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01-Oct, FINAL:
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [3] Lee Beachill (Eng)
6/11, 11/4, 11/7, 6/11, 11/6 (84m) |
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Gaultier Grabs his first major
France's Gregory Gaultier claimed the
first major PSA title of his career with a 3/2 victory over Lee Beachill
in the final at the Romai Teniszakademia in Budapest in Budapest.
Gaultier, appearing in his third successive Hungarian Open final, on the
same court where he won his third successive European Individual title in
June, recovered from losing the opening game to take a 2-1 lead, but saw
his Yorkshire opponent come back to level.
 Gaultier,
who lost out in five-game finals of the English and World Opens, pulled
clear from the middle of a tense fifth game to earn a momentous victory
for the 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence.
Greg's Moment of Victory
short video from Daniel
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Photo Gallery |
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Greg takes it in style
Daniel Szabo reports from Budapest
 In
the first Greg played passively, not using his skilled shots for
attacking. He was just answering Lee's solid backhand drives, and two
unforced errors and a couple of poor returns allowed Beachill to build up
an early 5-1 lead.
A couple of winners from both sides developed the score to 8-4 to
Beachill, but still Gaultier couldn't find his attacking style. Three more
unforced errors from Greg and the first game was Beachill's.
 The
second game started with a totally different Greg. Attacking with low
killer drives and beautifully aimed volley drops, he managed to force
Beachill into playing his drives a distance from the side-wall, and
increased the pressure on the Englishman. This resulted in a fairly quick
8-2 score for Greg, and it was soon 11-4 and one game all.
Gaultier continued to attack in the third, but a solid Beachill kept on
terms up to 5-all. At this point Greg stepped on the gas with full power,
and Beachill could hardly keep with the pace.
A few lets, a few disputes,
but Greg's winners find no answer on Lee's side until 10-5 game-ball. Some
humorous remarks from Lee to the referee made the whole audience laugh, an
unforced error, a beautiful drop, and Greg finished the third 11-7.
In the fourth we saw a refreshed and attacking Lee. He started with quick
shots, volleying, dropping and killing the ball to lead 5-1. Then some
unforced errors from both, and four disputed decisions that went against
Gaultier. 11-6 to Lee, leaving the decision for the fifth.
The last game started with very balanced, high quality squash until 4-all.
Greg looked a little stronger from this point on, playing some excellent
drops followed by tins from Lee. At 8-6 it became more obvious that Greg
was a little ahead in endurance, hitting powerful low killer drives, and
finally the Frenchman finished in style 11-6.
 "He
was tough and confident.
"At this level it is very important to save your energy until the end,
and it often happens that the draw opens for one player, and he can
get into the final more refreshed.
"I felt good on court, I was satisfied with my game, but am a bit
disappointed for finishing second of course.
"This was my first time in Budapest, and I hope that all the
tournaments could grow like this one is growing."
 |
|
 "Well, I'm
really glad that I won a final, I've been waiting for this moment
for a long time now, and it's good for my morale!
"The match was very tough indeed, his lengths were really good to
start with, and I just couldn't impose my game. So, from the second,
I forced myself to volley more, which worked I guess, but drained my
energy, hence the drop in the fourth. Still, I kept on fighting, I
didn't want to give him any easy points, I wanted to keep him
working, and maybe to try and win the match in four. But he kept it
close and didn't let the game go.
"The fifth was anybody's really, it was so close, I got a few
winners at the end, and he made a big unforced error at 8/6 for me.
It liberated me, although I was really aware that it was not over. I
stayed calm, and I really dug in on every point to finally seize the
match.
"This victory is very important on a psychological level, and I hope
it will give me more confidence for the coming events."
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Greg interviewed for Hungarian Sport1 TV channel |
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30-Sep-06, Semi-Finals:
Different wins for Beach & Greg
Quick summary from Steve Cubbins
There were two contrasting semi-finals at the Romai Teniszakademia in
Budapest today, as second and third seeds Lee Beachill and Gregory
Gaultier won through to the final.
 Englishman
Beachill took on top seed Anthony Ricketts, and in a see-saw match it was
the world number nine who emerged triumphant.
After the first four games were shared, the fifth went point for point
until 8-all when Beachill drew away to conclude the 75-minute match.
His opponent in the final will be France's Gregory Gaultier, who took less
than half that time to overcome Finland's Olli Tuominen, the fourth seed,
in his third straight games win of the week.
Gaultier, in his third consecutive Hungarian Open final, will be keen to
go one better than last year when he lost a five-game thriller to world
number one Amr Shabana, while Beachill, in his first appearance in
Budapest, will be looking for a win to launch himself back towards the
world's top five ...
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Photo Gallery
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Lee
... in the end
Daniel Szabo reports
The match starts with perfectly executed shots from both sides, you can
feel the difference compared to the quarters. Each and every shot could be
a winner and any poor shot is killed immediately.
The first game goes to Lee 11-6, but at the end of the second Anthony
takes control and levels with two winning boasts, 11-6 again.
 Beachill
seems a bit more patient at the beginning of the third, and builds up a
4-1 lead with low powerful crosscourts, where the second bounce dies in
the nick of the backwall, high pace and millimeter-accuracy.
The crowd is just amazed. Beachill hits a perfect length, Ricketts
retrieves, Beachill volley-drops exactly into the front right corner and
we are at 8-3. Two unforced errors from Anthony and we are at 10-5
game-ball.
Ricketts is annoyed to receive only a let when the ball comes back to
Beachill, but pulls three points back before Beachill takes it 11/8.
The fourth goes to Ricketts with a couple of tins from Lee, a long dispute
on a cross-court, and several perfectly executed killers from Anthony -
11-4.
In the early stage of the fifth it is still undecided who will finally
prevail. 5-all. A couple of perfect drops and winners, and we are at
8-all. Still nothing decided. A winner from Beachill raises it to 9-8. A
tricky boast from Ricketts executed from the T, with Lee nearby, and he
tins - 10-8 match-ball.
Ricketts is blaming himself for not stopping and requesting a let, but it
is too late for the Aussie, Lee finishes with a beautiful winner, 11-8.
Greg ... still supreme
Daniel Szabo reports
Greg just doesn't make any errors, it is perfect shots from every
situation, no loose shots at all. He is always prepared for everything.
(One could say: after all these years of training with Thierry ...)
Olli is counter attacking and seems to be competing, but the score
shows a huge difference, and after a few rallies we are at 10-2 game-ball
to Greg!
Greg is playing like a fencing-master with his artistic movement, he is
sashaying to reach the ball, and dancing when moving around his opponent.
He steps one and two and then a flashing hit with his Dunlop sword.
In the second game everyone is waiting for Olli's secret weapon, the
raised pace, and tiring long rallies under constant pressure. He manages
to take control for two consecutive rallies in the middle of the game, but
the score stays in favour of the French.
Olli forces the pace, holds the ball, controls it, an unbelievable
backhand cross-court finish, but it's still 1-2. And then 1-3, 1-5 and
suddenly we are at 4-10 game-ball. Greg's steps are still more like a
dancer's on the marble floor of the palace. No signs of tiredness, which
means that it's over quickly, 11-4 to Gaultier.
 In
the third Olli tries everything. He starts with two service return volley
drops, but tins.
Now you see a very rare scene: Olli is trying to slow down the game with
lobs. Even this doesn't help. Olli appeals for a stroke, but gets only a
let. Greg says he's sorry about it, comforts Olli by indicating that it
was a stroke.
But we are at 5-2, and then 6-2, 9-2, 10-2 match-ball, and a final winner
from the young star, 11-2 and another Hungarian final. |
 "It's
always close with Anthony. Luckily today it was my turn to win. We
practice together, know each other very well.
"It was just a few good shots towards the end of the match which
made the difference really."
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Quarter-Finals |
29-Sep, Quarter-Finals:
Daniel Szabo reports from Budapest
[1] Anthony Ricketts
(Aus) bt
[8] Davide Bianchetti (Ita) 11/9,
11/6, 11/2 (36m)
[3] Lee Beachill (Eng) bt
[7] Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/7, 11/4, 11/3 (46m)
[4] Olli Tuominen (Fin) bt Simon Parke
(Eng)
8/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/4 (54m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt
[Q] Alister Walker (Eng)
11/2, 11/0, 11/8 (35m)
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29-Sep-06, Quarter-Finals:
Top
Seeds Sail Into
Hungarian Open Semis
Quick summary from Howard Harding
 Australian
favourite Anthony Ricketts led the four top seeds into the semi-finals of
the Hungarian Open Squash Championship after beating Italy's Davide
Bianchetti in the quarter-finals of the 5-star PSA Tour event in Budapest.
Showing no signs of the elbow injury which has hampered his recent
progress on the PSA Tour, Ricketts despatched the eighth-seeded Italian in
36 minutes.
The world No5 from Sydney, who has recently relocated to Pontefract in
England, will now meet his new club-mate Lee Beachill for a place in the
final. Yorkshireman Beachill, the third seed, beat fellow Englishman Joey
Barrington, the No7 seed.
The other semi-final will see Frenchman Gregory Gaultier aiming to reach
the final for the third year in a row. The No2 seed from Aix-en-Provence
beat English qualifier Alister Walker.
Gaultier's opponent will be Olli Tuominen, the fourth seed from Finland
who needed four games to overcome England's unseeded Simon Parke.
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Photo Gallery
Live results
from Budapest |
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Ricketts powers past Bianchetti
Daniel Szabo reports
 First
match of the day was Australian Anthony Ricketts against Italian number
one Davide Bianchetti. From the beginning of the match it was Ricketts who
was hunting down every single opportunity like a predator, one could feel
as if he was jumping even before Davide would actually hit the ball.
He could hit his low and powerful winners at the earliest possible
opportunity. His opponent stood up against the constant storming nicely,
but it was obvious that he had to move at least twice as far as Anthony to
cover the court successfully.
The Australian kept up the pace both tactically and physically, as we
would expect from him, and it resulted in Davide's exhaustion by the
middle of the second game.
Beachill back in the blue
Daniel Szabo reports
The first game started with a tense and level battle between the two
Englishmen. A couple of disputed decisions from the ref took Lee to a 6-3
lead, but then two killers and a very accurate drop from Joey brought him
back to 6-all.
A risky service return drop-shot from Beachill, Joey retrieves, and Lee
hits Joey's leg with the ball coming back from the back-wall on full
power. Oooh!! At 8-6 to Beachill, you could actually see Joey hobbling
along. At 9-7 he didn't go for the ball, a sure sign of tiredness. Then a
disputed decision again takes Joey to one game down 7-11.
In the second Joey comes back with a very thoughtful tactical style, sends
Lee to all four corners twice around the court as if in a training
session, and manages an early 2-0 lead. Lee comes back to 3-all in a
couple of seconds with a very solid play.
Barrington is really giving all his strength, hits a brilliant short boast
winner ending a long rally. The Marker calls it down, Joey insists it's
up, the referee is unsighted, Lee says play a let. From this point Lee
bags the game 11-4.
 For
the last game we could see a different Barrington on court, which resulted
in an early 6-0 lead for Lee. Beachill kept on with his cool, error free
and solid style to finish the game 11-3.
No wonder if Barrington seemed a bit down for the third, after all there
are not many people on the planet who could come back from two games down
against former world number one Lee Beachill.
Olli wears down Parky
Daniel Szabo reports
In the first game Simon started with the good old tactics of slowing down
the game as much as possible, and waiting for the loose shot of your
opponent to kill the ball. He played this from the beginning like lobs and
lobs, then suddenly kill. Huge long rallies, trick-shots, then Olli drops,
Parke counter drops 4-all. They go head-to-head, and at 5-6 Parke levels
with an excellent and tricky short boast, sending Olli to the wrong
corner.
 We
can see this mature style of Simon like tasting a glass of good old French
red-wine from a famous cellar. He was playing with the pace just the way
he wanted. Slow down and suddenly speed up and he is at 11-8. This was a
game won by the surprise-winner trick-shot arsenal of Parky.
Second game started with the same Parke and a different Olli. The Finn
raised the pace to an enormously high level.
They were just attacking, retrieving and counter-attacking for a while,
4-all. From that point a big change comes as Olli starts to hit
volley-drop kills successfully and accurately, whereas Simon started to
make more and more errors. Parke is trying to attack, but Olli
counter-attacks, Parke runs and tins. It is the end really 11-4.
In the last two games it was very spectacular but a bit one sided. We
could see long rallies, with Olli flashing from one corner to the other,
and Parke desperately retrieving, but the last swing of Olli takes the
ball to the other end of the court's diagonal, leaving Simon watching it
from a distance. Olli finishes with 11-5, Simon is exhausted.
In the last game we were relatively soon at 6-0, and then at 10-2
match-ball, when Parke collected himself for a nice farewell with two
brilliant trick-shots, and then gave it up to the marathon man Olli 11-4.
Masterful Gaultier
Daniel Szabo reports
 I
am just checking my notes, but I can't find words - sorry, but it was just
simply unbelievable. 3-0, 4-0 a no-let, 5-0. A first game with a dominant
Gaultier against yesterday's bombastic Alister, not showing any resistance
11-2!
Everyone was waiting for this match as the only possible big upset, or at
least a close match, a real battle in view of Alister's top form.
But it was rather similar to the scene when the emperor kills all the
Jedis. 11-0 in the second!
It was the calm of the underdog in the third from Alister, and fiddling of
the monarch from Gaultier 11-8.
|
 "In the first
game I got tired, and I couldn't keep this level of high pace. For
the second and third, he was just too strong for me this time."
 |
 "I
played better tonight than last night. I could see the ball better
this time, and it was easier in every way compared to last night's
match.
"The court is hard, because the ball relatively soon picks up the
colour of the floor, and the side walls are completely transparent.
You have to get used to this in order to succeed."
 |
 "It
was very good to play on a glass court again. This was the third
time that I have managed to reach that level.
"I could count on one hand the number of opportunities I've had, to
play a top 10 guy this year.
"Lee played well and solid tonight, and the score doesn't show how
much effort I needed to invest into it."
 |
 "I
played accurate, but in the second I got quite often back-footed.
It's just a question of getting tired really.
"As soon as I lost power, I became more and more behind the T, while
he got ahead of me."
 |
 "I
was ruling the game, the pace successfully. He tried to slow it
down. In the first, the pace was a bit slow, but then I could manage
to control the game.
"I will have to be patient tomorrow, because if I attack at the
wrong time, I will be punished."
 |
 "I
am happy with my performance. I was quick and confident. My
preparation trainings went well all last week.
"I am up for this year, and want to win the title this time, trying
not to stay long on court during earlier rounds, saving my energy as
much as possible. There is good crowd around.
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Round ONE |
Bianchetti wins battle |
Walker ousts Barker |
Last Hungarian out |
28-Sep-06, Round One:
Parky
& Ali in Budapest Upsets
The main draw of the Hungarian Open got under way today, on the glass
court at the Romai Teniszakademia in Budapest.
 Two
upsets saw qualifier Alister Walker beat sixth-seeded compatriot
Peter Barker in straight games, while in the last match of the evening,
another all-English clash, veteran Simon Parke recovered from 2/1
down to beat Jonathan Kemp 12-10 in the fifth.
Top seed Anthony Ricketts won three close games against
fellow-Australian Joe Kneipp - the only two non-European in the draw -
while France's Gregory Gaultier, runner-up last year, dashed home
hopes as he beat Hungarian wildcard Andras Torok in straight games.
Judging by the photos (in
the gallery) Davide Bianchetti's 84-minute win over Renan
Lavigne looks an exciting match - we'd love to hear from someone who
watched it ...
Round One Results:
[1] Anthony Ricketts
(Aus) bt
Joseph Kneipp (Aus)
11/7, 11/9, 11/7 (29m)
[8] Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt Renan Lavigne (Fra)
11/5, 6/11, 11/7, 11/8 (84m)
[3] Lee Beachill (Eng) bt
[Q] Daryl Selby (Eng)
10/11, 11/1, 11/5, 11/7 (52m)
[7] Joey Barrington (Eng) bt [Q] Dylan Bennett (Ned)
11/4, 11/10(2-0), 11/8 (36m)
Simon Parke (Eng) bt [5] Jonathan Kemp (Eng)
9/11, 11/6, 8/11, 11/9, 11/10(2-0) (64m)
[4] Olli Tuominen (Fin) bt [Q] Stacey Ross (Eng)
9/11, 11/3, 11/8, 11/4 (43m)
[Q] Alister Walker (Eng) bt [6] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/10(2-0), 11/9, 11/0 (43m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Andras Torok (Hun)
11/7, 11/5, 11/9 (23m)
Quarters start at 17.00 Fri, from the top down |
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Photo Gallery
Live results
from Budapest
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Daniel
Szabo on Round One:
 I
could only arrive for the last game of Lee Beachill’s match vs
Daryl Selby. It looked very much balanced, and Daryl could actually
manage to match the top ten qualities of Lee both technically and in
endurance. The only difference between the two seemed to be the reactions
on let/stroke decisions. Daryl was obviously disturbed by these, and lost
concentration in the end of the game. But the crowd got a very tense and
close match, showing brilliance of sportsmanship on both sides.
Anthony Ricketts and Joe Kneipp were performing a very spectacular
match at a very high pace, flavoured with breath-taking rallies. It was
really fun and a joy to watch these two good friends playing and laughing
on court while showing the highest standard of world class squash easily.
They didn’t argue, even though the games were very close. Generally
speaking the score went on like tie until the end, or even Joe led for a
couple of points, but then Anthony stepped on the gas, and finished the
game in style.
At the Római Teniszakadémia, there is a big gap between the viewing area
and the backwall, and it made for a very strange but free feeling for the
players to chat each other while being on court. The crowd enjoyed the
scene very much, so did the players. The only bridge to span this was
Joe’s comment on a no-let decision of the referee, saying “You won’t
believe it but we are professionals …” making the audience laugh, because
everyone expected an obvious let. Other than that, one could have seen the
match as if it was to decide who pays for the next beer.
For the last match of the evening locals gathered to see the eight times
Hungarian champion András Török, against fellow Rózsadombi team
player, current World Open silver medalist Greg Gaultier. It was
interesting to see the last-local-hope, with the calm of an underdog,
still carrying his famous surprise-style tactics as a secret weapon,
cheered by passionate fans.
There was no pressure on Török this time, and he could show a wide
selection of his acrobatic art of movement. He used his height and his
magic wrist he developed during the last ten years of coaching children
and wealthy amateur players in a hidden club-court, without real pro
squash-mates around. And we could see the wonder when he had lead in all
the games for a while. He could go as far as 9-all in the third, but
wasn’t good enough against the young and relaxed next possible squash
emperor, Gaultier.
Match
Notes from Hungarian fansite ...
(translated by Dan)
http://sporttamogatas.hu/content/view/174/33/
Match of the day in Budapest cannot be other than Alister Walker vs
Peter Barker. Alister (wr. 47.)denied the big difference in the world
ranking compared to Barker’s (wr. 26.) with a huge difference of skills
showing against all odds this time. The amount of amazing sprints and
unbelievable shots from Alister kept Barker under a constant pressure,
ending in a complete exhaustion. It was so intense, that the last game
ended in 11-0, which happens very rare in a point-a-rally scoring
professional match, especially when the higher ranked player loses.
Today Dylan Bennett could not wear a smile on the referee’s
decisions. Joey Barrington, as usual, gave as much as it was needed
to win, but that wasn’t possibly questioned by anyone. The second game was
a bit closer than the others, but the outcome was obvious from the
beginning to the end. Dylan stood fair and respectful. The Englishman
played good enough to give no other choice anyway.
Finnish Olli Tuominen played a very interesting match as well
against qualifer but skilful Stacey Ross. Fourth seed Olli’s
tactics were as always high pace combined with powerful killer shots. This
is no wonder from a man who has the hobby of running marathon at
week-ends. He lost the first game, but he raised the pace so high, that
his opponent ended up in exhaustion. The next three games showed Olli’s
dominance and he let only 15 more points to Stacey in total. Will it be
enough against the French excellence?
The first match of the draw was between Davide Bianchetti from
Italy and Renan Lavigne from France. They could argue after rallies
on high emotions, even before the referee could make a decision. It was a
loud match and very entertaining at the same time. You could see nice
rallies, and an unbelievable concentration from the French in critical
moments, but even this wasn’t enough. The referee’s decisions didn’t show
the intensity of players, he could keep his calm all the time, so it
didn’t have any disturbing effect on the game.
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Olli ousts Stacey |
Lee licks Daryl |
Simon stops Jonathan
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27-Sep, Qualifying Finals:
Draw & Results
Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Bradley Ball (Eng) 11/9, 9/11, 12/10, 11/5 (60m) plays Beachill
Stacey Ross (Eng) bt Alex Stait (Eng) 11/8, 12/10, 11/4 (35m) plays Tuominen
Dylan Bennett (Ned) bt Mark Krajcsak (Hu) 11/9, 13/11, 11/5 (53m)
plays Barrington
Alister Walker (Eng) bt Scott Handley (Eng) 11/8, 6/11, 11/6, 11/3
(42m) plays Barker |
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27-Sep-06, Qualifying finals:
A good
day for the
English in Budapest
The final qualifying round at the Romai Teniszakademia in Budapest proved
to be a successful one for England as Daryl Selby, Stacey Ross and Alister
Walker all advanced to the main draw to justify their seedings - all
beating English opponents.
There was disappointment for the home crowd though, as Hungarian champion
Mark Krajcsak lost in straight games to Dutchman Dylan Bennett, leaving
wildcard Andras Torok as the only Hungarian in the main draw.
Torok faces a stiff challenge against France's second seed Gregory
Gaultier, runner-up last year, in tomorrow's main draw.
The host club has been busy over the last few days, hosting a Davis Cup
tennis match, but for the next few days the focus will definitely be on
squash ...
|
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 Hungarian
Open 2006
Hungary, 26 Sep - 01 Oct, $50k |
Round One
28 Sep |
Quarters
29 Sep |
Semis
30 Sep |
Final
01 Oct |
[1] Anthony Ricketts
(Aus)
11/7, 11/9, 11/7
Joseph Kneipp (Aus) |
Anthony Ricketts
11/9, 11/6, 11/2 (36m)
Davide Bianchetti |
Anthony Ricketts
11/6, 6/11, 11/8, 4/11, 11/8 (75m)
Lee Beachill |
Lee Beachill
6/11, 11/4, 11/7, 6/11, 11/6 (84m)
Gregory Gaultier |
[8] Davide Bianchetti
(Ita)
11/5, 6/11, 11/7, 11/8
Renan Lavigne (Fra) |
[3] Lee Beachill (Eng)
10/11, 11/1, 11/5, 11/7
[Q] Daryl Selby (Eng) |
Lee Beachill
11/7, 11/4, 11/3 (46m)
Joey Barrington |
[7] Joey Barrington
(Eng)
11/4, 11/10(2-0), 11/8
[Q] Dylan Bennett (Ned) |
Simon Parke (Eng)
9/11, 11/6, 8/11, 11/9, 11/10(2-0)
[5] Jonathon Kemp (Eng) |
Simon Parke
8/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/4 (54m)
Olli Tuominen |
Olli Tuominen
11/4, 11/4, 11/2 (36m)
Gregory Gaultier |
[Q] Stacey Ross (Eng)
9/11, 11/3, 11/8, 11/4
[4] Olli Tuominen (Fin) |
[Q] Alister Walker (Eng)
11/10(2-0), 11/9, 11/0
[6] Peter Barker (Eng) |
Alister Walker
11/2, 11/0, 11/8 (35m)
Gregory Gaultier |
Andras Torok (Hun)
11/7, 11/5, 11/9
[2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) |
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Qualifying:
27-Sep, Qualifying Finals:
Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Bradley Ball (Eng)
11/9, 9/11, 11/10(2-0), 11/5 (60m)
Stacey Ross (Eng) bt Alex Stait (Eng)
11/8, 11/10(2-0), 11/4 (35m)
Dylan Bennett (Ned) bt Mark Krajcsak (Hun) 11/9,
11/10(3-1), 11/5 (53)
Alister Walker (Eng) bt Scott Handley (Eng)
11/8, 6/11, 11/6, 11/3 (42m)
Round One, 26-Sep:
[1] Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Marton Szaboky (Hun)
11/2, 11/6, 11/4 (44m)
Bradley Ball (Eng) bt Welesz Balazs (Hun)
11/7, 11/3, 11/2 (22m)
[4] Stacey Ross (Eng) bt Shakeel Khan
11/8, 11/3, 11/9 (24m)
Alex Stait (Eng) bt Sandor Fulop (Hun)
11/6, 11/5, 11/6 (29m)
Mark Krajcsak (Hun) bt
Simon Rosner (Ger) 9/11, 115, 11/5,
7/11, 11/4 (60m)
[3] Dylan Bennett (Ned) bt Nick Kyme (Ber)
11/10(2-0), 11/2, 11/10(2-0) (30m)
Scott Handley (Eng) bt Badr Abdel Aziz (Egy)
11/7, 7/11, 11/6, 9/11, 11/10(3-1) (48m)
[2] Alister Walker (Eng) v Lee Drew (Eng)
11,7, 11,7, 11,8 (42m)
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26 Sep-06:
Back
to Budapest
Following last year's successful return, the Hungarian Open is under way
again in Budapest's Romai Teniszakademia, with a star-studded field set to
battle it out in the $50,000 five-star event.
 Qualifying started
on Tuesday
with the best saved for last as Hungarian champion Mark Krajcsak
beat European Junior Champion Simon Rosner in five to keep alive hopes
of a second appearance in the main draw ...
Matches will start at 15:00 today, and Krajcsak will play at 17:00.
The venue accommodated the Davis cup encounter between Hungary and
Georgia recently, so the glass court will be used first on Thursday at
the club’s centre court area.
Qualifying draw &
results
2005 Event
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 "In
the first game I felt a bit uncertain with my shots on that pace. I
couldn’t control the game, but felt like he neither. It was open until
I lost it to 11/9.
"My coach Csaba Altvater made me believe that I can win this today
even if I am not playing my best squash. We decided to raise the pace
even further for the second. It worked even though I wasn’t very
accurate, but at least I left less time for Simon to prepare before
his shots. It was enough for him to start hitting errors. In the
fourth I felt that he is starting to get tired, so I concentrated on
saving my strength to a final game.
"In the fifth, I felt from the first rally, that I will win the match.
He was very tired. I kept the ball moving, I didn’t want to win the
rallies, I knew that he won’t be able to hold on for long. He gave it
up soon, and I won the last game without real battle 11/4.
"My next match is against Dylan Bennett, whom I could beat last time
in the Hungarian League final, and I want to give a better performance
from my side this time.
"I have never got a wild card from the organizers so far, but I want
to prove that I can deserve a place in the main draw."
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Quiet
and sunny after storm in Budapest
Daniel Szabo reports
There were some political protests in the heart of the city last week, but
the venue of the PSA event is on the other side of the Danube, and pretty
far away from the centre.
Budapest was not affected by the protesters other than the government area
in the middle of Pest side. Public transportation, airport, hotels,
restaurants were always open and not even touched.
The scene was a bit similar to what we expected from an angry mass of
football-fans, the difference was that it happened to be outside of the
arena.
They stormed the national TV building near the Parliament on Monday,
because of their frustration of not being treated as a legitimate
political movement to use the national media in a live coverage.
They wanted to read their demands immediately, and when they were refused
by the head of the TV, they called the crowd for punishment.
Video materials show that the protesters were drinking beer, and wearing
football scarves of famous Budapest football clubs while trying to take
over the TV building, defended by 150 policemen.
This happened right after the matches of two main Budapest football clubs,
and it added a lot to the crowd’s frustration they felt over the Hungarian
government anyway.
Other than that everything is normal, quiet and democratic, the weather is
sunny and pleasant.
The qualifying starts today at 12:00 and I could see some of the
contesters already on the traditional courts of the “Roman Tennis
Academy”. The qualifying draw will take place right before the matches at
12:00. As you published an article about Hungary’s number one team Rózsadombi SC, there are some international players participating in the
Hungarian League.
I could see some of them preparing yesterday together in their Rózsadombi
club (Joey Barrington, András Török, Dylan Bennett), and others on site
(Scott Handley, Daryl Selby, Alex Stait, Márk Krajcsák).
Although people were shocked by the TV coverage last week, Budapest is
trying to accommodate a very nice and pleasant squash feast, one of the
biggest held in Central Europe. |
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"I
lost a couple of points in the end, but it was a good game. 
"I
feel ready for the final, very up. I didn't spend too much time on
court. 
"He
was simply too good. I tried to break his rhythm in every way, but I
couldn't.
