[17/20] Yip Tsz Fung (Hk) 3-1
Claudio Pinto (Por)
11/5, 6/11, 14/12, 11/2 (51m) |
RESILIENCE PAYS OFF
This is maybe the only match
of the day I wanted to catch. I expect fireworks from the young
Portuguese, and they were, in a good sense, that is.
In the first game, though, I thought I got it wrong. The
accuracy and patience coming from the HK player just prevented
Claudio from making his mark on the game.
But in the second, Tsz Fung's boasts instead of finding the
nicks, started to find the tin, giving a few points, plus
confidence to the 16 years old from Portugal, who led most of
the game, he take 11/6.
 The
decider was - as David Pearson would state - the third one.
Going with the momentum, Claudio controlled most of that game,
and I could feel how worried the HK camp, sitting next to me,
were. Too many errors, too many approximation, and the
Portuguese set his first game ball, 10/7.
Five game balls later, we were back on equal terms at
12/12. And as so often, that's then the one that was defending
that gets the game on the first game ball. And that's exactly
what happened. 13/12 for Tsz Fung, Claudio, dejected, tinned the
return of serve, a mixture of youth and exhaution I guess.
The 4th, well, was written on the wall. The boasts from Hong
Kong more and more lethal on those quads, a bit of tiredness, a
bit of lack of experience from Claudio, and Tsz Fung tigthned
the screw slowly, to close the game and match, 11/2.
And that was a wrap for the day. We had 45 matches on today,
Steve told me. Funny, I barely saw what, 6? Will try and do
better tomorrow, but as the girls are coming in the party, I
sincerly doubt it... |
I think that Claudio played very well in the 2nd and 3rd, but not
really in the 1st and 4th...
The difference today was probably the age and experience. Claudio
got tired, he is only 16, and he is learning. On the other hand, his
opponent seemed a bit older, and physically stronger. Plus, you
could feel he had the experience Claudio is acquiering...
Claudio's Dad |
 |
|
Last time round, we didn't send a team, so we have a brand new team
this time. Our aim is to reach the top half next week.
In the individuals, the Egyptians and the pakistanis are above the
rest of the players, really.
One of our players is facing an excellent player from Jordan, so he
is up for a real fight, but I am hoping that the three others might
have a chance to get to the next round...
Hong Kong National Coach |
|
Ho Tze Ho (Hk) 3-0 Faisal Assim
Khudhair (Irq)
11/2, 11/3, 11/3 (15m)
[9/12]Jan Van der Herrewegen (Bel) 3-0 Mohammed Ferman Hasan
(Irq)
11/2, 11/7, 113 (28m) |
You've got to realise that the
matches I look at today are chosen by luck really. I just arrive
somewhere, and there is a match on. I watch. I try and report on
it. No plan, no "I would like to see that one" today, as we have
6 matches at the same time, 4 at one place, 1 on the other side,
plus the glass court. Toss of a coin if I reported or not about
a match today...
 So,
luck of the draw, we had two players from Iraq side by side on
court 3 and 4. So I had the chance to see them for the first
time I can recall anyway.
Faisal, not that tall, is a player that has got excellent
racquet skills, and runs very fast. But he was playing an
excellent all around Hong Kong player, Tze Ho, much taller, who
stroke the ball perfectly and varied his shots beautifully.
Faisal, playing a bit too much at the front, opened the court
far too much for a very grateful Ho...
 On
the other court, Belgium Jan van der Herrewegen, seeded 9/12,
was the hot favourite, but tall and strong Mohammed Ferman Hasan
did more than defend himself.
If it took him a little time to get used to Jan's power and
speed, the Iraqi found some solid game in the second to put the
Belgium under a bit of pressure. Fitness probably played a big
part in the third, Jan having made his opponent do an awful lot
of work...
On a personal note, after all what the Iraqis have been through
in the recent years, it's so nice to see them on the squash
front again, the only front we should be fighting on really,
shouldn't we.... |
|
Mason Ripka (Usa) 3-0 Andre
Ergenz (Ger) 11/5, 11/5, 11/4 |
CHOPPING IT KARIM'S STYLE...
 It's
the first time I came to see Mason Ripka play, he just turned 16
on June 11th, and I like
what I saw.
The young American was at ease on the glass court as he always
played on it.
Not really aware of the level he played out today bless him, he
asphyxiated Andre Ergenz totally, and didn't give him much to
attack with.
Andre never gave up though, and kept fighting till the last shot,
but couldn't much to answer his opponent accuracy at the back
and killing shots at the front, make a few too many unforced
errors.
The score is a bit severe and in my opinion doesn't reflec the
hard work produced by the German, but Mason really imposed his
game on that glass court today. |
I love all kind of sports. And
music....
I've been here since Monday, had plenty of time to practice on the
glass court...
I'm in High School, and training hard at the moment, I work with
Wael el Hindi. I just want to do my best, and see what my level is.
And maybe see from there.
He enjoyed the glass court today, he is a shot maker. And he is also
tri-lingual, a musican and a sports person!!
I've been training him since he's 7, the creative work/shots he is
playing comes from him only, I was more of an "up and down the wall"
kind of guy...
Mason's Dad |
|
"A bit disapointing, there was room there I feel. Three times 11/9,
that's close. I feel that Redman managed the crucial points a bit
better, he kept his cool when it was important, whereas Baptiste
went for too much too soon, losing a bit of lucidity there.
This tournament is important for us, of course, for the boys. But we
are taking it more like a preparation for next week team event.
Unless miracle, there are a few boys are standing out, Egyptians and
Pakistanis, and we can't compete really. We have two boys with small
seeding, if they can reach it, that's good.
But it's more about learning, we hope our boys can do 4, 5 good
matches. It's all about learning how to win those matches like today.
Next week, that match will have to be won, with the head, with the
guts, to show that they are better than the others...
Boys French
National Coach |
|
Todd Redman (Nzl) 3-0 Baptiste
Masotti (Fra)
11/9, 11/9, 11/9 |
 A
good encounter between Todd and Baptiste that could gone either
way. But it felt like the New Zealander had a bit more
experience somehow, and kept his cool a bit better at the end of
the games.
A few suprising decisions, but there again, it seems to balance
out in the end...
 Not
a year yet, Fram. But nine months since I took the job!
What I tried to do is to give some structure to the juniors. Before,
the U15 seemed to be the first involvement for the players. So,
we've tried to set up three "Talent Development Centres" all around
the country to handle the U11 and U13. It's not easy, due to the
geographic specificity, two islands, on a stretched and long land...
It's also a great opportunity to develop the coaches - who have
responded really well to this change. That's crucial of course.
It is early days of course, but it seems to have worked pretty well
so far....
NZL Coach |
|
|
Deepak Mishra (Ind) 3-0 Yousif
Ali (Kw) 11/4, 11/6, 12/10 |
KUWAIT ON THE RISE
You may think, well Fram, why on earth are you talking about
Kuwait players improving whereas the boy lost 3/0 in the first
round. Well, guys, when I arrived on the tour, the level of the
Kuwaiti players were not as good as what I saw today.
It took a while to Yousif to get used to Deepak's fast pace and
hard hitting, but in the third and 2/0 down, the Kuwaiti boy had
nothing to lose, and relaxed both arms and legs! He run an awful
lot, found some excellent lengths, and moved pretty quickly to
the front, allowing himself enough time on the ball to get some
good shots.
The Indian boy had really to get back to his best level to
finally grasp the 3rd on his second match ball. That last game
was extremely enjoyable indeed.
 I've
been coaching the Kuwaiti Team for three years now. When I arrived,
I realised that the fitness aspect of the game was not developped
enough in my players, so I asked for a special fitness coach to
handle training sessions.
Also, I made sure that we were sending the boys to camps outside
Kuwait, like England, Egypt or Malaysia. They gained experience, and
self belief. Before, there were afraid of playing matches. Now, they
believe they can win.
Our players are young, around 17, so they still have two shots at
this event, and we hope isa that they'll keep on improving.
KW National Coach |
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