|
|
|
 |
TODAY at the ToC, Fri 22nd Jan, Day THREE
Framboise
reports from New York, Steve from Whitley Bay, UK |
Grand Central here we come ...
The final eight places in the main draw were grabbed yesterday
across four of New York's squash clubs, so today attention moved to
the all-glass court in Grand Central Terminus as the top half of the
main draw takes to the stage.
[9] Alister Walker (Eng) bt Amr
Swelim (Ita)
11/9, 13/11, 12/10 (44m)
Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) bt [13] Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/5, 11/9, 9/11, 8/11, 11/9 (76m)
[Q] Adrian Waller (Eng) bt [11] Olli Tuominen
(Fin)
11/6, 11/4, 2/11, 6/11, 14/12 (60m)
[12] Hisham Ashour (Egy) bt [Q] Yasser El Halaby (Egy)
11/7, 12/10, 11/7 (32m)
[1] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Gilly Lane (Usa)
11/3, 11/3, 11/9 (34m)
[6] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [Q] Shaun Le Roux (Eng)
11/7, 11/2, 11/5 (29m)
[3] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy)
12/10, 12/10, 11/8 (33m)
[7] David Palmer (Aus) bt Aaron Frankcomb (Aus)
11/6, 11/7, 11/3 (32m) |
 |
|
 "I
didn’t move as well as I wanted, I’m recovering from a Achilles
tendon injury, and although it’s much better, it’s still playing on
my head…
"I didn’t play too bad, but he is such a good player, he’s had a
string of good results last year, and it’s good to get so close
scorewise with him…"
 |
[9] Alister
Walker
(Eng) bt Amr Swelim (Ita)
11/9, 13/11, 12/10 (44m)
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
 Like a junior, Alister was nervous when he got on court. And he had
all reasons to be, as his dad, who hadn’t seen him play since 2002,
was in the seats, along with sis and cousin. That makes a lot of
pressure on a boy…
The Englishman had real trouble finding his natural game today, his
length on the backhand was poor for most of the match, he was
hitting a bit too hard on a warm court, all signs of nervousness
really. But hey, great champions win on a not so good day, and
that’s what Ali did today.
In front, Amr had nothing to lose, and the gap of ranking (12 to
39), was really not felt today, it has to be stressed. The Italian
raised his game for the occasion, and showed a large range of shots,
from the patience of an Englishman to the nicks from anywhere
ability from the Egyptian he still is…
“The second was close, I could have won it”, he noted at the end.
Yes, that would have put Ali under a lot of pressure, mentally, and
the end result could have been a totally different story. But on
game ball at 10/9, Amr played probably the worst shot mishit of his
life, which I’m sure will haunt him for a few nights….
 "Of
course I was nervous, I would have been nervous without anybody
watching, because I absolutely love this venue, but today, I have my
dad, from Botswana, my sister, my cousin, so, even more reasons to
be nervous.
"I’m still getting to grips with being top 16 and winning first
rounds 3/0, and today was no different. I was in no way surprised by
his performance, I’ve seen him play enough to know he is good, I saw
him play against Shabana. Also, I think he has beneficiated from
Marcus Berrett influence, he is still tricky at the front, but he’s
learned to hold the rallies at the back, the English influence…"
 |
|
Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) bt [13] Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/5, 11/9, 9/11, 8/11, 11/9
TAREK NOT CONFIDENT,
MOHAMED ON FIRE ...
 It was one of those matches, where you have a very boiling to win
underdog, and a not so confident favourite…
Making a lot of errors in the first game, Tarek, world number 24,
just let the game slip away very quickly, to come back strongly in
the second, and although he lost that one two, doubts had started to
creep in Mohamed'’s mind.
In two very tense, intense, and good attacking squash games, Tarek
maintained the suspense by coming back to 2/2.
The fifth was up and down, with what looked like a decisive
excellent start for Tarek, 5/2, only to be caught up then overtook,
7/5. Tarek, digging in, stayed in touch, 7/9, and saved two match
balls. But it was Mohamed who had the strength and the hitting power
that comes from desperation to win…
 I’m
so happy!!!!!!
As you know, I got injured in Saudi, and after my recovery, I had
only 6 days of training before going to the start of the season
again, I won my first tournament, and lost against Abbas in the
quarters of the second.
What made the difference today, is that I really wanted to win, I
needed a big win, and I hope I can get another one next round.
I have to thank my coaches, Matani and Haithem, also my physical and
mental coach, my parents, and of course, my girlfriend, I don’t want
her to kill me!!!!
 |
After Qatar, I stopped for three weeks,
and I had only 12 days to train before going to the States, for LA
and then the ToC.
I’m completely under trained, and the more matches I lose, the more
I lose my confidence, and as I’m not fit enough…
But Mohamed played a very good match today, and he really deserves
to win.
 |
|
Malcolm in Grand Central
 The
first match in Grand Central in the first round was between Alister
Walker, who had such a successful 2009, and the Egyptian turned
Italian Amr Swelim.
It was well contest despite the 3/0 scoreline and as the score
indicates, there was never more than a point or two in it. Walker
won the first 11/9 and then edged the next two on tiebreaks, though
Swelim threatened with an early lead to win the third
The Italian is neat and tidy, but walker’s ability to take the ball
early on the volley gave him a cutting edge. He will be happy enough
with his start and certainly Swelim was worth a game.
The second match between two Egyptians was a quality affair. Momen
was very good at an early age and his win over David palmer in the
World Open in Kuwait was exceptional. He made a tentative start,
whilst Reda began with purpose and control, aided by
distracted-looking errors from Momen. Reda won the first 11/5, and
although Momen reduced his error rate , Reda took a deserved 2/0
lead 11/9. The third was nip and tuck, but Momen, gathering
momentum, won it 11/9, and with both players maintaining quality,
the match was high class
Momen moves exceptionally well, and has lovely touch, and Reda uses
all the court well. Momen levelled at two-all, and appeared to have
the required momentum. But Reda was having none of it, and holding
his form, he won the fifth, 11/9, and with it , the match,
deservedly.
Reda is to be commended not just for the win, but for his fairness.
He walked away from doubtful balls and called a ball out on the
sidewall he might well have got away with. He can be pleased with
himself tonight.
Malcolm Willstrop |
|
 "I
would celebrate, but I don't have much energy left!!!!!
"I thought I played very well for the first two games, I felt really
comfortable with the ball, but then, in the third and fourth, he
stepped up the pace, got in front of me, and put me under tremendous
pressure.
"In the fifth, I just threw everything at him, there was not much
else you could do… But coming back from those match balls, I’m
really pleased…
"Definitely the best win of my career…"
 |
[Q] Adrian Waller
(Eng) bt [11] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/6, 11/4, 2/11, 6/11, 14/12
A STAR IS BORN
 Guys, I’m impressed.
That
young boy, 20, is a cool as a cucumber. I’m sure that, like Nick
Matthew, he is boiling inside, but he keeps an equal face and
behaviour, even when things get tight, or controversial (we had a
few strange refs decisions today, for both players).
He was balanced and composed for the whole match, put out of his
mind what was at stake, first time in NY, Super Series, etc, and
played the match of his life.
Olli, well, got a bit passive, and probably surprised by his young
opponent strength in the first two, came back all guns firing in the
next two, and really took him to the cleaners.
 But in the 5th, it was like it took two games to Adrian to get used
to the heavy pace, and the Englishman got more into it. Still, 10/6,
match ball for the Fin, that looked bleeping good then. Four match
balls later, we are at 10/10. A match ball for Adrian, that get
saved, another match ball for Olli, that Adrian wins at the back, in
a perfect English shot, perfect length drive.
And a final rally, endless rally, a suspense that we can hardly
bear, and Waller that takes his spot for the second round of his
first ever Super Series. He is not even jumping up and down. He is
just too tired for that…
"I’m delighted for
him, he deserves it, he’s been the player nobody wanted to play,
because he is coming up the rankings, and he is so deserves it…."
 |
|
 |
|
[12] Hisham Ashour (Egy)
bt [Q] Yasser El Halaby (Egy)
11/7, 12/10, 11/7
 HISHAM DOMINATES…
Not that it was a surprise, but Hisham won this match rather
comfortably, although Yasser was up in the second, 9/5 I think.
The elder Ashour switched on the magic, and point by point, came
back to take the game, and in the next one too, in a sort of
“exhibition” mode, but with intensity from a Yasser who didn’t come
here to make numbers, and had many supporters in the crowd…
I’ve been doing this
tournament for five years or so, I love playing here… Today, I tried
and did my best, but I wasn’t good enough to keep at it…
 |
 |
|
 |
|
I felt like, I don’t know, nervous, anxious, nearly terrified, to
play in front of such an audience, with so many friends supporting
me, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself
Karim didn’t get to stay at the top of the ranking for nothing, the
way he plays is amazing, he is so smooth, so clinical about the way
he finishes the points, he makes it look so easy, and he hits the
ball so cleanly…
In the 3rd, I got a bit more confident, more comfortable, but before
I knew it, it was too late, it was all over…
I’m glad to see that I’m stronger physically, and from that, comes
mental strength too, because you know you can stay and build rallies
better.
Sometimes, I was to win so badly it actually doesn’t help me, but
tonight, if I was a bit angry with myself at the end, I soon looked
at the settings, all those people that were there to support me, and
it doesn’t get much better than this…
 |
[1] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Gilly Lane (Usa)
11/3, 11/3, 11/9
Darwish in a
dash
Malcolm reports
 Gilly
Lane, setting the tone for Americans perhaps by basing himself in
Amsterdam, with Tommy Berden, had vociferous American support, but
the task of competing with Karim Darwish looked a daunting one
beforehand.
Strong and athletic looking, there was still little he could do
against the world class skills of Darwish.
9/1 became 10/3, and Darwish won the first at a canter 11/3. It
seemed unlikely that things would get better, despite the optimism
of the famous song, especially as Darwish was looking sharp and
eager.
Lane managed 3 points again in the second, doing the best he could,
as Damond Runyoun so precisely put it. He continued to persist, but
it was hard to see where his points were going to come from.
However, come they did and he led 9/5 before Darwish caught up at
9/9 and then won 11/9. Darwish hit the ball well as he does on his
return from injury, and Lane will be pleased with his third game
 In
the first two games, I was playing very well, I was controlling
everything, and I was relaxed, but I guess than in the 3rd, I
relaxed a bit too much, and I’m not allowed to do that against
anybody on the tour! He got the lead, but I was able to take it
back…
I had a bad moment, a series of injuries, but now, I’m fully
recovered, and I’m ready to compete again….
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
[6] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [Q] Shaun Le Roux (Eng)
11/7, 11/2, 11/5 (29m)
Willstrop Waltzes through
Malcolm reports
 The
first half of the season went well enough for James Willstrop,
though from time to time, he appeared to have crossed lady luck. He
will be hoping for better in 2010.
Qualifier Shaun Le Roux who lives in Pontefract, where Willstrop is
based, did not seem likely to pose a serious threat, but he began
well, and playing freely, held his own for much of the first game,
until Willstrop drew away to win it 11/7.
From then on, things got more difficult for Le Rous, but like Lane
in the previous match, he battled on and will feel pleased with his
performance.
Willstrop, like Darwish, struck the ball well, and looked on good
terms with himself. The later stages promise well.
 I
had a fantastic Christmas break, the chocolate was divine, and I had
to spend the first couple of weeks in January losing the extra tyre
off…
Shaun played really well, ok, he is a junior, not as much experience
he would like and all that, but he is stronger, physically, and he
held his own, he stuck with it for a long time I thought. He really
put himself well, I was a junior, I remember how easy it is to let
go when things get tough, but he didn’t, he really hung in there,
and I’m sure he’ll get a great experience from it.
I think this tournament has got the best set up, a few rest days
here and there, I’ll never complain about that, I think it’s the
perfect setting really, and we’ve got much more chance to see big
battles at the end, I think all tournaments should be on that model,
it’s better and safer for the players as well….
 |
 In
the first, I wouldn’t say I matched him, but I thought I played
well, and I almost kept with him. But when I got a bit tired, my
length dropped a bit, and he is so talented, he can put it away or
put you under more pressure.
This was my first ToC, and getting to play James was such a treat,
he is one of the players I really look up to, such an experience for
me. James is such a fair and polite player on court, he is ranked 7
at the moment, but he can win any of those big events…
I wish I could have won a game, but I don’t think I deserved it, I
didn’t play well enough…
 |
|
 |
I wouldn’t be able to be as confident and bold against anybody else
in the top 5, but I train with Shabana every day for the past 5
years.
Shabana is the best of all times for me, when I started, he was
already the best, and every day, like today, I try and learn from
him, to get as much experience as I can.
But today, I just didn’t believe in myself enough to think I could
win the big points…
 |
[3] Amr Shabana (Egy)
bt Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy)
12/10, 12/10, 11/8 (33m)
CLOSE BUT…
A
very slow start for Shabana, maybe testing himself to begin with –
he comes back from a knee injury – and in a typical fashion, he
wasn’t as into the match to start with as he could have been.
He was lucky to get the first game, but regrouped and imposed
himself better in the second, leading 10/7 before relaxing and
letting compatriot Omar coming back to 10/10. Finding the right pace
and the good length he needed, Shabana takes the 2nd, 12/10 again.
The third was no joke either for Shabana, Omar matched him 6/6, 7/7,
8/8, but again a few unforced errors at crucial times, and Omar is
out, 11/8 in the 3rd….
 It
feels good to be back here, after being injured, it’s nice to come
back and being able to compete.
You can’t take any player for granted, everybody comes on court to
win, and you have to be focused at all times, and every match is a
challenge.
At the start of the match, I really had trouble switching on
competing mode,
I train with him every day, and on top of that, he knows my game
inside out, it’s hard to surprise him…
It’s getting tough, there are so many Egyptians around, and we all
train together. I’m not sure there is anything special about us, I
think it’s just our time, that’s all, it’s our time, and you are
only as good as the people around you.
I try and put things in perspective now as far as my career is
concerned, there are things more important, my daughters, my wife….
I just put things into the right place….
 |
|
 |
|
[7] David Palmer (Aus) bt
Aaron Frankcomb (Aus) 11/6, 11/7, 11/3 (32m)
 It’s
so hard to get in front of him, the pressure he puts on his length
is quite incredible. I didn’t feel he let me play my game today, so
I had to find ways around it, I still attacked a fair amount, but
it’s another step up for me, and I’m not at that level yet…
I gave it my best shot, that’s the only thing you can do out there…
I have the outmost respect for David, he had to work an awful lot to
get where he is, and he didn’t become World Champion for no reason….
I look up to him…
It was certainly tough out there, he is such a good squash player,
isn’t he…
 |
 |
|
