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Day TWO,
Tuesday 5th April:
First Round, Bottom Half:
[11] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN)
11/6, 11/6, 11/4 (44m)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Rodney Durbach (RSA)
7/11, 11/10(4-2), 11/6, 11/10(4-2) (64m)
Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [14] Adrian Grant (ENG)
11/9, 11/9, 2/11, 11/6 (62m)
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Wael El Hindi (EGY)
11/8, 11/3, 11/6 (39m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [15] Joseph Kneipp (AUS)
11/6, 11/4, 11/5 (27m)
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Dan Jenson (AUS)
11/6, 12/10, 11/3 (39m)
[13] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK)
8/11, 11/9, 11/9, 11/9 (46m)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Bradley Ball (ENG)
11/3, 11/4, 11/6 (30m)
No sweat for Nicol
On the glass court Azlan Iskandar caused a minor upset with a 3/1
win over Adrian Grant, and Peter Nicol celebrated his birthday with
a comfortable 3/0 win over Egypt's Wael El Hindi.
In the evening session Canada's Graham Ryding recovered from a
first game loss to beat Mansoor Zaman in four, and Lee Beachill
finished the day off with a straightforward victory against compatriot
Bradley Ball ...
Framboise reports from the
Jessie Vesey
Centre
At The Club
The first session at the BSRA saw Anthony Ricketts and James
Willstrop set up another meeting, but while Ricketts scored a
relatively comfortable win Willstrop was stretched to the limit by Rodney
Durbach.
Olli Tuominen then continued the cull of the minor seeds with a 3/0
victory over Joe Kneipp. Karim Darwish rounded off the day's play
with a 3/0 win over Dan Jenson. Malcolm
Willstrop reports from the BSRA
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En
BREF
Robert Edwards kicks off the
Masters ... What are the odds ...
Big Mistake Wael ... |
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Day ONE:
White Prevails in Opener,
Lincou dashes Home Hopes
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BIG DECEPTION FOR WAEL
The Egyptian Wael El Hindi had a lot of expectations for this
match. Maybe too much? Maybe he burnt all his adrenalin before the match
by thinking so much about it, that he had nothing left when the encounter
actually started…
“It’s a way of looking at it,” said a displeased Peter Nicol on
hearing my theory.
Yes, there is also the other explanation. The one which says that the Boss
was so up there, so dominating the rallies from the start, that he just
asphyxiated his opponent, didn’t give him any chance, any opportunity, any
opening, any angle to place his winning shots or his marks…
Yes, it could be that as well…
Whatever is was, the match was extremely one sided, and The Boss was in
control of the rallies and the match from the first ball to the last, and
the result was never in doubt…
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Wael El Hindi (EGY)
11/8, 11/3, 11/6 (39m)
 "I
was not comfortable with my game in the front, with my short game
today, but my length was good, and I built on that.
"I feel good, I feel really fantastic, but then again, it’s the
first day of a long week, I will have to make sure I make it at
each round
"I played well, good length, moving well, a couple of things that
could be improved, like my short game, especially the volleying,
so I’ll be working on that tomorrow morning.
"Every tournament, I just keep on getting better…
"I just love playing squash, that why I keep doing it. I had two
years that weren’t the best of my life, that made me think, I was
not sure I still wanted to do it. Now I know I still want to play
squash. But now, more than losing or winning, it’s the fun of it
that interests me. I want to enjoy my squash, and it’s by enjoying
it that I will win tournaments again, and especially, my 50th one…
"I’ve been extremely impressed by the Virtual Spectator
technology, as a promoter especially, I think that what they can
bring to the sport is amazing…"
Peter Nicol |
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 "I
feel like I have no energy, the court was very hot, and my legs felt
very heavy. I was so pumped up for this match, everybody has been
saying to me that I could beat him, because I'm playing well at the
moment, that I could cause an upset.
"I think I should have thought less about winning, and more about
playing good squash… And also, he played so well…
"I had the feeling that I was watching myself play, that I wasn’t in
the match, that my head wasn’t on the court. That’s why I’m not
happy…"
Wael El Hindi |
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VOLLEYING COULD BE THE KEY…
“On this court, if a player volleys a lot, he can make you look like you
can’t play squash,” John White said to me today, when I told him that
Adrian Grant had lost against Azlan Iskandar.
“Did Azlan volley a lot?” John asked.
“Constantly,” I replied.
“Well, there you are,” smiled the Tall Man.
To tell you the truth, like Azlan mentioned in his after match
interview, it was not the most fascinating match to watch. A lot of
unforced errors from Adrian, a few mis-hits, some long rallies with not
too much happening… But still, they both worked pretty hard, some of the
rallies were really well contested, nice attacks and retrieving, good
winning shots from Azlan, great lengths from Adrian.
But today, Grant never seemed to really settle into the match. His cross
courts were not that precise, he was a bit too reactive, and didn’t seem
to be able to step up the pace as he normally can do under pressure.
Still, a good victory for the young Iskandar. Neil Harvey must be happy
for his player who is now facing the redoubtable Anthony Ricketts in the
next round…
Mohd Azlan Iskandar bt [14] Adrian Grant
11/9, 11/9, 2/11, 11/6 (62m)
 "It
feels good, but I’ve got the feeling Adrian didn’t play at his
best, he was making a lot of unforced errors that were quite
uncharacteristic of him. I had the feeling also that he wasn’t as
fit as normal, but the best man on the day won I guess.
"I have a lot of respect for Adrian, and even when there was
contact, we always try to be careful of each other. We are here to
play squash, and make a living out of it…
"Last time I played him, I was 2/1 up and 2/0, and I lost, because
I got too excited. Today, I was more composed, and I played more
calmly. If he was attacking, I was accepting his game, but I was
still playing my shots, instead of trying to match his.
"I think that I was able to win points today, but I didn’t lose
many of them, as I can sometimes do. It was not top squash, the
pace was high in patches, but there was moments where it was
really slow…"
Azlan
Iskandar |
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 "He
was up at the front, and was taking the ball very early, he was
volleying a lot, and putting me under a lot of pressure. I responded
too late, that’s the whole story I’m afraid…"
Adrian Grant |
©2005 SquashSite
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MANSOOR: CLOSE, SO CLOSE...
There are
a few players on the circuit that are a mystery. Some days, they could be
world number one, and the next, even I could coach them…
Well, Mansoor Zaman is one of those enigmatic players. I saw him
throwing matches away, I saw him playing amazingly well, for a whole game,
against Peter Nicol in particular I Kuwait, and today, he stayed
concentrated and focused for the whole match…
Graham Ryding has got so many tee-shirts he could open a
memorabilia shop, he has the experience of an old timer, the heart of a
beginner, and the legs of Marathon Man.
 In
other words, he is a bit dangerous, is the Canadian.
But today, he had to dig in, not too deep though, but dig in nevertheless…
Mansoor was precise, his volley drop shots lethal, he placed a few rolling
nicks, hit low, and followed the ball to the four corners …
But most of all, most of all, he stayed in the match the whole time, the
length of the game attests of the player’s concentration: 9, 14, 13 and 11
minutes and he got close, very close, probably too close for the
Canadian’s taste.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th games were all on the same pattern. Mansoor would be
up, then would be caught up, then they would go 7/7, 8/8, 9/9, and then,
Graham was able to push that much more, and, maybe the experience was
talking there, was able to play the crucial points that much better.
But overall, Mansoor can be proud of himself, he did well today…
[13] Graham
Ryding bt Mansoor Zaman
8/11, 11/9, 11/9, 11/9 (46m) |
 "It
was a hard game today, he was taking me out of my rhythm, I found it
very difficult…
"I feel OK, not great. When you play against Mansoor, you never know
what you are going to get, if he is going to give his 100% or not. I
had a pretty bad start, and he was pretty sharp, he was playing well.
"You always get better as the tournament goes on… It all depends how
quickly you find your game, and today, I just couldn’t find it…
"Tomorrow, against Beachill, I will have to take the ball very early,
and not let him to in front, because once he finds his rhythm, he is
so dangerous. So, I will have to execute my game as quickly as
possible."
Graham Ryding |
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BRADLEY: DISAPPOINTMENT…
 Like
I told him after the match, I was expecting more today from the tall and
passionate Englishman, who is getting closer and closer to a spot in the
English National Team. Especially on the glass court, so beneficial to the
volleyers, and God knows that Bradley Ball can volley…
Yes, but then again, he was playing the former world number one, Mr Lee
Beachill, the Controller, as Robert Edwards calls him… And once Lee
has got some speed, once he is on his way, caracoling in front, try and
stop him, try and tell him that you would like very much him to stop…
Yeah, like that’s going to happen…
So, when courageous Bradley tried a comeback in the third, and played his
best game of the match, reducing his unforced errors tremendously, Lee
could contain him with not too much trouble, by lengthening the rallies
and placing THE drop shot at the right place at the right time…
A little tired after a long and successful season for Ball, an eye on the
Trophy for Beachill, and a very logical result, 3/0 in 30 minutes. Logic
prevailed…
[2] Lee Beachill bt Bradley Ball
11/3, 11/4, 11/6 (30m) |
 "I
think Bradley was probably a bit nervous, the game was a bit scrappy,
it was difficult to get into any rhythm. It’s always good to win, but
he may be disappointed with the way he played today…
"Qatar 2003 was a great tournament for me, and last year here was also
a big boost of confidence… I really feel that I can be the best player
in the world, it’s just a question of proving it now.
"Tomorrow, I’m playing Graham, it’s always a tough game, he’s proved
time and time again that he is capable of putting some great matches
together. He is so experienced, and I have no doubt he will be playing
well, especially as he’s got nothing to lose, and no pressure on him
at all…"
Lee
Beachill |
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 "Physically,
I don’t feel at the top of my game, and if you are feeling that way
when you play Lee Beachill, you’ll get beaten easily. I’m pretty tired
of this year really, it has been twelve long months, I’m ready for a
break now…
"After all, you do what you can on the day, and I was not feeling at
my top, and I was playing Lee Beachill. It’s the first time I've
played him in PSA, and also the first time ever I lost 3/0! It was
definitely not a good day…"
Bradley Ball |
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 AT
THE CLUB
Malcolm Willstrop watches the matches on the BSRA courts ...
Ricketts overpowers Razik
The first of the day's matches at Bermuda Squash Club was between
Anthony Ricketts, resurgent after his Tournament of Champions win in
New York, and Shahier Razik, the Canadian whose recent form has
been below his best level.
Were it a boxing match it probably would never have been allowed - the
frail, forlorn-looking Razik against the heavyweight aggressor Ricketts.
The Australian, as is his wont, soon asserted himself with the officials,
demanding oddly to be told which side to serve from every rally - that's a
new one to me.
Razik's paceless, delicate game doesn't suit Ricketts in some ways, but
when the Canadian had an opening the same lack of power prevented him from
finishing. He battled well enough, but in truth he never even ruffled
Ricketts' feathers enough to get him really vocal.
The scoreline doesn't flatter Razik, but it does illustrate the
hopelessness of his task.
[11] Anthony Ricketts bt Shahier Razik
11/6, 11/6, 11/4 (44m)
Durbach tests Willstrop
James Willstrop and battle-hardened Rodney Durbach were next
on and it turned out a much closer-run thing than might have been
anticipated.
Durbach settled the quicker and controlled the first game at 7/2.
Willstrop came back to 6/8 and 7/9, but the South African deservedly won
it 11/7.
The young Englishman found better depth in the second, led 8/3 before
Durbach eventually levelled at 10-all, aided by some deft touches in the
front right. Willstrop won the tie-break 14/12 and quickly went 2/1 up,
playing a little better without ever convincing.
There had already been a blood stoppage for Durbach in the second game and
Willstrop was finding the court slippy and wanting it wiped, whereas the
South African had no problem with it.
Willstrop went clear in the fourth, 8/3, but a series of unfocused rallies
brought another tiebreaker, which the fifth seed won 13/11, much to his
relief I suspect.
Durbach certainly played determinedly well, but Willstrop will have to
play at a higher level to beat Ricketts tomorrow.
[5] James Willstrop
bt Rodney Durbach
7/11, 11/10(4-2), 11/6, 11/10(4-2) (64m) |
Olli tames Joe
The third match promised plenty, but delivered very little, as Olli
Tuominen faced up to Joe Kneipp.
The Australian seemed very testy and spoke to the referee Ian Allanach in
the first game in an unacceptable manner, especially as the referee's
decision was correct and his explanation clear and concise. It seemed as
if he didn't want to be on court, as the Finn got down to work
purposefully, moving well and using the drop to advantage.
 "I
was mentally and physically weak, and he was playing very well and he
was hungry for it, which I was lacking… Now, back to the drawing
board, and let’s find some motivation…"
Joe Kneipp |
Surprisingly Kneipp grew less and less
interested, seemingly wishing he was elsewhere and Tuominen ran away with
it 3/0. Even he must have been surprised at the ease of it all, since
everyone knows Kneipp can play.
Olli Tuominen
bt [15] Joe Kneipp
11/6, 11/4, 11/5 (27m)
 "I
was lucky to have a really good start. My game plan was to try to
surprise him, as I was hoping he wouldn’t be ready for a very fast
pace right from the start. And luckily enough, he wasn’t.
"Throughout the match, I was happy with
my short game in particular, I made very few mistakes, a few good
winning shots. Like I said, I was ahead very quickly, and it all
worked out all right…
Olli
Tuominen |
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Worrying
Trends ...
Some of the behavioural trends are disturbing: addressing referees
arrogantly is not acceptable and there seems to be a lot of mistrust
amongst certain players, who continually doubt their opponent's pickups.
Let's not emulate the way of soccer, with its commonplace cheating,
defiance of officials, bad language ... ... there will never be an Olympic
place on that basis.
Malcolm Willstrop
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