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Wednesday 21st May, Day THREE:
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ATCO
Wael El Hindi bt Ong Beng Hee
11/7, 11/4, 11/6 (32m)
PRINCE Thierry Lincou
bt Lee Beachill
7/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/7 (56m)
ATCO Gregory Gaultier
bt David Palmer
6/11, 11/8, 11/7, 11/13, 11/9 (58m)
PRINCE James Willstrop
bt Amr Shabana
11/8, 11/8, 11/8 (23m) |
Decision Day at Broadgate
The final pool round got under way with an ATCO group match
between two players looking for their first win. It was the
fresher Wael El Hindi who prevailed in straight games,
to clinch third place in the group and also his first win over
Ong Beng Hee in eight meetings - the first of those
being the 1998 World Junior Championship final.
The second match between Thierry Lincou and Lee Beachill
- a rematch of the 2004 World Open Final - started to the
accompanying sound of the Champions' League Final coming from
the bars surrounding the Broadgate Arena ...
Although the Englishman took the first game, Lincou came back
strongly to take the next three and claim the last remaining
semi-final place - "it's tough to play football as well!" was
the winner's first comment.
He'll play the winner of tonight's third match, which happened
to be a re-run of the 2006 World Open Final. With Gregory
Gaultier and David Palmer already through, it was
somewhat less intense than that epic encounter, but
nevertheless provided great entertainment for the Broadgate
crowd as Gaultier came through in five.
To conclude the evening James Willstrop managed to
avoid a winless week as he beat semi-final bound Amr
Shabana in straight games. |
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Thierry Lincou
bt Lee Beachill
7/11, 11/6,
11/7, 11/7 (56m)
GOOD OLD DAYS…
 If
Lee, our PSA Vice-President, was maybe a bit tired after a
long day of PSA meetings where the board was interviewing the
CEO shortlist candidates, the first rally soon woke him up, as
Thierry hit him - I truly believe unintentionally - in the
calf, a shot that Lee clearly believed the Frenchman shouldn’t
have played. And the fact that Thierry refused the stroke, and
only took a let, didn’t do anything to calm down a now
completely awake Yorkshireman virtually on the war path. The
tone was set.
So, on my left, a Frenchman ready for a long battle, and on my
right, an Englishman in the best form he’s been for a very
long time. Two warriors fighting for the same spot in the
semis of one of the most prestigious events of the year. What
do you expect?Tea and biscuits, and a nice chat? Don’t think
so, and although it’s always hard for the heart when two
players give it all, and fight for their lives on there, it
was a stunning match for the good people who chose squash over
football, an obviously intelligent crowd…
Those two fought the best they could, Thierry finding his
TitiTight shots at the back and retrieving Lee’s astonishing
short shots with all his explosiveness. Because Lord knows Lee
found his winners today, and his length, and his lobs, and his
width. Unfortunately, he also found a few unforced errors at
the wrong time (from one in the first game to five in the
fourth), and seemed to lose a bit of focus at the end,
probably due to the lack of preparation he mentioned yesterday
in his quote….
 "It
was not easy to play at the same time as the football was on,
but I really didn’t mind that much, I was very focused on what
I had to do. But it was very very tough match tonight.
"I had to make him work very hard, and attack constantly, to
make the rallies last, as he was so at ease on the shorter
ones, and playing some stunning short shots and winners. You
know, contrary to the general belief, Lee plays extremely well
at the front if you give him the time. But today, he seemed to
slightly drop down at the end of each game…
"It’s never easy to play against Lee, we are from the same
generation, the same age, both over 30, we’ve been both number
ones roughly at the same time, it’s a match within a match
every time, never easy, never ever easy.
"And we are both daddies, I think that our regain of form also
comes from the fact that we are happy, that we are enjoying
life, enjoying our squash, and that we realise how lucky we
are to be doing what we are doing.
"I’m looking forward to continue my career, to control my
body. I’ve been lucky to stay injury free, not like those
young players! Maybe a bit of experience involved…"
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"I was maybe a bit tired just
before the start of the match, but I felt ok on there.
"Yes, there were 3 or 4 incidents where I felt not happy, but
I think we did a good match, and played pretty well…"
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Gregory Gaultier
bt David Palmer
6/11, 11/8, 11/7, 11/13, 11/9
(58m)
Greg sets up
all-French semi
Steve reports
With both players already through to the semi-finals it was a
question of how much effort they would expend in order to
avoid playing the world number one and world champion in said
semi-finals.
In the event the fact that they squeezed in five games in
under an hour tells you that it wasn't the most intense match
they've ever played, but it was definitely one of the most
entertaining and the Broadgate crowd loved it.
It looked as though Greg would wrap it up 3/1, but at 10/9 in
the fourth he tinned an easy drop to offer David a lifeline.
David pretended to offer his hand anyway, but then proceeded
to take the game and force a decider!
Greg led most of the way through the fifth, still had time to
play unnecessary shots from between his legs as both displayed
their full repertoire, and finally wrapped it up to guarantee
a French finalist.
 "I
don't really mind who I play tomorrow, and I didn't mind
winning or losing tonight, we came here to try and entertain a
bit and I hope we did.
"I missed all of my shots though, sorry guys!
"Tomorrow will be a really serious match, different
preparation, today we both knew it was a sort of day off for
us, so I was working on my shots and trying to stay positive
for tomorrow ..."
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 "We
both wanted to win of course, but it was a bit of a cat and
mouse game. We had good fun tonight, we talked about the
result after the first game but we ended up doing it after
every game!
"It's nice for once to be through already without having to
worry about the result. Yes, playing Shabana is the harder
draw, he's in great form, but there's not much in it and I'm
looking forward to playing him tomorrow.
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Wael El Hindi
bt Ong Beng Hee 11/7, 11/4, 11/6 (32m)
 "Finally,
a victory! Beng Hee and I were in a tough group, we had tough
matches this week, against David and Greg, and I was lucky
that I managed to push a bit harder tonight.
"I always say I think that back home in Egypt, there is a
factory of players somewhere, and that I need to find it to
shut it down, as I need a few home wins!!!! No, it’s great,
Squash is very popular in Egypt, it’s a bit like football
here, we are very well known, and I hope that one day, it will
be the same here, that’s why we are very grateful to have such
an event in London…
"To be honest, I was fed up of going back to the hotel with my
head down. So tonight, I’m particularly happy that I was able
to prove to myself that I can play top matches night after
night, and that I can be fit, that I can be fast, and that my
legs still carry me…
"Not to mention that Beng Hee beat me in the final of the
World Juniors in 98, and I still remember it like if it was
yesterday…"
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 "Squash
being not a huge sport – sorry Robert – the players get to
share rooms on tour, and we train, and travel a lot all
together. So we are good friends off court, and if we get
aggressive and more competitive on court, whatever happens on
court, stays on court…
"I think I lost a bit of intensity tonight, lost it in the two
previous matches, and as we always have close matches, and
maybe tonight was not that important to win or lose, maybe I
just lost a bit of intensity…
"But it’s OK, it gives me the opportunity to get my revenge
next time…"
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James Willstrop bt Amr Shabana
11/8, 11/8, 11/8 (23m)
NOT SIGNIFICANT BUT…
All
in the stands were aware that it was not that much of a
serious match between James and Shabana. James was already at
the bottom of the pool, and Shabana at the top.
But what was interesting is to see that although James was
still not 100% movement wise, although he actually tried to
push on one rally in particular, probably to test himself, he
was moving much better than he did three nights ago, which is
excellent news for his near future.
And on a very cold court – as the temperature dropped
tremendously for the last match – James’ shots were going in
there as a knife in butter, and if Shabana wanted to give the
spectators a good show, he was not prepared to kill himself
trying to dig them out…
A good reward that victory for James was, I thought, as he
could have folded up after the first match and gon home.
Instead, Dug In James stuck in there, got treatment, and as he
loves to remind himself when he is down, just “got on with
it”.
Did I hear the word, professionalism…? |
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