|
|
 Bank
Alfalah Pakistan
Open 2005
Karachi,
Pakistan, 22-29 July, $85k |
Wed 27-Jul, Quarters:
[1] Thierry Lincou bt [7] Karim Darwish
11/10 (3-1), 11/10 (2-0), 11/8 (44m)
[4] Anthony Ricketts bt [6] Nick Matthew
11/7, 11/3, 7/11, 7/11, 11/10(2-0) (76m)
[8] Gregory Gaultier bt
[3] Amr Shabana
11/10(2-0), 11/5, 11/3 (25m)
[2] David Palmer bt [5] James Willstrop
11/3, 11/9, 11/9 (34m)
IT'S
AUSTRALIA v FRANCE...
mini reports by Framboise,
and words from Thierry, Grégory and Renan ...
Boy o boy I'm so
p... euh, annoyed not to be in Karachi... These quarters were
quite dramatic, according to several sources. And the result of the day...?
Lincou will play Ricketts, a replay from the TOC final, and Palmer will
play Gaultier - Grégory's first Super Series event semi ... Feels a bit rugby world cup, doesn't it???
Anyway, James Willstrop, Pakistan Champion is out, and whatever happens,
a new Champion will be crowned... |
 27-July
Cool Lincou
Shahid Hashmi reports from Karachi ...
Cool customer Thierry Lincou lived up to his world number
one ranking with a clinical straight games win over Egyptian
Karim Darwish to sail into the semi-finals of the Pakistan open
squash championship here on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Frenchman came a step closer to a winning start to
a hectic season during which he will also attempt to defend his
world title in December, beating number seven seed Darwish in 44
minutes in a match which saw both players match each other point for
point.
"Although I won in straight games, it was a close match," said
Lincou.
Lincou spurned a good chance of taking the first game at 10-9 with
an unforced error and allowed Darwish, a world junior champion in
2000, to level the score at 10-all.
It was Darwish who came close to grabbing the second game at 10-9
but Lincou kept his nerves and with a slick drop shot from the
middle of the court forced the tie-break.
Lincou then scored back-to-back points to pocket the second game at
11-10 (2-0) and then dominated the third with an 11-8 scoreline.
"Darwish was taking the ball early which didn't give me any
opportunity to attack but in the end my cool made me the winner,"
said Lincou.
Ricketts outlasts Matthew
Lincou faces Australian Anthony Ricketts in the semi-finals
scheduled for Thursday in the championship which carries a prize
money of US dollars 85,000.
Ricketts, who lost to England's James Willstrop in Pakistan open
final last year, came through a bitter 76-minute marathon in five
games. Seeded four, the Australian outlasted number six Nick Matthew
of England, winning the fifth game on a tie-break after both players
received conduct warnings for showing dissent over refereeing
decisions.
Palmer deposes James
World number two David Palmer of Australia joined Lincou in
the last four at the expense of defending champion James
Willstrop who he beat in three straight games 11-3, 11-9, 11-8.
Skillful Palmer unexpectedly faced little difficulty in disposing
off the fast emerging Willstrop and came through in just 34 minutes.
Palmer, a three-time British open and 2002 world champion, unleashed
some disguising strokes to which the tall Englishman had no answers.
Gaultier shuts out Shabana
Egyptian Amr Shabana, world champion in 2003, failed to put up much
resistance after the first game due to a thigh muscle problem and
lost to Gregory Gaultier 11-10(2-0), 11-5, 11-3, setting up a pair
of France v Australia semi-finals. |
|
THIERRY WORRIED
[1] Thierry Lincou bt [7] Karim Darwish
11/10 (3-1), 11/10 (2-0), 11/8 (44m)
 According to our "spies" watching the
quarters, Thierry Lincou never looked comfortable during
the first quarter final of the day against newly engaged Karim
Darwish.
In the first game, Lincou was down 7/9, got himself to game ball, 10/9,
couldn't capitalise, but still got the game 3-1 in the tie-break.
Again in the second, Darwish was up 10/9, but the world number one
scored 3 straight points to take the second 2-0 in a tie-break yet again.
Darwish didn't give up for a second, relentlessly attacking his opponent,
to lead 8/7. But once again, the Frenchman strung five points to win the
third game 11/8. |
THIERRY ON THE
FRENCH PERFORMANCES...
Hi,
 Just finished coaching Greg during his match against Amr.
Greg played a solid game. He started very well, imposed a good pace
and prevented Shabana from settling into the match.
It was a very close first game, and then...
For my own match, I was strong, both mentally and physically, in
particular in the important points. Although a three setter, the match
was very close.
Karim was
taking the ball early which didn't give me any opportunity to attack but
in the end my cool made me the winner.
Speak with you later...
Thierry Lincou |
ANTHONY SO CLOSE...
[4] Anthony Ricketts bt [6] Nick Matthew
11/7, 11/3, 7/11, 7/11, 11/10(2-0) (76m)
 Once again, according to our spies, this was a
classic that had it all, suspense, injury, drama, you name it!
Anthony Ricketts seemed in perfect control of the match, winning the
first two games quite "easily" against Nick Matthew. Then, as he was down 0/3 in the third,
he asked for a three minutes of "self inflicted" injury time. He seemed
to suffer from his right hand. He came back on court, got down to 0/5,
started to come back, but was too far down and eventually
lost the third, then the fourth.
In the fifth, Nick had match ball 10/9, and saw Anthony ball's
down, but still lost the point. The Australian took full advantage,
winning the next three points to clinch the match, and another meeting
with Thierry ... |
Gaultier and Palmer in Three
Quick summary from
Steve Cubbins
[8] Gregory Gaultier bt
[3] Amr Shabana
11/10(2-0), 11/5, 11/3 (25m)
[2] David Palmer bt [5] James Willstrop
11/3, 11/9, 11/9 (34m)
 The
final two matches both finished 3/0, and guaranteed two things - a new
Pakistan Champion, and a second Australia v France semi-final.
Grégory Gaultier won a close first game against Amr Shabana, but
thereafter the Egyptian former world champion was unable to sustain his
challenge. Whether the problem was mental, physical or both, the result
is a first-ever appearance in a Super Series event semi-final for
Gaultier.
He will face David Palmer in that semi-final after the world
number three dethroned James Willstrop in three games in a little over
half an hour.
 Good afternoon, Fram
How are you? Here, so far so good...
I did a very heavy six weeks physical preparation in view of this
tournament, and it would seem to pay off... Physically, I feel good.
We battled very hard in the first, then Amr seemed to mentally let
go of the match.
Tomorrow, two Australo French semis, and I hope to meet Thierry in
the final...!
Later
Greg |
|
Hi Framboise
 I
landed in Paris on Tuesday, and I didn’t have the opportunity to
write a little note for your readers…
I am obviously disappointed with the result of my match against Joe
Kneipp, as I was up 2/0 and 6/6 in the third, when I suddenly
relaxed and fell into my favourite trap, as in taking my opponent
too much to the front.
And there, he counter-attacked me, whereas for two and a half games,
I was counter-attacking and controlling the game. I think that in my
mental preparation, I didn’t believe enough in my chances, and when
I needed to finish it off, that lack of confidence played its role.
I have to work on this…
I worked physically very hard since mid-june, and it makes it even
harder to swallow! I do not forget for one second that Joe is a very
good player indeed. At the minute, I can only see the negative
aspect of my defeat, but I’m sure I’ll feel better in a few days.
On Saturday, I’m off to Bogota for the
Colombian Open,
and I’m going there with the firm intention of wining.
When I left for Karachi, I thought that Greg and Thierry had a good
draw, and a good part to play, so far so good. It’s Greg’s first
Super Series semi, I sent him a text and told him to keep his feet
firmly on the ground. Wouldn’t it be great to have a 100% French
final….????
Renan
Lavigne
|
 |
Tue 26-Jul:
 Round Two, the last 16:
[1] Thierry
Lincou bt [12] Shahid Zaman
8/11, 11/4, 9/11, 11/8, 11/4 (47m)
[7] Karim Darwish bt [10] Ong Beng Hee
11/5, 11/10, 11/6 (34m)
[4] Anthony Ricketts bt [14] Olli Tuominen
11/4, 11/8, 11/10 (42m)
[6] Nick Matthew bt [13] Azlan Iskandar
11/7, 11/7, 11/8 (38m)
[8] Gregory Gaultier bt [16] Simon Parke
11/4, 11/7, 11/2 (38m)
[3] Amr Shabana bt [11] Adrian Grant
11/10(2-0), 11/6, 11/10(3-1) (36m)
[5] James Willstrop bt [9] Joe Kneipp
8/11, 11/9, 11/10(7-5), 11/7 (53m)
[2] David Palmer bt Wael El Hindi
11/6, 11/6, 11/8 (27m)
Quick reports from Steve Cubbins |
En Français
Draw
& Results
26-July
Lincou
Survives
Shahid Hashmi reports from
Karachi
The World's top squash player Thierry Lincou of France
survived a five-game second round match on Tuesday to advance to the
quarter-finals.
Lincou, reigning world champion and world number one but yet to win
a major tournament this year, had to use all his stamina and resolve
to edge out the last Pakistani hope, Shahid Zaman, 8-11,
11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 in a thrilling 47-minute encounter.
Lincou conceded a 2-7 lead in the first game, and although the
Frenchman pulled back at 7-9 he lost the first game 11-8. Warned for
pushing his opponent, Shahid conceded a 4-9 lead and could never
come back in the second game, which Lincou won 11-4 to level the
game score at 1-1.
But Shahid, riding the crest of a wave with three tournament wins
and a career best world number 14 ranking, unleashed some attacking
strokes to pocket the third game 11-9 and looked to be threatening
an upset.
Lincou then rallied to clinch the fourth game 11-8 and an 11-4 win
in the fifth.
Had Shahid continued to play his natural attacking game, he could
have pulled off a big upset. But his negative play saw the last of
nine local players crash out of the event. |
Photo of the 'new' Shabana eagerly awaited ...
|
Shahid Tests Thierry
Top seed Thierry Lincou was fully tested by local favourite
Shahid Zaman as the second round got under way in Karachi.
"It
was really close, Shahid played very well and at 2-1 down I thought I
would lose, but he was a bit negative and tired in the last two games.
"My mental toughness paid off and although I beat Shahid straight in
the British open last year, it proved tough to beat him in Pakistan.
He is very difficult to play. He has good hands and doesn't let you
settle into a rhythm.
"I know he's not fully fit at the moment, so I'm glad to be into the
next round."
Thierry Lincou
|
The young Pakistani number one took the first
game, but the effort told as Lincou was able to take control in the second
to level. The next two games were both hard fought, and shared, leading to
a decisive fifth.
It was the Frenchman who made the better start, and at 7/4 down Shahid
appeared to lose heart as Lincou closed out the match.
 "I
was down with flu and cough but I tried my best.
I don't blame the referee but he gave three decisions against me
initially and against a great player it's not you want."
Shahid Zaman |
|
Willstrop wins a thriller
James Willstrop, number five seed and defending champion from England, was
to taken to four games by Australian Joseph Kneipp of Australia, finally
winning 8-11, 11-9, 11-10 (17-15), 11-7.
 In
one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far, Kneipp took the
first, and it was 'nip and tuck' in the second. At 9-all Willstrop hit a
particularly sweet backhand drop to reach game ball, and took the next to
level the match.
In the third Kneipp was distracted by a couple of 'no let' decisions, at
6-8 and 9-all, as Willstrop reached game ball 10-9 but missed an attempted
winner, and did it again at 11-10. Amazing rallies followed in an extended
tie-break, with Willstrop finally clinching the game 17-15.
Willstrop then held on to take the fourth 11/7 and move into the quarters
where he faces David Palmer. |
Darwish Despatches Ong
 Lincou
meets Egyptian Karim Darwish in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Darwish, seeded seven, knocked off tenth seed Malaysian Ong Beng Hee 11-5,
11-10 (13-11), 11-6 without much resistance in another second-round match
between two former world junior champions.
Last year's runner-up, Anthony Ricketts of Australia, reached the
quarters beating Finland's Olli Tuominen in straight games, but with the
Finn getting closer in each game and forcing a tie-break in the third.
Ricketts set up a quarter-final with number six seed Nick Matthew
of England, who beat 13th seed Azlan Iskander of Malaysia 11-7, 11-7,
11-8.
Former world and reigning British open champion David Palmer of
Australia set up an intriguing quarter-final match with defending champion
Willstrop by beating Egyptian Wael El Hindi, the only non-seed in the
second round, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.
"It was a nice work out," said Palmer, who faces Willstrop in the last
eight on Wednesday. |
New Shabana ... Same Story
Just back from honeymoon and sporting a new blond hairstyle, Amr
Shabana, who won the world title in Pakistan in 2003, continued to
entertain the crowds as he reached the quarter-finals here.
Trailing in two games the Egyptian wizard recovered to take the first,
which England's Adrian Grant led throughout, and third games to tie-breaks
before completing a 3/0 win.
Shabana now meets Grégory Gaultier, after the young
Frenchman ended the interest of English veteran Simon Parke, who had a
tough five game battle in the first round, with a comfortable three-game
victory.
|
Mon 25-Jul:
Round One, Bottom Half:
Simon Parke bt Basit Ashfaq 11/2,10/11,9/11, 11/7, 11/2
Grégory Gaultier bt Mansoor Zaman 11/4, 11/6, 11/8
Adrian Grant bt Yasir Butt 11/10, 11/7, 11/9
Amr Shabana bt Dan Jenson 11/7, 11/3, 11/3
Joe Kneipp bt Renan Lavigne 5/11, 7/11, 11/7, 11/7,11/4
James Willstrop bt Aamir Atlas Khan 11/4, 11/3, 11/1
Wael El Hindi bt
Mohammed Abbas 5/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/2
David Palmer bt Khayal Mohammed 11/1, 11/7, 11/5 |
TOURNAMENT
MAIN PAGE
En Français
 "It
was a nice workout and I am happy to be well on course for my title
defence."
James
Willstrop |
 "I was playing against
my opponent and myself.
"It's my style that if I play against the world number 100 or world
number one my standard remains the same."
Joe Kneipp |
 "I don't think Dan
wanted to play. At least the scoreline showed that.
"I'm worried about my family in Egypt [where bomb blasts killed more
than 80 people at the weekend].
"The situation back home also plays on your mind, but I am geared up
for the event and want to win it."
Amr Shabana |
New world Champ
for France ?
France's world champion
Thierry Lincou - intriguingly named as "Thari Linkoki" in
one Pakistan newspaper, is top seed for the event and is expected to
face Australia's world number three David Palmer in the
final.
"I’ve
come to Pakistan to take part in a major competition and my focus is
on my performance in the event. I’ve been to this city before and
have a few friends here. I don’t feel unsafe here.
"I want it to be me but frankly speaking it could be anybody from
among the top-ranked players taking part in the tournament this
year."
Thierry Lincou |
|
|
Willstrop
Leads English Quartet
Shahid Hasmi reports from Karachi
Defending champion James Willstrop led a strong field of four
English players into the second round after a comfortable win in the
Pakistan open squash championship here on Monday. Another former world
junior champion, Simon Parke, and Adrian Grant joined
Sunday's winner Nick Matthew to lead a strong English field into
the second round scheduled for Tuesday. |
Willstrop Opens Title Defence
James Willstrop bt Aamir Atlas Khan 11/4, 11/3, 11/1
Joe Kneipp bt Renan Lavigne 5/11, 7/11, 11/7, 11/7, 11/4
Willstrop, the 21-year-old from Yorkshire, a 2002 world junior champion
who won the Pakistan open in Islamabad last year, breezed through his
first round match in just 19 minutes, beating wild card entrant Aamir
Atlas, a nephew of former world champion Jansher Khan, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1.
 Number five seed Willstrop will now face number nine seed
Australian Joseph Kneipp, who outlasted the number 20 seed,
Frenchman Renan Lavigne, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 in a 55-minute
stamina-sapping encounter. Lavigne won the first two games without much
effort, but Kneipp
staged a remarkable comeback to win the next three games. |
Palmer cruises, El Hindi Surprises
Wael El Hindi bt
Mohammed Abbas 5/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/2
David Palmer bt [Q] Khayal Mohammed 11/1, 11/7, 11/5
 Willstrop's expected semi-final opponent number two seed Australian
David Palmer made a short shrift of Pakistani qualifier Khayal
Mohammad in a clinical 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 win.
In a battle of two Egyptians, Wael El Hindi prevailed over Mohammed Abbas 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 to become the only non-seeded player to reach
round two, where he comes face to face with Palmer. |
Parke uses his Experience
Simon Parke bt Basit Ashfaq
11/2, 10/11, 9/11, 11/7, 11/2
Grégory Gaultier bt Mansoor Zaman 11/4, 11/6, 11/8
World number 12 Gregory Gaultier of France disposed of Pakistan's
Mansoor Zaman's challenge in an unexpectedly comfortable three games in
just half an hour.
 Gaultier, who had beaten Mansoor in their previous two matches, won 11-4,
11-6, 11-8 and now plays Simon Parke in the round of 16.
Parke had to use all his experience in defeating home qualifier Basit
Ashfaq 11-2, 10-11(0-2), 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 in an hour [official times do
not include game intervals, Ed].
"It was a lack of experience on my part," Basit told Dawn. "Had I
won the fourth set, the result would have been different."
|
Shabana eases past Jenson
Adrian Grant bt Yasir Butt 11/10, 11/7, 11/9
Amr Shabana bt Dan Jenson 11/7, 11/3, 11/3
 Egyptian Amr Shabana, who won the world title in Pakistan in 2003,
also enjoyed easy sailing when he beat number 17 seed Australian Dan
Jenson 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 in just 17 minutes.
Shabana now meets another Englishman, Adrian Grant, who overcame local qualifier Yasir Butt 11-10 (2-0), 11-7, 11-9.
Grant has experience in Pakistani conditions, having won the COAS title in
Islamabad last year.
|
Sun
24-Jul:
Round One, Top Half:
Thierry Lincou bt Bradley Ball 10/11,
11/2, 11/5, 11/10
Shahid Zaman bt Aquib Hanif 11/7, 11/3, 11/4
Karim Darwish bt Safeerullah Khan 115/, 11/2, 11/3
Ong Beng Hee bt Ramy Ashour 11/9, 11/6, 1/11,
11/6
Anthony Ricketts bt Shamsul Islam Khan 11/2,11/5, 11/9
Olli Tuominen bt Hisham Ashour 11/6, 11/6, 11/8
Nick Matthew bt Dylan Bennett 11/6, 7/11, 11/9,
11/2
Azlan Iskandar bt Jonathan Kemp 11/8, 11/10, 11/7 |
Seeds Safely Through as
Open Returns to Karachi
Quick
reports from Steve Cubbins
 After
the opening ceremony at the DHA Creek Club Asif Nawaz Squash Complex
in Karachi, venue of the Pakistan Open after a gap of some six years, the
action got under way in the main draw and was characterised by a series of
quick matches, all won by the seeded players, but with several struggling
to find their best form on an unforgiving court floor. |
Ricketts and Lincou on course
Thierry Lincou bt Bradley
Ball 10/11, 11/2, 11/5,
11/10
Anthony
Ricketts bt Shamsul Islam Khan 11/2,11/5, 11/9
 First
up was Australia's Anthony Ricketts, runner-up in last year's event
in Islamabad, against qualifier Shamsul Islam Khan.
Ricketts wasted no time in progressing to round two, beating qualifier
Shamsul Islam Khan 11/2, 11/5, 11/9 in just 21 minutes.
Next on was top seed Thierry Lincou, who recovered from his
customary slow start, dropping a close first game and winning an equally
tight fourth, to beat England's Bradley Ball 10/11, 11/2, 11/5, 11/10 in
the longest match of the day. |
Shahid carries home hopes
Shahid Zaman bt Aquib Hanif 11/7, 11/3, 11/4
Olli Tuominen bt Hisham Ashour 11/6, 11/6, 11/8
 Lincou
will meet Pakistan's main hope Shahid Zaman in the second round.
Zaman was suffering from flu but still managed to overcome qualifier Aquib
Hanif in straight games.
Ricketts' second round opponent is Olli Tuominen, the 14th seeded
Finn who made short work of Egyptian Hisham Moh'd Ashour. |
Ex-Junior Champs to meet
Karim Darwish bt Safeerullah Khan 115/, 11/2, 11/3
Ong Beng Hee bt Ramy Ashour 11/9, 11/6, 1/11,
11/6
Two
regular visitors to Pakistan, and two former world junior champions,
Karim Darwish and Ong Beng Hee, will meet for a place in the
quarter-finals.
 Darwish,
seeded seven, completed the quickest victory of the day, despatching
former British Junior Open champion Safeerullah Khan in just 17 minutes.
Beng Hee, by contrast, took twice as long to get past Ramy Ashour, the
current World Junior Champion, in four games. |
Matthew denies Dutch
comeback
Nick Matthew bt Dylan Bennett 11/6, 7/11, 11/9, 11/2
Azlan Iskandar bt Jonathan Kemp 11/8, 11/10, 11/7
 Sixth
seed Nick Matthew survived an error-strewn performance against
Dutch qualifier Dylan Bennett. At one-game all Bennett had clawed his way
back into contention at 9-all, but carelessly hit the ball out and lost
the momentum as Matthew took the game and quickly sealed the match 11/2 in
the fourth.
To complete the first day's play, another Pakistan regular Azlan
Iskandar maintained the trend of expected victories. The Malaysian
beat Jonathan Kemp in straight games, to set up a meeting with Matthew,
his second successive English opponent.
|
|
"It
would be a great challenge to meet Thierry in the final, and
obviously, like every tournament, I have come here to win.
"I
have trained hard for this event and will go all out in it."
"Until
a few years ago it was easy to predict the champion of a major
event, but not these days. The circuit has become very
unpredictable and I am expecting some major surprises."