[3] Karim ali Fathi (Egy) bt Joel Hinds (Eng)
          11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10 (98m)

Report by Madison Squash Workshop Member Ahmed Afifi

Based on their rankings, most of the fans were expecting Karim to win as he had disposed of Martin Knight yesterday relatively easily. However, Joel has had a terrific tournament, and also won 3/0 yesterday. It was a perfect setting as the amateur tournament had just concluded and there were no games on the other courts. You could hear a pin drop. Time for squash.

Karim won the first two games 11/7 and 11/6. Joel kept trying to change the pace, varying from going short to hitting hard to playing the depth of the court. Although Joel was the one changing the pace more, Karim controlled the game and was comfortable with whatever pace Joel wanted to play. However, Karim had expended more energy and Joel was using his height advantage to perfection.

In third game Karim took his foot off the pedal; big mistake. Joel kept running him more and more. More importantly, whenever Joel had an opening, he did not hesitate to go for the nick, which he found more and more often ,especially on the front right hand corner. At 8/5, Karim seemed to have decided to save his energy for the next game. At 10/5 Joel hit a lose length . It was going to be an easy let call for Karim that even Joel was heading back to the service box to play a let. Karim however was not interested, did not ask for the let, and just headed out of the court conceding the game.

The fourth was a lot like the third. Karim was not only physically exhausted, but he was also feeling under a lot of pressure . He did not want to take any risks and was not decisive when he had an opening. Joel was better at the physical game, and looked like he was willing to stay on the court forever. He kept moving Karim to all corners, and although Karim had many chances, he lacked the confidence to finish the rally. Joel was in full control and won the game. At this point, Karim had run out of gas and out of ideas.

Karim’s friend and countryman Mohammed Abouelghar ( who the fans hope will play himself in the next Madison Open) tried to lend some advice between games, and it was Peter Creed doing the same to Joel between games.

However, Karim was now extremely tired, and this showed clearly in the fifth game. His play lacked confidence or strategy, and Joel was looking more and more closer to his first Madison Open title. A long rally ended in Joel’s best drop shot of the night, which Karim’s fully stretched body could not reach. Not only was it 9/5 to Joel, but Karim seemed to have pulled an muscle on the inside of his thigh. He walked around the court for a few minutes.

Everyone thought it was all over for Karim, and he himself later admitted he thought the same. Ironically, this worked to his advantage; it took off the pressure. He then went on to produce his best points of the tournemant, playing solid offensive squash that you only see from the players ranked in the top 20. He climbed back to 9/9. Joel got a match ball at 10/9 , but Karim was simply on fire by now and was not going to let go.

He won three points in a row to win the best game in the tournament, and as our host Damon Bourne (this is his real name, even before the Bourne movies came out), latter said, “ this is the best final in the Madison Open five year history”.

However, Karim will be most remembered for what he said when given the microphone after the game. He was courteous to Damon, the other players , the fans, and gave a lot of credit to Dr. Jeff King ( the chiropractor and physical therapist who has been helping all the professional and amateur players) and the masseuse ( who was busy with a lot of sore players over the last 5 days.

 “Without them, I would never have won”. Mature and gracious words from a 20 year old gentlemen. Thanks Karim and Joel for a great final match. This is definitely the best small PSA event around, and as Karim described it “it feels like I am in a 50K event."

The win marks Fathi's sixth PSA title.
  

 photos by Tom Mcinvaille

11/8, 11/7, 11/4 (65m)

Peter Creed

11/7, 11/6, 5/11, 7/11, 12/10 (98m)

[3] Karim Ali Fathi

11/9, 11/7, 11/5 (51m)

[2] Martin Knight

semis photos by
Dan Masliah

Quarter-Finals in Wisconsin              photos by Tom Mcinvaille

Peter Creed bt Charles Sharpes 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9

In a nail biter of a match, Peter Creed upset the seedings by beating 4 seed Charles Sharpes 3-2. First game was back and forth all the way to 9 all, until Peter broke free to take it 11-9. Charles took 6 points in a row from 5 all to take the second. Creed reasserted himself in the 3rd and took it 11-5. The fourth was close and went to Charles. Pete was rolling in the fourth, but visibly tightened up at 9-5. Focused a bit, fished for a let or two, but finally won 11-9.

Peter Creed: “I didn’t play as tightly as I wanted, but played well enough and was focused until 9-5 in the fifth. Then I started thinking about winning the match rather than what I was doing.

Karim Ali Fathibt Coleman 11-3, 3-11, 11-4, 11-7
Report by Ahmed Afifi

In the first game the players took their time getting a feel of the court, with long rallies and mostly safe defensive play, with neither of the players willing to take any risks. It was all even till 3/3, then Karim ran away with the game to take it 11-3. Ben returned the favor in the second, winning it with a similar score of 11-3.

The players were starting to go for more offensive shots, and they looked more comfortable on the court. This continued into the third game, with more drop shots and offensive play from both players. Karim was helped by three lucky nicks in the first few rallies, and this seemed to be frustrating Ben. At 5-1 to Karim, there was long conversation between the players which no one from the stands could figure what they were saying, but from the smiles on their faces, it seemed that it was all friendly. Karim managed to win this game 11-7, and was looking comfortable covering all the angles of the court, and going consistently for low hard shots in the front nick.

The high level and intensity continued into the fourth game, with both players producing nice squash and refusing to give up on any shots. It did look though that Karim was controlling more of the pace, and although Ben was playing excellent squash with nice attacking drops, he was frustrated that Karim was retrieving everything he threw at him. Karim went back to a basic game, making very few unforced errors. At 10-5, Ben was able to pull back two points.

A long rally ended in a very close let call. The following rally was also controversial, with Karim playing a cross court drop into the nick to seemingly win the game. Ben appealed that the ball was down, but referee had seen the ball as good. There was a long pause as Ben and the fans were waiting to see if the referee would reverse his call, and Karim finally left the court knowing that will not happen.

It would have been nice to see the players shake hands at the end, because we all definitely enjoyed it.

Karim: “I needed to be steady throughout. I lost some of that in the second, but was able to get it back in the third and fourth. Now I’m getting ready for the old guy!"

Martin Knight bt Clinton Leeuw 13-11, 12-10, 11-5

First game looked like it was going to be quick with Knight leading 10-4. Then things got interesting and he only managed to squeak it out 12-10. The second was also tight with another 12-10 finish. In the third Martin got off to a good start and Clinton was not able to mount a comeback.

Martin Knight: “That first game was crucial in terms of momentum. That I was finally able to win made a big difference. The third started the same as the first, but Clinton couldn’t bring it back. Always happy to win in three. That was hard work.”


Joel Hinds bt Dane Sharp 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 13-11
report by Eric Drier

I think the spectators might be tired after this match. And the first game did not set the tone. Dane won it fairly easily at 11-5, moving the ball around a bit and attacking when the opportunity arose. He defended well too. Joel was playing well, but not yet fully into the match. Joel really woke up in the second game. It was long and very closely fought. Both players were attacking well, moving well, and defending well.

There wasn’t much in it. It was a matter of who would clear by 2 in the end, and Joel got to 14 while Dane was still at 12. Level match. The third was a bit the opposite of the first, with Joel getting the better of the rallies at the end, and he came through at 11-6. The even games were to be the tough ones apparently, as both players dug in for the fourth. This was all-court squash, rather than up and down the walls. They seemed to like to attack on the left side mostly, however. Dane got somewhat clear at 8-6, but Joel fought back. Seeming winners were being returned with interest.

It typically took several winning shots to actually win a rally. Joel got to match ball at 10-9. Dane then hit a perfectly struck drop into the front left nick to even it. Dane moves to game ball at 11-10. Then Joel evens it. Joel has match ball at 12-11. A short and chaotic point ends with Joel dropping a loose ball from Dane into the right front. Too good. No let. A hard and high quality match to Joel, 3 games to 1.

Dane Sharp: I felt like I was hitting the ball really well, but tactically didn't get it right tonight. Needed to construct rallies more maturely. Joel played the big points well. Credit to him. He was tougher on the day.

Round One in Wisconsin               photos by Tom Mcinvaille

Peter Creed bt Anthony Graham 11-8, 11-8, 11-9

First match on tonight between two players who have now played the Madison Open four times. Despite the three game score line, it was a tough match. Peter proved more steady at the crucial moments, and in classic Creedy style, he spent a lot of time laid out completely horizontal.

Creed said after the match: "Pleased to get off in three. Controlled the tempo of the match well. Looking forward to tomorrow."

Charles Sharpes Erik Tepos Valtierra 11-3, 11-7, 13-15, 11-6
Report by Dave Fields

Sharpes established himself from the beginning taking a 5-0 lead in the first game and not looking back through the first two games. Tepos' quickness kept the rallies long, but Sharpes looked confident and well in control. Sharpes started fast in the third game, taking an 8-2 lead, but Tepos clawed his way back in and turned what looked like an easy win into an epic battle.

Sharpes seemed to lose concentration, hitting tin several times and Tepos eventually took the game 15-13 in 22 minutes. Despite the grueling third game, both players came out strong in the fourth, but Sharpes slowly wore Tepos down and took the match 11-6 in the fourth.

Sharpes: "Happy to win today. Bit disappointed to let it go to 4 in the end. Lost concentration in third game, but I am happy to get through and progress in the tournament."

Sharpes is coming off a solid but disappointing showing in the Charlottesville Challenger, where he came up short in the final to Martin Knight, who is also in Madison this weekend. He said it has been a challenge to reestablish focus and start at the beginning of a new tournament.

Tepos: "I think I played good, but I need to play with more confidence from the first." Tepos felt like he let Sharpes control the first two games before establishing himself in the third. Unfortunately it was not enough to save the match.

Ben Coleman bt Gonzalo Miranda 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5
Report by Jeff Hanson

In a dramatic display of retreiving, fitness, and mental endurance, Ben Coleman of England and Gonzalo Miranda of Argentina treated the Madison audience to a captivating first round match. For a full 5 games requiring over 90 minutes to reach a final outcome, the two combatants traded lengths, volleys, kills, and retrievals which underscored their proximity in the latest PSA world rankings -- placing Coleman at #85 and Miranda at #95 as of September. In the end, the match was almost as close as the rankings, with Coleman hanging on until mid-way through the fifth game when he was finally able to pull away from an exhausted but still battling Miranda.

A see-saw affair throughout, the match was punctuated by several 100+ hit rallies, even into the fifth game. Both players not only demonstrated great control along the left wall, each of them showed great resilience time and again in digging out kills and crosses to length that looked like sure winners. After a close start, Coleman prevailed in the first game as his length and pace steadily improved, setting up two cross court winners as well as a couple of unforced errors from Miranda.

The second game saw a gradual reversal in momentum, with Miranda steadily hitting tighter backhand rails to move ahead from 8 all to win 11-9 and even up the match. Coleman picked the pace back up in the third, consistently cutting off Miranda's crosscourts with volleys that sent his opponent scrambling back into the corner -- though as Coleman remarked after the match, "the volleys didn't have as much effect on him as I would have hoped."

Still, he managed to outlast Miranda in the third and looked poised to close out the match when his opponent appeared to tire a bit after several devastatingly long rallies at the beginning of the fourth. But it was Coleman who appeared to tire at this point and Miranda moved ahead from 4 all to an 8-4 lead, closing out the fourth game at 11-6 and setting the stage for a final game.

At 3-all in the 5th, Miranda finally started to show the toll that the marathon points were taking, and Coleman pulled ahead for good by playing steady, smart squash to claim the victory.

"I am relieved to have won, actually," said Coleman following the match. "He played very well and it was just a really tough match. I feel good now but don't ask me about tomorrow...."

Karim Ali Fathi bt Paul Coll 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 12-10

Interesting match against two very evenly matched players. Came down to who won the crucial points. Several times Coll worked very hard to establish control of a point only to end it with an unforced error. Clearly disappointed with his performance during the match, the young Kiwi couldn't seem to keep it together while the Egyptian's movement and steady play got him through to the second round.

Joel Hinds bt Geoff Demont 11-5, 11-3, 2-11, 11-6

Battle of the giants. Too big guys who take up a lot of court space. These boys played at a terrific tempo thoughout the match, but it seemed to take its toll on Demont as the match wore on.

Martin Knight bt Nathan Lake 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 12-10

Coming off his win in Charlottesville last week, and two previous finals the weeks before, Martin had a bit more of a match than he would have liked. Nathan came out sharper and stronger in the first, while Martin seemed a little flat. In the second he started to right the ship and took an easy win at 11-3.

The fourth was a physical game, but nothing like the 5th. Lake very nearly took this one to a fifth game having 4 game balls before Knight managed to steady himself and close out the match from 6-10 down.

Dane Sharp bt Shaun Le Roux 11-2, 11-6, 13-11

In the only upset of the night, Dane Sharp of Canada beat Shaun Le Roux in 3 pretty quick games. Sharp was on the ball quicker and put it into the nick at will sometimes. Le Roux, on the other hand, seemed flat and couldn't seem to get himself in any sort of flow.

Sharp said after the match, "I felt like I played well. I was getting down to the ball and played tough. I felt confident going into the match as I lost in five to Shaun in December and I've improved a lot thanks to the work I've put in with my new coach Keith Griffiths.

"I feel like I can play at a top 50 level and it feels good to prove it out there. Looking forward to the weekend."
 

Martin Knight on Madison TV