After a long day yesterday,
normal service was resumed with just four evening matches - the last
two women's first round, and the first two men's quarters ...
Defending
champion Amr Shabana kept alive his hopes of winning
back-to-back J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions titles with a gutsy
3-1 win over compatriot Tarek Momen, the World No.7, in an
85-minute match-up in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal.
The 34-year-old, who became the oldest ever PSA World Series winner
with his 2014 triumph, withstood a ferocious challenge from
27-year-old Momen, currently enjoying his highest ever ranking on
the PSA World Tour, as he dug deep and used his wealth of ability
and experience to squeeze over the line in a nail-biting encounter.
"All
credit to Tarek because I spent every single bit of energy I had to
beat him today," said Shabana.
"It took all the experience that I hve to beat him and I think the
next time we play he's going to get me."
Shabana opened up the match with an array of spectacular winners,
taking the opening game in the process, but saw his advantage
eradicated after a gallant effort from Momen saw him bounce back
from squandering numerous game-balls to eventually take the second
game 19-17.
The duo continued to trade points in compelling fashion throughout
the next two games but it was four-time World Champion Shabana that
emerged victorious as the match ended in bizarre circumstances, with
both players seemingly disappointed following the referee's decision
to award a stroke that handed the match to the elder man.
"The last point could have been a let, but it's a win and I'll
take it," added Shabana.
"I've known Tarek since he was a young junior and he's always been a
very hard worker. He's always improving his game and he has a very
good future ahead of him but I was able to stop him today and I'm
happy to be through."
That
victory will see Shabana take on another Egyptian, current World
No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy, for a place in the finale when the
semi-finals get underway on Thursday.
Elshorbagy booked his place in the last four with a dominant 3-0 win
over World No.12 Borja Golan.
WSA Roundup
David Dispatches Grinham; Waters Ousts Teran
In the matchup between two rhythm players who patiently await their
openings, it was England’s Alison Waters who quickened the
tempo to claim victory over Samantha Teran and a spot in the
quarterfinals of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions.
Teran
had played three tough qualifying matches to get to the ToC glass
court, and, in the first game, that proved to be an advantage. The
33-year-old from Mexico gained the upper hand at six all, reeling
off five straight points to take the early lead.
“It is very tricky to play someone who plays the same style of game
as you do,” said Waters.
In the second game, which she won 11-6, Waters found her comfort
zone, hitting the ball slightly more crisply and using the volley
attack with more frequency. By the last two games, the four-time
British National Champion was in high gear, closing out the match
11-3, 11-5.
In
a rematch of last year’s ToC semifinals, Waters will play defending
champion Nicol David, who needed four games to secure her
spot in the quarterfinals. In the first game, Australian Rachael
Grinham marshalled some of the skills and speed that earned her four
British Open titles to jump out to a 7-4 lead and win the game 11-6.
“I had to find my way in,” said David, who has been no 1 in
the world for 105 months (102 consecutively). The “way in” that the
31-year-old Malaysian superstar found was to lift the ball up on the
front wall, establish her position in front of Grinham and extend
the rallies.
“I
was starting to feel a little oxygen debt after the second game,”
Grinham confessed after the match. In each of the second and third
games, David took the lead on the first point and never relinquished
it. Grinham looked like she might have found her second wind in the
fourth as she battled back to 5-6 and 6-7, but David calmly closed
out the match with an 11-7 fourth game win.
“It is good to be back at the Tournament of Champions in Grand
Central,” David said. “It is such a landmark and you can feel the
appreciation of the crowds who are quite knowledgeable, which gives
the players more energy.”
When asked what keeps her going after 14 years on the professional
tour, and nearly nine years as the no. 1 player in the world, David
answered, “The game itself has so many dimensions that there are
always small details that you can keep improving. And I love to play
on the glass show court!”
Quick Impressions
Waters / Teran
Alison was leading 3/1, Sam came back, quite a close middle of the
game, but from 6/6, it's all the Mexican, planted in the front,
with a few errors from Ali, 11/6...
And funnily enough, it's the
reverse in the second! If there wasn't more than 1 point up to 6/6,
this time, it's Ali that steps in front, and within seconds, she is
walking out of court, 11/6.
Third, just too good for Ali, 8m, 11/3
and pretty much the same in the 4th, with maybe Sam getting a bit
tired.
Shorbagy / Golan
A very relax and focus Egyptian, 13m, dominating throughout, with
Borja still fighting coming back from game ball 10/5, but Mohamed
too relaxed, 7 winners, 11/7.
Second is much better for Borja in this one, with Mohamed making 4
errors at the start of the game that kept Borja in the loop and
confident. If Mohamed goes 7/4 up, Borja found his game there, 7/7 -
only to be hard done by with some strange decisions (in my opinion),
Mohamed lucky to get away with it on this occasion, 11/9 in 17m.
Third is as fast and disputed, Borja really finding some amazing
shots (particular backhand), Mohamed found some truly great squash -
he had to to beat Borja today. Great also no chat with the refs and
very few decisions. Good advert for the game.
