Kenya Open 2008

22-Nov, Final:

CLINTON TAKES
THE KENYA OPEN
Special report from Abubakr Chaudhry,
18 year-old player from Nairobi, Kenya.

WHAT A SHOCKER!

Clinton Leeuw, the seventh seed from South Africa created an upset in the final of the Zain Sponsored Kenya Open Squash Tournament as he beat his countryman, the top seed Steve Coppinger in 5 games that lasted 73minutes. A packed crowd at the final and the ball was bouncing too high right from the beginning of the match.

In the first game Steve Coppinger raced to a 2-0 lead and in the wink of an eye, Clinton Leew levelled it 2-2. Both players were trying to keep it as tight as possible but with the ball flying around and bouncing quite high, they ended up playing a bit loose and made some unforced errors. There were a couple of short rallies in the first game and this looked like a see-saw battle.

One error by Steve and another by Clinton, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and then Clinton tried to slow his error count, got to a 2 point lead, 8-6. Another point to Clinton, 9-6. Two tins by Clinton made it 9-8, then Clinton rallied and got to 10-8 gameball and after 14 Minutes, Clinton took the first game 11-9. The second game was all in favour of Steve who started off so well and made Clinton do the mistakes. A healthy 7-3 lead by Steve got Clinton a bit nervous at the back of the court. He started rushing and tinning a lot and in a jiffy, Steve took the game 11-4.

The third game was quite similar to the second. Steve started off so well again with a 4-1 lead. He frequently hit the tight length on the backhand and soon afterwards it was 9-2. Three unforced errors in a row by Steve made it 9-5 and after some long rallying, game to Steve 11-5 in 13 minutes. The fourth game was quite long. Clinton was 2-1 down and he had to come back strongly if he wanted to win. Clinton started off with a 5-2 lead. Steve made too many mistakes. 6-2 to Clinton and suddenly Clinton started tinning and hitting it out of court. 6-4.A long rally at 6-4, where Clinton picked up Steve’s lovely cross-courts and tight drops. Steve had him in this rally but he lost it when he hit a drive into the tin, 7-4 to Clinton. Some long rallies took place here and Steve was back in the game. He levelled it 7-7.

Clinton had to try something different. He started playing calculated risk 8-7, 9-7, 10-7 with some stunning cross-courts, lovely low dead drives. 10-7 game-ball. Then 10-8 game-ball and this was the longest rally of the match. Steve tried his level best to get to the tie-breaker but Clinton’s Cross-court volley nick prevented that from happening.11-8, game to Clinton. Games were 2-2 and the fifth and final game was another battle and a half.

The ball was still bouncing too high and it looked like Steve had lost his focus. Clinton raced to a 5-2 lead. Steve came back 3-5, 4-5. A long rally and Steve got a no-let, 6-4 to Clinton. More errors by Steve made it 9-6 to Clinton.

Just after some time, Clinton finished it with a volley cross-court nick in the backhand corner. Game and Match to Clinton 3-2 in 73 Minutes. Steve tried but it wasn’t his day today. Well played Clinton. Congratulations for the lovely victory!!!

Zain Kenya Open 2008 18-22 Nov, Nairobi, Kenya, $7k
Round One 19 Nov	Quarters 20 Nov	Semis 21 Nov	Final 22 Nov
[1] Steve Coppinger (Rsa) 3/0 [Q] Karim Samy (Egy)	[1] Steve Coppinger 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2 (75m) [5] Siddarth Suchde	[1] Steve Coppinger 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (23m) [8] Chris Truswell	[1] Steve Coppinger 11-9, 4-11, 5-11-8, 11-6 (73m) [7] Clinton Leeuw
[5] Siddarth Suchde (Ind) 11-9,11-5,11-8 Joan Lezaud (Fra)
[4] Tom Pashley (Eng) 11-8,13-11,7-11,12/10 [Q] Rudi Willemse (Rsa)	[Q] Rudi Willemse 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-2 (49m) [8] Chris Truswell
[8] Chris Truswell (Eng) 14-12,11-9,2-11,11-9 [Q] Alex Ingham (Eng)
Neil Hitchens (Eng) 3/0 [7] Clinton Leeuw (Rsa)	[7] Clinton Leeuw 12-10, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7 (72m) [3] Yann Perrin	[7] Clinton Leeuw 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 2-1 rtd (32m) [2] Arthur Gaskin
Phil Nightingale (Eng) 11-5,11-6,11-3 [3] Yann Perrin (Fra)
[Q] Mohamed El Kady (Egy) 11-13,6-11,11-6,11-7,11-3 [6] David Vidal (Esp)	[6] David Vidal 4-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-2 (50m) [2] Arthur Gaskin
Aqeel Rehman (Aut) 11-1,11-5,11-4 (28m) [2] Arthur Gaskin (Irl)

Qualifying:

21-Nov, semis:

All South African
Final in Nairobi
Special report from Abubakr Chaudhry,
18 year-old player from Nairobi, Kenya.

It’s down to the Finals here in Nairobi, Kenya at the Zain Sponsored Kenya Open Squash Tournament. The first semi-final was between Arthur Gaskin, the second seed from Ireland and Clinton Leew, the seventh seed from South-Africa. Arthur Gaskin didn’t look quite good from the beginning and it was surely an injury. It was Clinton Leew who came out the winner in the fourth game as Arthur couldn’t continue anymore and decided to give the match away.

The second semi-final was between the top seed, Steve Coppinger and the eighth seed, Chris Truswell. This was a good game however a very short one. Steve Coppinger, the “Zulu Warrior” prevailed with a straight games win in just 23minutes!

ARTHUR NOT AT HIS BEST

Today, Arthur was not just there and this was simply because he was injured. The first game was a very loose game with both the players trying to keep it tight but it was not working for them. Arthur wasn’t getting his length right while Clinton made some unforced errors. But all in all, the first game went to Clinton Leew 11-8.

The second game was a bit better than the first, better construction of rallies and accurate volleying by both the players when the chance arose. This time Arthur took the game 11-7 because Clinton makes the mistake of tinning the ball four times. Third game, Arthur is feeling the pain. Too many lets in this game and many errors made by Arthur gives the game to Clinton 11-6. Things are not going well for Arthur, who really tried to cope with it but just couldn’t.

Fourth game, a quick 2-1 to Clinton and that’s it. Arthur shakes his hand and calls it a day. Unlucky for Arthur and best of Luck to Clinton in the Final

COPPINGER POWERS INTO FINAL

What a quick match that was! In the first game, Steve Coppinger started off with a 2-0 lead, then two unforced errors. Chris Truswell Levels it 2-2 and there we a go, a long rally for about 3minutes where Chris picked every ball, Steve went for the winners but Chris still gets them.

Two splits by Chris but a lovely forehand drive by Steve just dies at the back. Steve wins it and then continues 3-2, 4-2, 5-2 then another error. 5-3 to Steve. More Pressure created by Steve’s excellent volleying makes it 6-3, 7-3, 8-3, 8-4, 9-4, 10-4 and finally 11-4.Same situation in the second, Steve putting excessive pressure. Chris really tried his best with his lovely forehand drops and deep lobs but it just wasn’t working for him. Game to Steve 11-5 in just 7 minutes .

The third game was another quick one. Chris was tired and Steve took advantage and raced to an instant 8-3 lead. Soon afterwards, Game and match to Steve (11-4, 11-5, and 11-4).

Well fought Chris and best of luck to Steve in the final against his countryman, Clinton Leew.

20-Nov, Quarters:

Down to the semis in Kenya
Special report from Abubakr Chaudhry,
18 year-old player from Nairobi, Kenya.

It’s down to the Semi-Final stages here in Nairobi, Kenya at the Zain Sponsored Kenya Open Squash Tournament with two South Africans, an Englishman and an Irish making it into the semi-finals.

First up was Clinton Leeuw, the Seventh seed from South Africa battling it out with the third seed from France, Yann Perrin. It was a seventy -two minute see-saw battle full of lets and Clinton clinched it in the fifth 11-7.

Then came another exciting match between the eight seed from England, Chris Truswell and the qualifier from South Africa, Rudi Willemse. This was such a pleasure to watch as both of them kept it so tight until Chris’s patience paid off in the fifth game 11-2.

The third quarter-final was just the best one today. Wow! What a Match. 75 Minutes of excellent squash. Siddarth Suchde played extremely well so did Steve Coppinger to prevent an upset.

Finally, the second seed, Arthur Gaskin from Ireland played well against the sixth seed from Spain, David Vidal. It was a good match with both players keeping it until Arthur showed his arsenal of pressure.

WHAT A SOLID BATTLE!

This was a really solid battle from the start of the match. The number one seed, Steve Coppinger from South Africa with his ability to read his opponent game, and his excellent volleying did so to win this solid battle. Siddarth Suchde, the fifth seed from India on the other hand with a lovely low length that just dies at the back. Both played extremely well keeping the ball so tight with the wall. The first game was just an error-free game with both the players keeping the ball as tight as possible.

It was Steven Coppinger who started off to a flyer in the first taking a 4-0 lead then two tins and 4-2. Then 5-2, a let, again a let. Then a stroke to Siddarth, 3-5 and another stroke making it 4-5. A long rally and suddenly siddarth finds a stunning back-hand volley nick. Siddarth levels it 5-5 and with long rallies finds himself at 10-8 game ball after some unforced errors by Steve. Unlucky though. Game to Siddarth 11-9. Game 2 a same situation, tight squash but this time siddarth makes the errors. Game to Steve 11-8.

Then the third game siddarth takes it 11-9 with steve playing a bit loose. Siddarth leads two games to one and in the fourth, Siddarth leads 4-0 and all of a sudden Steve gets into the game and gets 9 points in a row which makes it 9-4, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6 then game 11-6. The final game went in Steve’s favour 11-2.

Well played Siddarth and Congrats Steve.

CLINTON CLINCHES IT!

Both tall, both fit, both young, both hungry…. Result? A hard, tough, disputed match, with the two of them working hard and producing lots of calls for the referee to decide upon.

Too many lets from both players. Clinton Leew, the seventh seed from South-Africa created an upset after beating the third seed, Yann Perrin from France 3-2. It was a match full of lets and arguments. Climton was 2-1 down and managed to come in the fourth winning 11-5 and the fifth was a close battle but Clinton prevailed the winner.

Yann Perrin wasn’t just playing him game today. “Its one of those days” he told me. Best of luck to Clinton Leew in his match against Arthur Gaskin, The seed two from Ireland.

CHRIS SLOWS DOWN RUDI

I don’t think poor Chris expected to take it to a five setter but Rudi Willemse, a qualifier from South Africa played excellent squash once again keeping the ball quite tight to keep Chris guessing in the opening games.

Chris got hold of the first 11-9 putting enough pressure to get the ball past Rudi but the second slipped away from him 9-11. Rudi Started applying his delay shot which earned him a couple of points but they were not enough for the third game. He came back in the fourth fighting and trying to outlast the fitness and mental strength of Chris and he won it at the tie- breaker hitting some lovely lengths deep in the back corners.

The fifth game was one-sided, with Chris taking it 11-2 because he slowed the game down and got a bit more patient at the back. Well played Rudi and Congrats Chris! And Best of luck against Steve in the Semi-Final.

ARTHUR THROUGH IN STYLE

This was another great display of squash by the second seed Arthur Gaskin from Ireland and David Vidal, the sixth seed from Spain. Both players had their chances and they took them.

They played very tight squash in the beginning and David Started off well taking the first 11-4 but the second game went to the Irish 12-10. The third and fourth games were not just in favour of David.

As soon as David hit the ball a bit loose in the third and fourth, Arthur would pounce on them, attack and it was two out of three a nick.

Well played David Vidal and Congrats to Arthur and Best of luck to him in the Semi-Final Tomorrow.

19-Nov, Round One:

Hot 'n bouncy in Kenya
Special report from Abubakr Chaudhry, 18 year-old player from Nairobi, Kenya.

A tough day for some seeds here in Nairobi, Kenya at The Zain sponsored Kenya Open Squash Tournament with the ball bouncing like no ones business ...

A GOOD TRY HOWEVER NOT QUITE ENOUGH FOR THE FRENCHMAN
Siddarth Suchde BT Joan Lezaud 11-9, 11-5, 11-8

This match started off so well with both the players keeping it as tight as possible and attacking when the opportunity came. Long rallies in the end of the first game led to some feeling of fatigue and tiredness in Lezaud and he started making a few unforced errors. Three tins in the beginning of the third and 5-1 down came back slowly however the Indian had already a big point difference. Lezaud tried hard although the climatic condition did not favour him. In the third, Lezaud started off to a blistering 6-2 lead with stunning nicks and Siddarth found himself fighting back to level it 6-6 and then 7-6,8-6 and Lezaud tinned a few and game over.

AQEEL NOT THERE
Arthur Gaskin BT Aqeel Rehman 11-1, 11-5, 11-4 28mins

This game had a lot of errors made by both players but Aqeel won the error count by a big margin. Again the conditions on court don’t seem to suit Mr. Aqeel, A very bouncy track as he told me. Nevertheless well played seed number 2, Congrats...

WHAT A SHOCKER
Rudi Willemse BT Tom Pashley 11-8, 13-11, 7-11, 12-10

Rudi played his heart out today. Brilliant forehand drops and excellent disguising I must say from the South African qualifier. He kept it tight all the way and played his shots, keeping the pressure. Tom was also quite brilliant. It was really close for him in the fourth to level. I guess he didn’t take his chances when the opportunity arose.

Wow. What a Touch!
Chris Truswell BT Alex Ingham 14-12, 11-9, 2-11, 11-9

Both Chris and Alex are such touch players, be it at the back or front. This game was really a contest of who can really hold the pressure and who has the fitness to last. In the end it was Chris’s Day. Well played.

Focussed FRANCE!
Yann Perrin BT Phillip Nightingale 11-5, 11-6, 11-3

Yes. That is Yann Perrin. In the previous tournament he played well against Ali Anwar Reda and it seems he wants to win this tournament . Unlucky for Phillip, who is also a very lovely player.

UP AND DOWN!
David Vidal BT Mohammed el Kady 11-13, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3

This was the first see-saw Egyptian-Spanish battle. Both players getting winners one after the other. Mohammed played well today, he kept the ball tight and used all the four corners however David's experience did not let him down . He was up for it. Well played.