ref – he was advising Mathieu Castagnet during
the final yesterday in Canary Wharf – having to keep a bit of
order traffic wise: you go and get it, you move out of the way.
Simple.
But nothing bad AT ALL, and a very pleasant match indeed, a lot
of attacking from both, nice fluid squash, entertaining.
Loved it.
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[7] Carlos Cornes (Esp) 3-0 Ben Ford (Eng)
11/4, 11/9, 12/10 (45m)
[2] Richie Fallows (Eng) 3-0 Ashley Davies (Eng)
11/5, 11/4, 11/8 (43m)
Fair Matches…
 Yes it was intense between Richie and Ashley, but it was a very
pleasant match, with a few interventions from the ref, but truly
very friendly, smiles all around, but still a big battle on
there, the score not telling the whole story by far…
As for Carlos versus Ben, a lot of running from both, too many
unforced errors from Carlos just back from injury, and a very
experienced Ben that could have easily took 1 even 2 games...
Very pleasant end of the day - and both matches finishing at the
same time as well!
We’ve played
25,000 times since the juniors! From the first junior final we
played, I think it was in Birmingham, Ashley and I always had
hard and great battles. Today was not different.
It’s never easy to play one of your best pals, when you train in
Manchester, we live together, so never easy to play a friend…
In the first two game, I didn’t play my game at all, I was plan
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He still can play!
If he is not as quick as he was, he reads your game so well and
moves pretty well on the ball… I’m happy to get away 3/0, it
could have been 3/1 easily.
It’s my first match since the first week of December, I had a
surgery on my shoulder. So first match today, lack of match
practice, too many errors but it was fun to be on court today, a
very fair game, and he made it fun.
Just wanted to thank Stacey Ross for the work he and his team
are doing, it’s great for us players, as we don’t have to worry
about anything but playing our matches.
I’m fine, I can play another match right now.
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