[4] Daryl Selby (Eng) 3-0 Reiko Peter (Sui)
              11/7, 11/8, 11/8 (36m)

YELLOW FEAST

Bless them, we had a bit of yellow on court, gave it the sun feel we want!!!

Joke apart, I was truly impressed by the improvement that Reiko showed. First game, he kept it in with Daryl in an impressive patient and physical battle, 12m of hard rallies. He stayed in up to 5/5, then as it often happens, a bit of drop of energy, 2 tins, and Daryl gave it a big push, 11/7.

The second is on the same pattern, but not without an excellent start from Reiko, 4/0. A few errors, under pressure from Daryl, back at 6/6, much faster pace though, good intensity from the young man. But again a bit of drop energy wise for the Swiss, Daryl 9/6, a bit of second wind for Reiko, some nice winners, but 11/8 for the Englishman, 10m.

The third is again a close affair, 2/2, 4/4, 5/5, 7/7, the crowd loud and enjoying the game as Reiko really went for nice shots and both of them producing some lovely rallies, exhibition style! The Swiss came as close as 8/9, loud noise I tell you, but Daryl’s been there before, and he patiently worked his opponent at the back to make the court pretty big. 11/8 in 9m….

It was a good match, he played well, he’s always been very good with a racquet, but over the past two years, he’s improved from a physical point of view, and that makes him very dangerous as a player.

It was nice that the crowd supported him and got behind their man! I didn’t took it at heart…

It’s a very good court, it’s the Canary Wharf court, it was a bit bouncy, I guess because of the number of people that came to watch tonight.

I’ve been playing in the Swiss League for Grasshopper for a few years now, and it’s a privilege to play for a team that brings such a showcase for squash in Zurich. Two years ago, the price money was 25K, last year 35K, and this year, making it on the glasscourt with a 50K. It’s a tribute to everybody in Zurich and anyone involved in the tournament.

And I hope I’ll put my name on the trophy again, like I did two years ago. Just thought I would mention it!!!!

I’m so sorry I lost in front of my home crowd, but I’m really really happy with the way I played tonight. I stuck to my game plan, especially in the 1st and 3rd game, I played my tactics right.

And the 5th, well, it could have gone either way. But I guess it helped him having the knowledge he hasn’t beaten me for a while and he is not number 11 in the world for nothing!!!

It was a very long match over 100m…. only 82?? It felt much longer to me, and for me that’s really long!

It was a very fair match, very few lets. And may I add how grateful I am that such an event has been organised in Zurich. Thanks to all involved.

Yes I got tired in the 3rd, but it was not so much of the breathing that was the problem, more the legs that just didn’t have the push I normally have. And I made far too many errors in there, opening the court too much for him to do whatever he wanted, giving him far too many options, and when I had the options, I would make the error.

At the moment, my backhand volley seems to work nicely, but not tonight! But the fact he got tired (like I was) in the 4th, helped me to give it that little push and go a bit further. Whereas he was so fast, ridiculously fast like he was in El Gouna, in the 4th, he got a bit slower, and I saw it. That really helped me.

OF course, if you play in front of your home crowd, you are bound to have that push that little bit extra, I’ve felt it so many times in Paderborn. But every time we play, it’s getting more and more difficult to beat him, he is getting more mature, he is fitter, and he doesn’t play around with ridiculous shots anymore. So I’m so glad I managed to beat him in Zurich!

You know, as Joey keeps on repeating, we are very good friends. But once the door is close, we are so competitive. Even in training, we just go for every shot, we scream for every shot, we kill each other. And that’s the way it should be.

So sorry the home boy is not in competition anymore, but I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunity for him to play again in front of his homecrowd.

[5] Simon Rosner (Ger) 3-2 Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
        9/11, 11/9, 2/11, 11/7, 11/7 (82m)

A PAS GRAND CHOSE…

Yes, there was not much between the players. At 7/7 in the fifth, it was anybody’s game.

Rewind.

Just in case you don’t know – I doubt it sincerely – but Simon and Niki are best mates. For a long time, and for a long time… They are supporting each other on the tour, they train together. And they know each other game pretty by heart. Meaning that if there is somebody on tour of a lower ranking (25 for 11) that can beat Simon, it’s Niki.

And today, the “New Niki” was up for it. In front of a loud but fair crowd, the young Swiss was determined to show the improvement he’s made to his game, he is fitter, he is not a birdsbrain anymore, and he really wanted to get to play the quarters of this great Swiss event.

Didn’t start well though, 4/1 for Simon, but good for the Swiss, he comes back at 5/5. 6/6. Playing a patient but attacking squash of high quality and patience, he manages to get a step ahead, 8/6, 9/7. Simon finds two lovely drop shots and back at 9/9 we are. A lovely squeeze on the backhand wall for the Swiss, and it’s game ball for him, 10/9. A backhand drop shot that Simon gets a no let for (in my view, very harsh call, simple let), and it’s Niki up, 11/9 in 18m.

The second will be as close, but the mirror of the first! 17m, 6/6, but this time, it’s the German that takes the lead, 9/6, Niki comes back at 8/9, but Simon is not going to be stopped, 11/9. To be noted that the Swiss was up 6/3, but let his opponent score 6 points in a row. The “Old Niki” showing his head there…

The third, well, very surprising. Simon looks out of sorts, truly, and accumulates the tins and the bad tactical choices. 11/2 in 8 m. Funnily enough, as the first two games mirrored one another, well, same for 3rd and 4th, as in the 4th, it’s Niki that looks tired, losing it 11/7, in the same amount of time, 8m! How funny/strange is that!

The fifth is a classic. Don’t hesitate to see the replay on SquashTV, it’s a gem of a game. 1/1, 3/3, 4/4, 6/6, 7/7. Honestly, I can’t breathe anymore. Those two are playing exquisite squash, very well constructed, visiting the four corners, drawing invisible lines from one corner to the next, front, back, front again, volley nick that is retrieved, counterattack beautifully by kill drives. A beauty of a squash, truly. At 7/7, I glance at Jack Mueller, Nicki’s dad. His eyes are shining with emotion/emotions. Especially as the whole crowd started clapping for his man as Simon is serving at 7/7. It’s sport at his best.

Come one of the most ridiculous rallies you can see. Truly beautifully outrageous squash, that the Swiss only clips. 8/7 Simon. It’s all still possible. And again, the crowd claps, and I can see Niki breathing those applause, like getting his oxygen from them. Another absolutely ludicrous endless rally. But again, Niki is at the wrong end of it.

And that’s the turning point. Now 9/7 down, he just can’t find the raw mental energy, especially with the belief that Simon has he can win it. Unstoppable from that point on, the German breaks the heart of every single soul in the crowd (well minus about 5 or 6 lost Germans in there), as he pushes their man to do a last tin at 10/7 match ball….

But a superb display of sportsmanship, respect, honour, competitiveness, and friendship. That’s what squash is all about. Don’t give me the “what happens on the court stays on the court, I can insult you, cheat, walk all over you, but it’s ok in the end”. No, THAT’S squash. Not war. Not the Roman Circus Games. Not football.

That’s Squash.

[1] James Willstrop (Eng) 3-0 Olli Tuominen (Fin)
         11/4, 11/6, 11/6 (32m) 

OLLI, RIDICULOUS PACE, AS EVER

Yes, you from home probably look at the score and think, yeah, James, easy, less than 40m. Oh boy, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

You can never ever relax for a split second with Olli. After 17 years spent of the PSA Tour, the Fin is as fast and mad for intensity he ever was.

So not many up and down the wall, the two of them opening the court a bit, hence some intense/fast/hard rallies, hitting the corners, twisting and turning each other. Time of the games, 8, 11, 8. The kids loved it, the crowd too. And even if Olli got a slow start in the second 7/1, he gave it a push to come back 6/9.

And you would think that led 2/0, he would slow down? Naaaaa, not for a second. Big puch, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, even taking the lead 6/4!

But James felt the danger, found some astonishing long drop shots, while at last, Olli was slowing down a fraction. But only a fraction. 11/6 in the 3rd….

He only plays at a very heavy pace, so I have to try and stop him from playing at such a high tempo, and when I got the chance, I make the most of it!

For my match with Simon, I’ve learned not to expect anything anymore from my matches, because every time I did, something went horribly wrong!

So my expectation is not to expect anything, everything can happen in squash…

But one thing is sure, I’ll give Simon a lot of respect. He is one of the top European player, and world player. And he is going to be at the top of the rankings in the coming years…