HOME
Archive
Calendar
Tournaments
Kaleidoscope
Forum
Players
Interviews
Coaching
Links
Useful Info
Clubs
Photos
Shorts
In the Papers
Contact
UK
PSA
FRANCE
USA
SEARCH

The men's final was held first and began at 4pm local time. Ong Beng Hee, holding a 5-1 record against Iskandar in the senior ranks, has long been the national number one player and had all to play to regain the status he recently lost to Iskandar. Matches between these two might have always been on Beng Hee's side but it has always been close and highly exciting for spectators.

I had great expectations on this match and both the boys didn't disappoint. The only regret is that there were far too many lets, especially when the rallies were all very long and far too many conversations with referee Munir Shah.

Beng Hee started off well, gaining a 3-0 lead after Iskandar missing a backhand and then a nick from a backhand shot. Iskandar recovered well and had a burst of 5 points to lead 5-3. This however was changed once again when the Chinese warrior took the next 4 points.

At 5-7 down, Iskandar hit a beautiful low drive into the nick, but only to be followed by an easy shot hit into the tin. A lob out of bounds and yet another tin gave Beng Hee game ball, which he converted with a simple forehand boast.

In the second, it was close with rallies going on forever. Both players had some great shots, retrieved very well. Both seem to be so used to each other's game that they could somehow tell what the next shot would be, or so it seems. In the end, a few great shots from Iskandar and Beng Hee committing some unforced errors ended it - one a piece now.



The third continued like the previous game, point for point up to 6 a piece. Beng Hee pulled ahead to 8-6 and then had game ball at 10-8.

A long rally came next, Beng Hee attacking all the way but Iskandar's great athleticism saw him retrieving what should be at least 3 winners. The rally ended with a let, rather disappointing! In the next rally, Iskandar did a hold and flick that caught Beng Hee.

The next 3 points belonged to Iskandar, who ended the game thanks to a stroke against Beng Hee, who tried an ambitious cross court back hand nick volley that finished disastrously.

The fourth saw Beng Hee come back with a vengeance though. From 3-3, he went on to lead 6-3 and soon enough had game ball at 10-5. Iskandar saved the first game point with a forehand drop into the nick, but that was al he got.

Just like the last time both met, it had to go to a 5th! Beng Hee, with a fresh shirt on now, seemed tired and lost in this game. The pace of the game had also slowed down quite a bit, often a contest of drives and lobs from both the players. But Azlan was definitely the one with a lot more reserves left, simply judging from the court movement. Iskandar led 5-0, then 7-1.

Only then did Beng Hee seem to have started playing. He got another 3 points to 4-8. He was next denied a let to fall further back and a stroke awarded to Iskandar on the next point had him toss his racket up which accidentally flew out into the front row filled with sponsors and important guest, including an ex-mayor!

He escaped with a simple conduct warning, but Iskandar didn't need it and their head to head record now changed to 5-2.
 

VANESSA GIVES A
REPEAT PERFORMANCE

One last hurdle for the nation's sports queen and tickets, which were being sold for the first time in many years, were sold out. Though they were priced at RM50 each (a McDonalds meal costs less than RM10 for comparison!), people were willing to pay to watch the talk of town in action.

Nicol David comes in after a an hour on court against Natalie Grinham yesterday, while Atkinson had just a little more than half of that. It definitely showed today, as the Duracell bunny seems a lot slower than her usual self. As Atkinson would say to the press later, "She's not super human you know!"



Normally a slow started, David was different today as the first game was actually the close, the Malaysian never trailing more than 2 points at ay point. It was however, Atkinson's day as she wrapped up at 9-7, much to the dismay of the home crowd.

The cheers from the crowd was highly encouraging and must've lifted the Malaysian, as David returned the favour in the next game. Atkinson led 2-0 from a cross court drop and a tin from David. Serving at 0-2, David got her first point after a series of exchanges of drops, major treat for the 15 or so photographers camping behind the front wall.

David went on to get the next 5 points to lead 6-2 but Atkinson crawled back to 4-6, before a forehand drop into the tin handed back service to David. Long rallies came next, all to David's favour. Game ball in hand and David finished it in style, equalling a game each with a back hand drop after a very good hold.




The long second game certainly took its toll on David, as she fell tamely to Atkinson in the 3rd, gaining only a single point. Atkinson too, played some amazing squash, just as she has all week here in Kuala Lumpur.

The 4th was pretty similar in score, the Malaysian bowing out 3-9. This however, was after falling behind 0-3 and leveling to 3-each. Though the score of 9-3 may seem a whitewash, but it sure wasn't as rallies were long and hard.

The win marks Atkinson's second successive win over the world champion. It's been since the World Open that Atkinson had lost to David, but her win here just isn't enough to give her back her number one ranking.
 

MEN

Azlan Iskandar, the national number one with a hairdo no one can miss entertained the crowd to top level men's squash. His worthy opponent tonight was Adrian Grant, who has won 11 world level junior titles. Both players were hungry and traded very powerful lengths. None of them play particularly fancy shots, so rallies were rather long and both players were picking up nearly everything.

Referee for the day was Munir Shah, the head referee for the ASF, who was very firm in his decisions. Grant seemed rather unlucky to have been denied a couple of lets he felt he should have been given, something which he said affected him later.

Iskandar sneaked in the first game before being totally outplayed in the next. At one a piece, he stepped up the pace but Grant was certainly more than ready to respond each time.

The last two games were close, both in reality and also the score. The end result went to Iskandar, much to the delight of the local crowd. Iskandar now leads 3-2 in their head to head meetings, having won the last 3 in a row.

The meeting marks a repeat of the 2005 Malaysian Open final in November where Beng Hee won 3-1. Patient squash is all Beng Hee played in his match against Wael El Hindi. He waited for the time to end the rallies rationally.

Error rate was low for Beng Hee, while the big Egyptian had mistakes all over the court. Many of his volley drops and flicks often found the top of the tin. The Malaysian, having lost out in the opening at Dayton, was also very determined to prove a point in this tournament.

Beng Hee volleyed as many as he could cautiously, moving the big guy around. But it has to be said that El Hindi's drops and volleys were more potent than the Malaysian's, if only more went in, we could be seeing slightly different results.

Beng Hee wins in three games, in very similar style, and the local camp is very happy. Happy there might be an all-Malaysian final and happy for this hardworking Chinese warrior.

These 2 men have a long history, dating back to the 1998 World Junior Men's final in Princeton, USA where Beng Hee was crowned world junior champion. Since then, both have enjoyed a great off-court friendship.

In a repeat of the 2004 World Open semi final, Natalie Grinham faced local darling Nicol David to a packed crowd. The balconies of the higher floors and also around the vicinity of the court was just filled with Malaysians from al walks of life capitalising on their chance to witness the world champion in action.

The Australian started off really well, winning 9-4 and 9-3. David seem to be trying to hard to shorten the game, but it just wasn't working. A quick few words at the break from new national coach Jamie Hickox saw her coming back a different player. David took the next two comfortably.

It as the fifth that was a killer for both the players and also spectators in the sideline. David was 5-0 up but was forced to make mistakes by gritty Grinham. After saving two match balls and eventually clinching hers, the Malaysian books her place against Atkinson tomorrow.

Grinham must really be commended for her superb show of sportsmanship. Nicol served out once at 8-8 in the fifth but she sportingly said she wasn't ready anyway, while in the last point she also felt her lop hit the top of line, though many of us felt the ball was still in.

After 2 upsets in a row, Madeline Perry found Vanessa Atkinson too tough a nut to crack tonight. The match started off explosively and the rallies were long. Nothing was separating the 2 players in this game, Atkinson winning by just 2 points.

Things took a huge turn in the the next game as Perry gave away the game in no time, not earning a single point. Atkinson was hitting many drops from the back and mid-court and Perry just couldn't see them coming and got caught.

In the third however, at a point where Atkinson was up at 7-3, Perry came back very strongly to 8-8. We were seeing glimpses of the Perry in the first game again suddenly. Atkinson must've been caught by surprise. However, she realised in time and somehow managed to stop Perry's charge further.

Atkinson meets Nicol David, who barely scrapped through against Natalie Griham having been on court for a little over an hour.
 

"I expected a hard match, but definitely not a tough third game after 2-0 up. Madeline's playing really well and she should be happy with herself. She's had a great tournament." Vanessa Atkinson "Vanessa played really well today, her short game is just too good. After the first, I felt a bit tired. I'm pleased as I've had a great week here. " Madeline Perry

MEN

Having watched both men play yesterday, I had thought Grant would be taking this comfortably. Razik is a grinder who just keeps the bal in play, and this is what he did exactly tonight. Everything Grant threw at him, he returned.

The men's runner up last year, Egyptian Wael El Hindi had a tough match today. It was also tough physicaly for both the players, and they got into each other's way a fair bit. I'd imagine the left hander took more than do the damage, given the difference in size!

The big tall guy was certainly matched very well by the Pakistani, who held game points in the first two, only to see El Hindi snatch them in the tie breaks.

He came back to take the third, but El Hindi stamped his mark once again to book a place in the semi finals against Bengy. The last time the two played in the Malaysian Open final in December, the local boy won in four.

Many in the Malaysian camp was worried about this one, what more with the reigning world junior champion beating his senior only two weeks back.

Things in fact did not start too well for Bengy, as he let go of his lead to allow Ashour the first game.

Twice in the closing moments, his flicks went into the tin. In the second, Ashour seem to have lost his concentration and made quite a few unforced erors.

Being a shot maker, mistakes are a norm, but even so, the rate was still higher. It was point for point again in the third, Bengy snatching it and the fourth, the Malaysian simply reigned supreme.

The other half of the Malaysia v The Ashour family brought the mall to life. When Iskandar's name was introduced, there were cheers around, though of course, Nicol David's was much louder).

Having beaten him in the World Open, Azlan stated to the press yesterday he was confident on this one. Sporting a new blonde mohawk hairstyle, Azlan played with confidence.

The pace was electric, both players hitting very hard. All three games, Iskandar proved stronger but credit should be given to both of them, they played great entertaining squash.

A very upbeat Natalie Grainger stepped into court today against a very in-form Vanessa Atkinson. Grainger, who has been sidelined for months due to injury is making a comeback to Kuala Lumpur. However, her comeback ended tonight when she bowed out in straight games to the world number two.

Grainger started off with a bang, winning point after point. She was soon 8-4 up but just couldn't finish it. Vanessa took the next 6 points to steal the game away. In the second and third, it was evident Grainger was tiring out and she hardly troubled Atkinson in the third.

"I felt good playing today. It was a good game but I am just not up to this physically just yet. I need me time, so give me a few more months and I'll be back! I am just a little disappointed with not taking the first game having had such a lead. "After that, my legs were not just up for it anymore. The atmosphere in here is amazing but the only downside is the lighting. It was hard to see the ball in there." "It was a good game thought it took me some time to get into it. Natalie is an awkward player to play against. But once I got the hang of it, it was alright. The lighting could be better in here. Each time someone does a hold and flick, you need a few more moments before you realise it. "Hopefully we'll see more people in here tomorrow and the night after."

Madeline Perry today once again upset the books when she scored a straight games victory over Rachael Grinham. Grinham, who only yesterday narrowly escaped an opening round defeat, had no answer to the highly confident Irish lass. Playing some powerful attacking squash, Perry was simply oozing with confidence today.

Perry's lob serves was also inch perfect today, serving up a few aces, something very rare in the professional game. Only yesterday did she joked about how difficult it would be to see the ball when Rachael is going to be lobbing every single shot.

However, Grinham did seem to look like she is a lot more comfortable in this glass court compared to the side courts yesterday.

Having not played a single match since she arrived, Jenny Duncalf, the English girl nearly made it a double Grinham disaster today. She played absolutely great squash in the first and third. She somehow seemed to have drifted away in the fourth and fifth, allowing Grinham book her semi final berth without dropping a point.

Duncalf must be gutted to have lost out in such a manner. Though the scores in the entire match seem to be one-sided in each game, but the rallies were long and exciting. The crowd was definitely entertained by such great showing by both these fine players.

"I don't know happened in the last 2 games! "

In the third, things seem to take a turn. Naude took a healthy lead and the score certainly suggests how close the game was. Naude finally got into the rhythm, but it proved too late. The Malaysian was in no mood to compromise tonight and had Naude on the plane back tonight itself.

"It was just so hard to see in there. I had so much trouble and when I got used to it, it was way too late."

Player of the day certainly goes to Tegwen Malik, whom I confidently predicted against yesterday. Today, Malik was a totally different player. She practically ran for everything Rachael Grinham threw at her and managed to often read the Aussie's game, something which is highly amazing.

Despite being 0-2 down, Grinham showed why she was number one for such a long time. She came back slowly, let Malik play to her game and eventually snatched the fifth, albeit very closely, and the match.

Vanessa Atkinson came back to her favourite court today, having last lost on it to Nicol David at the 2005 Malaysian Open. Her opponent today was local wild card, Sharon Wee.

The Dutch lass is just a notch above Wee, who was always behind and also the one made to work hard. Atkinson's great lengths and pace killed off the Malaysian's momentum, never allowing her to play her own game.

Natalie Grainger is back to Kuala Lumpur, after a disappearance of 8 years from this country. Her last trip here was for the Commonwealth Games, so many in the squash fraternity is eager to watch her play.

Her opponent today was Engy Kheirallah, who didn't trouble her too much. 28 minutes to be exact. Tomorrow sees her playing Atkinson ... should be a very interesting contest.
 

Natalie Grinham played the world junior champion Raneem El Weleily, one of the master shot makers in the women's game.

The Egyptian did unleash some of her tricks but there were also many that found the tin. Having Rachael playing the fifth game on the side courts, Natalie was surely reluctant to leave for the centre court then, but all ended well for the sisters.

After Engy lost, it was all down to Omneya Abdel Kawy to keep the Egyptian flag flying. Of course, Madeline Perry had different ideas.

Coming from a game down and 3-8 in the second, she never gave up. Such determination won her an opportunity to face customers then.
 

The final match of the day was the one everyone wanted to see.

This was the first competitive match at home since Nicol David became world champion so it is understandable that the crowds were out.

The fans were not disappointed as both David and Kitchen played some very fast paced attacking squash that delighted all in the stands.

Kitchen took a game off the world champion and the first two were closely contested as well.