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TODAY in Hong Kong: Day Three |
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29-Nov, Round One
(Top Half)
Men's Round One:
[1] Thierry
Lincou (Fra) bt Wael El Hindi (Egy)
11/5, 11/9, 11/6 (43m)
[10] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
bt [Q] Ramy Ashour (Egy)
11/5, 11/2 rtd (sore knee) (18m)
[6] Peter Nicol (Eng)
bt Adrian Grant (Eng)
7/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/6 (56m)
[16] Shahid Zaman (Pak)
bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (Fra)
11/10(3-0), 11/4, 10/11(0-2), 4/11, 11/8
(58m)
[4] Lee Beachill
(Eng) bt Joe Kneipp (Aus)
11/2, 11/7, 10/1(0-2), 11/6 (46m)
[11] John White (Sco)
bt [Q] Alex Gough (Wal)
11/5, 11/6, 10/11(0-2), 11/10(4-2)
(59m)
[5] Amr Shabana (Egy)
bt [Q] Simon Parke (Eng)
6/11, 11/5, 11/7, 11/2 (55m)
[15] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
bt [Q] Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/6, 11/7, 10/11(0-2), 11/3 (45m)
Women's Round One:
[1] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
bt Pamela Nimmo (Sco)
9/1, 9/3, 9/4 (25m)
[15] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg)
bt [Q] Samantha Teran (Mex)
9/6, 9/3, 9/5 (42m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf
(Eng) bt Dom. Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
9/2, 9/2, 9/5 (34m)
[10] Madeline
Perry (Irl) bt Melissa Martin (Aus)
9/3, 5/9, 9/2, 9/4 (31m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (Aus) v [Q] Becky Botwright (Eng)
Wed 16.30
[12] Annelize Naude (Ned)
bt Latasha Khan (Usa)
9/2, 9/2, 9/7 (44m)
[8] Omneya A/Kawy (Egy)
bt [Q] Dianne Desira (Aus)
9/4, 9/4, 9/7 (31m)
Tegwen Malik (Wal)
bt [11] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl)
9/7, 9/6, 9/7 (42m)
|
HK Forum
have your say
and have a chat ...
World Open EN BREF
Issue One
Malcolm in HK
Round One Preview |
Men's Round One
Reports from Malcolm, Framboise and guests, summaries from Steve Cubbins
... |
[5] Amr Shabana (Egy)
bt [Q] Simon Parke (Eng)
6/11, 11/5, 11/7, 11/2 (55m) |
Shabana spoils Simon's
15th
Malcolm Willstrop reports
After his successes in St Louis and Budapest, Shabana could certainly
lay claim to being the world's best, but a rest until Qatar may have
left him a little ring rusty and a quick exit there at the hands of
Gregory Gaultier probably left him short of matchplay.
 Simon
Parke is now coaching at Heaton Squash Club in Yorkshire and being a
coach and trying to play at this level is no easy matter.
However Parke is renowned for giving his all and as the gifted
Egyptian made errors, he won the first game 11/6. Shabana settled
better in the second, 11/5, and although Parke lost the third 11/7 he
produced his best squash of the match. As Shabana's racket skills came
together, there was never any doubt that he would win the fourth and
so he did, 11/2.
The match will have done Shabana a power of good and although he has
won the world title before, he is a much better and more resolute
player nowadays. Fresh as he is, and that is an important factor, he
is an increasing danger to all.
 "I’m
tense, I’m really tense, I’m trying too hard, I’m pushing, I’m
pushing and it goes tin, tin, tin…I’m trying to play as if I was
fit, like before I had my injury. Now I’m fit and sound
physically, but still not sharp enough…
"I’m pushing too hard, instead of relaxing and playing my game. So
today, at 1/1, I said to myself, this is a new match, just enjoy
and play…"
Amr Shabana |
|
 "I’m
starting to be a bit fed up of doing good performances in the main
draw and still losing the match…
"Today, I thought that Shabana could be beaten, but because of my
marathon yesterday with Razik, I wasn’t physically strong enough to
close it out… And people might look at the score and think, how can
he think he could have won, but it came down to just a few points,
once again where I wasn’t strong enough…"
Simon Parke |
|
[15] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
bt [Q] Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/6, 11/7, 10/12, 11/3 (35m) |
Tuominen too much for Joey
 Yesterday's
qualifying marathon against Phillip Barker took its toll on Joey
Barrington, as the Englishman battled hard against Finland's Olli
Tuominen.
Struggling with Tuominen's pace, Barrington managed to pull a game back
as he took the third on a tie-break, but subsided in the fourth as the
Finn pressed.
Tuominen goes on to face Shabana in round two.
 "It was good
match. I was a bit slow in the third, but still I got two match
balls in that game…
"I don’t think that today Joey could cope with my pace, and I was
controlling the match pretty well, standing on the T, and putting
the ball wherever I wanted…"
Olli Tuominen |
|
"It was the first time I've played Olli, and he played at a very
fast pace.
"With all the squash I’ve played recently, I wasn’t able to cope
with that speed, as I wasn’t able to back up on yesterday’s hard
match with Phil Barker, a 5 setter in 86 minutes.
"But Olli played very well today, he was in front of me a lot, and
hardly made any mistakes…"
Joey Barrington |
|
[6] Peter Nicol (Eng)
bt Adrian Grant (Eng)
7/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/6 (56m) |
Nervy Nicol gets
Grant revenge
Malcolm Willstrop
reports
The legendary Nicol lost last year in Hong Kong to fellow Englishman
Adrian Grant, so here was a chance for timely revenge.
For the first two games Nicol threatened to take control, but often
followed a good rally with a less good and found himself 1-0 down. Going
from 6-all to 9-6 he again looked to have control of the second, but
allowed Grant to 9-all before clinching it 11/9 to level the match.
The squash was of a very acceptable quality on a court where you have to
work for a living, but both players looked a little edgy with so much at
stake, Nicol perhaps more so - odd perhaps for a player of such
experience, not so odd for a player approaching twilight with high
expectations.
The threatened control looked a reality for Nicol at 5/0 and 8/3 in the
third, but he contrived to let Grant back in to 6/9 before
clinching the game on a forehand volley error from Grant 11/6. His lead
at this point was deserved enough, but never quite convincing enough to
suppose that a 2/1 lead would be conclusive.
From 5-all in the fourth Nicol went straight to 10/5 and at 10/6 Grant
contrived to lose the ball. On resumption a well-contested match was
quickly all over. Grant had competed well, and Nicol will surely be
better for the match.
|
 "I
was moving well… It was a pretty tight game, Adrian controlled the
first and second game, his length and width were better than mine,
but starting in the third, I was in control, my length and my width
were in place.
"In the third, he really went for it, but maybe got tired, or maybe
lost heart, and I knew then that if I could put together longer
rallies, he would struggle..
"I hadn’t played on that court [number 9] for 11 years, it was weird
to be back on there…"
Peter Nicol |
 "I felt that
I was in control for most of the match, I was getting my length, my
short game was good as well, but a bit like in Qatar, it all came
down to the last rallies of each game…
"I have to say I’m really not happy and very surprised that on three
tournaments, I should get Peter first round (Qatar, HK, Saudi). I
don’t think it’s fair really, I think I’ve probably got the toughest
draw…"
Adrian Grant |
|
Alex Wan ... zooooom |
Music for the Grinhams |
the Press at work |
| [16] Shahid Zaman (Pak)
bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (Fra) 13/11, 11/4,
10/12, 4/11, 11/8 (38m) |
RENAN SO CLOSE…
 André
Delhoste, National French coach, was watching the match of his
player (Renan has been training with him for a few months now) while
Framboise was observing Thierry.
He started a bit slow, but still got a game ball in the first. In the
second, he gets totally outplayed, but as his movement was getting
better, he got the next two.
In the fifth, it was Russian Roulette, it’s so hard to play against
Shahid, he makes the points, and he makes the errors, there is no
rhythm. At 7/7, those two had a tremendous rally, that Renan should have
concluded, as he created the opportunity, but put a boast in the tin.
After that, points seemed to run away from the Frenchman, who saved a
match ball, serving 10/8. A nick in the return of serve.
The end.
|
 "In the
first game, I had game ball, and I played the drop shot in the tin…
the same drop shot that gave me the match yesterday… And that was
the turning point, because as he is not at the top of his form at
the moment, it would have meant I had only two games to win, him
three, and from a mental point of view, it would have been crucial…
"Shahid has some great shots, but he is making so many mistakes
also, there is no rhythm at all…
"In the fifth, it was point for point until 7/7, then we had a mad
rally, I get the opportunity on a silver tray, and I clip the tin.
That gave him confidence, and as I’m serving, he plays a winner,
nothing I could have done…
"In the third, I saved a match ball, so I could have lost 3/0… I
think it all came down to the beginning of the match, I was too slow
to get into it, I paid for yesterday's marathon… |
|
[4] Lee Beachill
(Eng) bt Joe Kneipp (Aus)
11/2, 11/7, 10/12, 11/6 (52m) |
Beachill back after Doha
disaster
Malcolm Willstrop reports
Lee Beachill and Joe Kneipp have both struggled with motivation in
recent times, but it didn't show in their first round World Championship
match in front of a packed crowd.
Beachill began as if ready to make good last year's narrow defeat in the
world final and striking the ball with cleanliness and authority he won
the first 11/2 and the second 11/7, delaying as only he can.
Kneipp is a skilful operator with more than a touch of that elusive
quality, class, and urged on by Byron Davis he fought back well in the
third as Beachill lost a little accuracy. It went to a tie-break and the
Australian won it.
The fourth was well contested to half way, when Beachill reasserted
convincingly to win 11/6.
On this evidence there is little wrong with Beachill's game and his
match with John White should be well worth watching.
Kneipp will be heartened to have competed well enough with the World
Team Championship in Islamabad next week. He will be important to an
Australian team denuded of David Palmer.
|
Joe with his Uncle Patrick,
his first coach
Qatar champion looks on ... |
 "It
felt better today, getting a win, especially as Joe played very well
and I had to go through patches of stressful situations, it did a
lot of good to my confidence… At the end of the game, I thought I
was playing better, playing some decent shots again..
"It’s a different court from Qatar, it’s a fast front court, it
takes the shots very well, but it’s not as cold as Qatar… To come
back to my match against Alex, and I’m not taking anything away from
him, as he played extremely well, I was angry with the way I played,
although I prepared well, I worked hard, and I was playing pretty
well up to then, but on that day, I wasn’t happy with my mental
performance, with my physical performance, so I took a day off, I
had a reflection on the match, and to be honest, I could have gone
home that day, but I didn’t, I had some training with Peter, played
three matches with him, and went to Hong Kong…
"I’m not that kind of player who can play badly one day, have a
terrible match, and come back the next day full of confidence. I do
not work that way. I need to trust my game, to be confident in my
game, it’s a gradual process. And today was a step in the right
direction…"
Lee Beachill |
|
"I really REALLY wanted it…
 "A
few days ago, I called my uncle Patrick, who used to be my first
coach, the one who was following me while I was young, when I was
playing pretty well, so it was very special today to have him
around…
"I had a good start today, but it’s hard to play good squash with
all those things you are trying to think about, how do you play, the
technique, the length, how am I doing, and I said to myself “My God,
what I am doing?”. So after he punished me in the second, I knew I
had to do something, I knew I had to change something, so I stopped
being analytical, and started to ENJOY my squash…
"I was trying too hard, and whatever I was doing was not working… so
I decided to try and actually play…
"Lee is still too strong, he was tough and too good to beat, but I
gave it everything I had, and it’s starting to get better for the
World Teams, as you may remember that I told you I don’t mind
letting myself down, but I will not let my team mates down…"
Joe Kneipp |
|
 |
[11] John White (Sco)
bt [Q] Alex Gough (Wal)
11/5, 11/6, 10/12, 14/12 (59m) |
Gough tests White
John White and Alex Gough both came to Hong Kong in good shape, Gough
having reached the quarter-finals in Qatar as a qualifier, and White
coming so close to beating Thierry Lincou at the same stage, having
beaten Peter Nicol the previous day.
White attacked from the start to take a two-game advantage, but Gough
hung on, took the third on a tie-break and pushed White all the way in
the fourth before succumbing, again on a tie-break.
White goes on to play Lee Beachill, while Gough earns a well-deserved
rest ...
|
 |
"I’m tired now…
"Alex was pretty flat in the first and second games, but when he
gets in his running mode, and he starts with his top spin, and
backhand volley drop shots all over the place, and retrieves all
your shots, he is so dangerous…
"He is playing extremely well at the moment, he beat Lee in three on
a glass court, and that doesn’t happen often, he went through the
qualifiers in Saudi, Qatar, Hong Kong, so he is at the top of his
form…
"In the last game it was very close, and it was exhibition stuff out
there, and I was very lucky not to have to go back for a fifth game,
especially as we were chatting in the changing rooms, and he told me
he was up for a last one ... I wasn’t…
"It’s nice to have a good game, good length, good short game, and it
was good fun. A clean game, a fun game, as it always is with Alex…
"Tomorrow, a day of rest, a bit of training, and hopefully I’ll be
back in shape to play Lee in the next round and perform well…"
John White |
|
[1] Thierry
Lincou (Fra) bt Wael El Hindi (Egy)
11/5, 11/9, 11/6 (43m) |
Strong start to Titi's Title defence
Thierry Lincou started the defence of his world title with a strong,
solid performance, despatching Wael El Hindi in straight games.
The Egyptian looked dangerous as he led in the second, but Lincou
regained control to set up an all-French second round against Gregory
Gaultier.
 "In
the first, I was playing fine until 5/5, and he got tighter and
tighter, and just clipped the top of the tin too many times… I just
wanted to play tight, but he was so sharp, and when I got in the
front in the second, he got even tighter…
"He is one of those players who gets an edge from being behind score
wise, he is so dangerous when he is down, he is getting stronger and
sharper…
"I’m not that mad about having lost, he is the world number one, I
think I played ok, too many errors, but it’s good to learn…"
Wael El Hindi |
|
 "I
had to produce a big effort in coming back in the second, as I knew
that against a player as dangerous as Wael, a 2/0 lead would be a
huge boost.
"In the third, he was very sharp but he started to make the errors
and allowed me to stay in front…
"Wael is a big guy, he is never easy to play, and our matches are
usually pretty physical, and I was ready for it…
"I’m happy to win the first round, but to be honest, I didn’t feel
any stress or any pressure today, I just didn’t feel anything,
except the will of playing good squash, and trying to beat my
opponent of the day… "
Thierry Lincou |
|
[10] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
bt [Q] Ramy Ashour (Egy)
11/5, 11/2 rtd (sore knee) (18m) |
Greg let off lightly
Lincou's compatriot Gregory Gaultier enjoyed an easier passage into
the second round as Egypt's world junior champion Ramy Ashour, who has
been turnig in some excellent performances against top seniors in recent
weeks, was forced to concede after two games, unable to continue die to
a knee injury.
 "I’m relaxed
about my match tomorrow against Thierry, I’m not going to think too
much about it, and I will just play my game…
"Sooner or later, you’ve got to beat everybody, might as well be the
World Champion! Well, I’m saying that, but it’s not going to be a
walk in the park, is it… The fastest will be the winner…
"He’ll have more pressure than me, as every time he steps on court,
people are waiting for him to lose, so he will be nervous, and he
will have to work pretty hard…
"I’ve found my self confidence, I’m now fully recovered from my
injury that kept me away for four months, and it’s that absence that
gave me the drive to work hard and do what ever it took training
wise to be at my best…
It will be a mental thing…
Gregory Gaultier |
|
"The first game was very good, I was feeling fine, but then my body
started to feel loose, I had no energy.
"In the third, I had a sharp pain in my knee, the same pain that I
had with my injury a few months ago. So I had to stop…
"My physio in Egypt told me not to play too much squash, that my
knee wouldn’t take it. I didn’t believe him, now I do…
"Greg was so good today, he put me under so much pressure, he was so
fast, he is such a good player…"
Ramy Ashour |
|
Tegwen Malik (Wal)
bt
[11] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) 9/7, 9/6, 9/7 (42m) |
Tegwen Topples Kitchen
 The
only upset of the day's play saw Wales' Tegwen Malik record one of her
best wins, to move into the second round of of a Grand Prix event for
the first time in her career.
The 30-year-old from Swansea now meets Egypt's eighth seed Omneya Abdel
Kawy. |
 |
[15] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg)
bt
[Q] Samantha Teran (Mex) 9/6, 9/3,
9/5 (42m) |
Chiu Cheers Home Fans
 Rebecca
Chiu, the local lass, seemed to have lapses of concentration
today, or perhaps it was the pressure playing in front of the home
crowd. In the beginning, she was dominating the game but when
Samantha Teran started to play more aggressively, she seemed to be
lost.
She hung on to win, but the same happened again in the second game.
Chiu started very confidently, volleying a lot and pushing the Mexican
to the back, and again did enough to win.
Soon, she was 6-0 up in the third, but once again allowed Teran to
gain three consecutive points – two strokes and a not up call - before
closing out the match to the delight of the local fans.
|
"I didn’t expect her to come on so
aggressively and I had assumed she wouldn’t be used to this court.
"I played well initially but allowed her back in the game many
times.
"Playing in Hong Kong can sometimes be pressurizing but it’s also an
advantage where I have the crowd behind me. I feel I always play
well here anyway."
Rebecca Chiu
|
|
 |
|
Rachael Races Through
The world number one was just far too good for the tall Scot. Playing a
highly deceptive game, Nimmo was constantly wrong footed by Grinham's
amazing flicks.
After a while, Nimmo was even frustrated, not sure if it was with
herself or just by the fact that there was nothing she could do ... |
 "I
feel good. The first match always has more pressure and I am glad I
went through, The match might have looked easy but I had to play
100%.
"The court was surprisingly bouncy because when I practiced last
night, it was totally dead. Tomorrow, when I play Rebecca, I will
need to be at 100% again. "
Rachael Grinham |
|
Alex & Rebecca |
Heather Dayton |
Sisterly advice |
|
No sweat for Omneya
The former world junior champion was simply a class above Dianne Desira
today.
Unleashing a series of amazing winners, she despatched the Australian in
half an hour as she calmly moved into the second round, where
surprise package Tegwen Malik awaits.
|
 "She
played very well today and I didn’t expect it. What I mean is she
played above herself.
"I’m still tired from jet lag so I didn’t play my best, but I still
think I played well and I'm looking forward to the next round. The
court is funny because some parts were very bouncy and some were
dead, so you never know ..."
Omneya Abdel Kawy
|
|
 |
[10] Madeline
Perry (Irl) bt
Melissa Martin (Aus) 9/3, 5/9, 9/2, 9/4 (31m) |
Perry pips Martin
The first game was just filled with tins from the Aussie, which
practically gave Perry the game.
However, she came back strongly in the second with some amazing winners.
But the Irish champion was retrieving and keeping the rallies going more
than Martin hitting winners… |
 "It’s
always difficult playing Melissa because she always goes for the
shots. I just had to keep the rallies going and hope she’d make some
mistakes.
"The courts in Hong Kong are nice, I’ve played here a couple of
times so I do not have a problem with it. Against Jenny in the next
round, it should be interesting because we practice together all the
time. In practice it always goes to five games, so we’ll see."
Madeline Perry |
|
|
Naude ends American aims
Sporting green hair this season, Dutch number two Annelize Naude played
basic and effective squash to end any American challenge in the World
Open.
While Latasha Khan gave her best to match Naude’s hard hitting lengths,
she was just short each time.
Naude plays the winner of Natalie Grinham and Becky Botwright, whose
match was delayed until tomorrow due to Grinham's late arrival from
Qatar. |
 |
[7]
Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) 9/2, 9/2, 9/5 (34m) |
Duncalf despatches Dominique
In one of two all-English first round matches (Laura Lengthorn faces
Suzy Pierrepont tomorrow) it was Jenny Duncalf, elevated today to
world number eight, who imposed her game on Dominique Lloyd-Walter, to
set up a meeting with training partner Madeline Perry.
 "I
felt pretty comfortable throughout the match, Dominique and I know
each other’s game rather well, as we train together a lot, she came
and spent a week with me in the summer.
It's the same with Madeline who I’m playing tomorrow, we don’t live
far from each other, so we train a lot together…
"It’s nice to be back in a tournament after three days of non
activity… Tomorrow, a day of rest and then the next match…"
Jenny Duncalf |
|
 |
Hawkes loses out in five |
Teran beats Mak |
Mark Mak & Tony Choi |
|
