Laura 2/0 Nour
Today, Laura was playing with her "Qatar's
energy", when she won that incredible match in the final there.
From the first rally, she hit the ball as hard as.... Nouran
Gohar really I felt! Her accuracy at the back put a nervous/pressure
on her shoulder Nour on the back foot. Up 4/1, Nour couldn't
stop Laura's waves of power deferling on the court, and although
the Egyptian saved 2 game balls, Laura closed a 17m crucial
first game 12/10.
Now completely relax, the English Lady was just dominating the
rallies forcing a pace that kept Nour out of her comfort zone,
preventing her from adjusting her shots and forcing her into
many uncharacteristic errors, Laura taking the match on her
first attempt.Laura Massaro
“I’m feeling pretty good. It was a tough battle through the
middle of both games, and after the World Championship, where I
was 2-0 up, it was quite heartbreaking, but on the plus side in
the best-of-three I knew I could go 2-0 up again. I’m happy with
the way I played, I feel like I put some really good work in
since the World Championship and it’s always nice to turn the
result over.
“I know what it’s like to win a World Championship so I’m sure
Nour hasn’t been hitting many squash balls over the last couple
of weeks, so I was just happy with the performance today.
“After the European Championships I had a couple of tough weeks
of training to try and come here and do well and it’s another
final this season which is great. It’s always good to be playing
for a major title and I’m really pleased with my performance. I
just tried to keep the intensity high and put some pressure on
her and I think physically it paid dividends in the end.
“It’s a truly world-class event and, for the women to have equal
prize money to the men is phenomenal and really setting the bar
for squash and the rest of the world to follow. It’s a real
privilege to play here.”
 Cameron
2/0 Mohamed
Well, it had to happen. Mohamed has been in every final this
year - but the World Champs. He has pushed and pushed and when
he couldn't push anymore, he still pushed.
On the other hand, Cameron played the best squash he can play -
we saw him at work in HK in December, when he beat the World
Champion Greg Gaultier. From the first rally, he played his best
"PistolPilley" squash. Fast, strong, relentless. He never gave a
chance to Mohamed to get in the groove, 7/2. And if the Egyptian
clawed back at the end of the opener, he just missed out, 11/9
in 22 long minutes.
Now completely relaxed and pressure free, Cameron just hit a
lovely fluid and fresh squash, while we could see Mohamed's
movement and shoulder body language getting more and more
laboured. And it's 11/5 to Cameron, who arrived on the event as
last qualified, and ends up in the final....
Cameron Pilley
I’ve played ElShorbagy so many times. When I can play
like this I‘ve got a few wins over him, but as soon as I miss my
targets by a foot, half a foot, he just kills me. I had to make
sure it was tight and my lengths were getting to the back,
otherwise he just punishes you. I was pretty happy with how I
did that today.
“One more to go and I can wrap thing thing up!!I It is without
doubt one of the biggest wins of my career. I remember when
Rickets won in 2006 it was just amazing to see a fellow Aussie
win this tournament.
“To scrape into the top 8 and now be in the final is something I
can be really happy about. I put in a good two-week block coming
into this and to win, would be more than a dream because it is
beyond all expectations.”
Raneem 2-1 Nicol
 Raneem
El Welily
“The crowd were expecting a good match and I think we
gave them that. I really had to push through at the end because
I was feeling tired and stating to cramp so I just had to give
it everything because playing Nicol is never easy.
“She was definitely keen today – I could feel the vibes coming
from her but I wanted to win too so I wasn’t intimidated by her
and I’m really pleased to be in the final.
 “There
are zero expectations for tomorrow against Laura. We have played
so many times and it is always close so hopefully we will play a
match that the crowd enjoy.
“It’s also best of five so I need to prepare as best I can now
for tomorrow. I’m so happy to be part of such a big event and a
tournament with equal prize money. It is such a great thing for
the sport and for squash to take that step and show everyone
else that it can be done is great.”
Nicol David
“It’s been a good week for me because this format brings out the
best of your game and you have to be sharp from the beginning.
“In the first game today Raneem just took the initiative
straight away and I had to find a way to come back at her in the
second. I managed to do that and carried it into the third but
she just found some of her best shots and I exposed myself too
much and she took confidence from it.”
Greg 2/0 Miguel
 Greg
Gaultier
“I felt good on the court, it’s my first time playing at night
so I had to adapt and change my routine today. I was playing
patient and trying to be smooth and not go too hard because he
likes the fast pace. He’s a machine with a big engine compared
to me, I just tried to stick the ball well to the side walls
then create opening and go for my shots.
“I have played so many finals compared to Cameron, I played him
in the pool but he seems to have improved his game since we
played. He showed he can beat the world number one so he’s going
to be a real danger tomorrow. I’m going to prepare the best I
can to get the win and close the season with a win.” |
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