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 Seoul
Open 2008
Korea, Seoul, 02-07 Jun, $60k |
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07-Jun,
Final:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
9/5, 10/9, 9/6 (41m) |
Nicol adds Seoul
to her collection
WISPA reports from Korea
A week of turmoil in Seoul, though not on the squash court. Yes,
there had been a few upsets in the $60,000 Seoul Women’s Open, but
there was a great deal of action outside too.
At national level, President Lee Myung-Bak was facing a
public backlash over a beef deal done with the USA. Those who
disagreed had taken to holding public meetings to loudly protest;
the meeting place being right next to the glass court arena set up
in Seoul Plaza, the heartbeat of the city as it faces City Hall.
They had taken place all week and would be thronged tonight it not
being a working day. Thousands were on the square, clutching candles
and signs.
So, not only was there the thwack of the rubber ball hitting the
walls of the newly purchased ASB All Glass court, but a cacophony of
sounds outside too. Literally thousands of police were deployed,
speakers broadcasting speeches and music, and so much more going on.
Very febrile indeed.
But while this sounds like a recipe for a cancellation, the players
took it in their stride. Focused on their play, they hardly noticed,
and it was more on a level of fascination that it was observed.
The crowds were out on finals night, but the crowds were in too. The
stands were packed, national TV on the job and a sense of
anticipation was clear.
Both finalists are very popular amongst the local enthusiasts, so
remove the Nicol David Malaysian fan club who were back in
force and both players still enjoyed general voluble backing.
The rain was now a memory and the spectator covering removed, adding
to the spectacle. Extra seating appeared too, much needed as the
place was full and humming.
Rachael Grinham had managed to beat the odds which seemed to
indicate a retirement before a ball had been struck, having
recovered from a back muscle pulled while practicing at the Plaza.
A look at the head to heads indicated a weighting very much in
favour of the Malaysian. She stood 17-7 ahead in WISPA Tour clashes,
and while Grinham sensationally saved a match ball to win the
British Open in 2007, her last victory before that was 14 matches
ago in 2005. Add to that David having secured revenge by winning
their last encounter in the Qatar Classic last November and purring
along nicely now, the smart money was with her.
National TV was following the action in black and white, with
Grinham clad in black.
Unlike so many opponents, Grinham starting taking David in short
from the outset at every opportunity – and is superbly equipped to
do so with her pinpoint drops from any length.
This ploy took her into an early lead which lasted until David began
to go longer. Driving where she could or floating the ball high when
taken short. Grinham was also firing high and wide so both players
would need to scurry back before coming forward again.
The Malaysian was now in ‘hunting’ mode. Looking eager to pounce on
the ball early keep Grinham away from the tee and generally stretch
her – and her suspect back. Now, while Grinham was asking questions
they were all being answered.
David was now one game to the good and looking set.
But as Grinham became a little more circumspect about when to go
forward in the second she again went into a lead. The drops were
still hitting their target, as were a few deceptive drives.
Sometimes shots so lazily hit that she might have been gently waving
away a fly. But very effective swatting.
Yet another unread drop took her to 7/2 up, but as ever David seems
to like to give her opponent a start. A challenge. Now she started
to climb. 3/7, then 4/7, and up to seven all. Then on to 8/7. A
tinned David drive and a Grinham winner squared the game before
David got to 9/8, an outrageous long drop enabled the world champion
to level again before a wide drive gave David the game. 7/2 down,
10/9 up. Cue Malaysian supporter eruption.
And it was the same story in the third. Grinham ahead, David
regaining the initiative and level at six all before the Penang
Powerhouse moved forward on a couple of clingers and finally took
the match on a mishit drop that gave her the title. Apologising for
the denouement, happy to have won and hugging the loser.
An explosion of colourful confetti, trophies given and the visitors
and hosts alike reflected on a hugely successful Seoul Open mounted
by the Seoul Squash Federation.
On the subject of reflecting, after the match Grinham summed up her
performance saying, "I don’t think that I am going to win by playing
length against Nicol.". When asked about the leads, "At 7/2 in the
first she dug in more and in that game and the others maybe I was
sometimes too eager to get in short."
But bearing in mind her back problems early on, "I definitely cannot
complain as I played much better than I expected at the beginning of
the week. I am happy to have had an okay game against Nicol. And the
crowd helps as they get really excited."
The victor was asked about her opponent going in short on a regular
basis. David’s response, "I sort of knew that it would happen. If it
comes in it goes in. I couldn’t do much for a while until I could
get her away from the tee."
"I was really excited to come back to Seoul. There is such a great
welcome from everybody."
So David claimed her 28th Tour title, incidentally one more than
Grinham; and is beginning to build an unbeaten run that may
eventually match or exceed the thirteen months that ended at the
Seoul Open last year. |
Draw & Results
RONALD FAUVEL
The effort, travel and cost for Rachael Grinham to receive
specialist physio support that enabled her to compete in the final.
The on-site personal back up for Nicol David. Compare and contrast.
Ronald Fauvel is the difference. He is the Canadian who prowls close
by, looking like her minder, but very much a rehabilitation
specialist.
Thirteen years ago he was seconded to Malaysia to work at the
Commonwealth Games as a sports therapist on a two year contract but
has been there ever since.
He has been employed by the Malaysian Sports Institute to look after
all elite and pro athletes in the country across the range of
sports, but is also specifically attached to David for support.
Way back in 1997 she had been sent to see him because of knee pain,
and Fauvel sorted her out. The self-confessed mechanical freak then
started to study the movements of squash to get a better handle on
it.
Asked to define his role for his squash charge he explains, "My job
is to regenerate her so that she feels that she hasn’t played a
match the day before and that her constituents are well balanced. In
layman’s terms to ensure that she is moving smoothly and with
suppleness. And also to keep her clear of injury."
Certainly, she has avoided spells out, and as he puts it, "So that
she has the confidence to go deep and come out without getting
injured. She knows that she can really try things physically because
the back up is there."
And she is very grateful to have him at her side along with coach
Liz Irving. "To be able to make use of Ronald is such a great
advantage, an extra benefit. After a match he makes sure that I am
ready to give my best the next day. That alone gives you a boost,"
she says.
With his ability to keep his player humming, along with his open
hearted manner he is a great asset generally. And what would Rachael
Grinham have given for such a service this week?
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KIM HAK SHIN – THE DRIVING FORCE
 When
the Seoul Open started a year ago it was born from nothing but a
desire to bring a major event to the city which would focus
attention on the sport. But not content with starting small, the
Seoul Squash Federation (SSF) went all out to make a splash.
Bringing a glass court to the heart of the city in front of City
Hall was the brainchild of Kim Hak Shin, Vice president of
SSF. And despite all the staging and fund-raising challenges that
came with the territory, the event was a great success.
Not content with simply repeating the formula for 2008, he decided
that SSF should purchase an ASB glass court so that the
opportunities for more regular exposure would be in place.
A huge investment, but he remained undaunted. Although he speaks
little English, Thomas as he is known to visitors, explained through
an interpreter, ‘I really appreciate the help of SSF President
Yoon. Without his help we could have done none of this. When a
major sponsor cancelled we had a difficult time but with his help we
have succeeded. He is a great supporter of squash and Korean Squash
owes him a great debt’.
 He
was speaking of Yoon Hong-Guen, who is President of Genesis
BBQ, a restaurant group, and who are one of the event sponsors. But
he also is modestly playing down his role. Despite his job as a
visiting professor at Sejong University & his own business work, he
somehow has fond time to drive the management of the WISPA
championship along with the other SSF activities along with linking
with the Korean Squash Federation, the national body.
One of the great benefits coming from the event is, he says, ‘All
the staff and volunteers are local players and have a chance to be
inspired by the international players as they are all passionate.
He hopes to mount a PSA event later in the year as part of this
profile raising effort – which has featured national TV coverage
this week from the SBS Network.
It can also do no harm in bring squash to the notice of Korean
Olympic officials too. “Korean people are just waiting for the
Olympics. The Asian Games shows how important it would be. The
government, sports ministry and sponsors would be even more helpful
to us’, he avows.
Currently school children at all ages are being targeted to play the
sport and elite level. Asked about how he sees the future he says,
‘We are challenging young people from school to university and we
hope that within 5 – 6 years we will have some players who have
become well known internationally’.
With his energy, who would bet against him succeeding?
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Seoul
Open 2008
Korea, Seoul, 02-07 Jun, $60k |
Round One
03/04 Jun |
Quarters
05 Jun |
Semis
06
Jun |
Final
07 Jun |
[1] Nicol David (Mas)
9/2 9/3 9/1 (28m)
[Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) |
[1] Nicol David
9/5, 8/10, 9/5, 9/5 (50m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf |
[1] Nicol David
10/8, 9/7, 9/5 (44m)
[7] Alison Waters |
[1] Nicol David
9/5, 10/9, 9/6 (41m)
[2] Rachael Grinham |
[5] Jenny Duncalf
(Eng)
10/8, 9/5, 9/4, (43m)
Engy Kheirallah (Egy) |
[4] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl)
7/9, 9/1, 9/10, 9/5, 9/6 (89m)
Kasey Brown (Aus) |
Kasey Brown
6/9, 9/6, 9/5, 7/9, 9/4 (67m)
[7] Alison Waters |
[7] Alison Waters
(Eng)
9/2 9/3 9/1 (20m)
[Q] Elise Ng (Hkg) |
[Q] Raneem El Weleily
(Egy)
9/3 9/1 10/8
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Eng) |
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
10/9, 10/8, 10/8 (45m)
Madeline Perry |
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
6/9, 9/6, 9/4, 9/5 (61m)
[2] Rachael Grinham |
Madeline Perry
(Irl)
6/9, 9/2, 9/5, 9/0 (41m)
[3] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) |
[Q] Emma Beddoes (Eng)
9/4 9/3 9/1
[6] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) |
[6] Vanessa Atkinson
9/6, 9/0, 9/6 (26m)
[2] Rachael Grinham |
Rebecca Chiu (Hkg)
10/8, 4/9, 9/1, 9/6 (47m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (Aus) |
03-Jun, Qualifying Finals:
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bt Park Eun Ok (Kor)
9/1, 9/1, 9/2 (24m)
Emma Beddoes (Eng) bt Song Sun-Mi (Kor)
9/6, 9/6, 9/3 (38m)
Elise Ng (Hkg) bt Ahn Eun Chan (Kor)
9/7, 9/6, 8/10, 7/9, 9/2 (79m)
Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bt Mami Nishio (Jpn)
10/8, 9/7, 9/6 (34m)
02-Jun, Qualifying Round One:
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bye
Park Eun Ok (Kor) bye
Emma Beddoes (Eng) bye
Song Sun-Mi (Kor) bt Kim Ga-Hye (Kor)
6/9, 1/9, 9/1, 9/3, 9/6 (61m)
Ahn Eun Chan (Kor) bt Imelda Salazar Martinez (Mex) 9/3,
9/4, 9/3 (21m)
Elise Ng (Hkg) bye
Mami Nishio (Jpn) bt Miwa Maekawa (Jpn)
9/0, 9/1, 9/1 (19m)
Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bye
2007 Event
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04-Jun, Round One, Part
Two:
[7]
Alison Waters (Eng) bt [Q] Elise Ng (Hkg)
9/2, 9/3,
9/1 (20m)
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt
[Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl)
9/2, 9/3,
9/1 (28m)
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Eng) bt
[Q] Raneem el Weleily (Egy)
9/3, 9/1,
10/8
[6] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) bt
[Q] Emma Beddoes (Eng)
9/4, 9/3,
9/1
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 Top
two let their
rackets do the talking
WISPA reports from Korea
Jal moreuget-neun deyo. The Korean phrase for I don't
understand. But while the local enthusiasts would turn to these
words when the visiting players spoke, as they watched them let
their rackets do the talking the Korean spectators saw the fluent
language of squash.
In front of them at the Seoul Plaza glass court were the current
world number one and world champion. Nicol David and
Rachael Grinham. Of a size and form that the local girls could
relate to, but playing to a level beyond their imagination.
The semi finals of the Seoul Women's Open saw them playing two of
the current crop of aspiring English girls. Seeded seven and eight,
Alison Waters and Laura Lengthorn-Massaro had a
perfect record against their respective opponents. Perfect zeros.
David 6, Waters 0; Grinham 5, Lengthorn-Massaro 0.
The players would face challenges on court but first they would need
to reach Seoul Plaza, the central square that is the heartbeat of
the city.
It was Memorial Day, a public holiday and traffic was barred close
by. Police whistling instructions, loudspeakers blaring as the
protesters were still in evidence, and all the while people were
milling around in great numbers. Some carried candles, others
placards. Police and army formed lines to maintain specific areas
clear.
Reminiscent of a soccer crowd, the noise and movement was
enthralling. And for the players not a problem to block out –
especially as the arena, seemingly like a fortress repelling
invaders, was full of voluble spectators who were enthusiastically
getting into the action.
Grinham continues her
improvement
Lengthorn-Massaro came first. The eighth seed had been serially
exceeding her seeding position this year as she broke into the WISPA
top ten for the first time at the start of this week, and she had
done so again here by making the last four.
And judging by the calm way she was managing the business of
subduing Grinham in the first game even more progress was possible.
The world champion did seem a little hesitant going forward, perhaps
feeling out her back strain. But maybe she was just playing a little
loose.
Whatever the reason, there was more of a flow as the match went on,
more play at the front where she is most deadly, and eventually
total control by the time she had gone two games to one up. The
daily physio treatments had kept her in the event right through to
the last day – somewhat better than her first round exit to Shelley
Kitchen a year ago.
Not surprisingly, after the match she was in buoyant mood.
"Considering that I very nearly pulled out on the first day I was
pleased to win the first match. Getting through the quarters was my
best result of the year! And now I have made my seeding a picked up
a few ranking points. It's about time I did this year!" she said.
But for every happy winner there must be a disappointed loser. It
was not that the English girl played badly, just that she was not
able to maintain her shape for long enough periods. "I just wanted
to take the game to her, and in the first game I did that," she
explained. "Then I became a little too reactive and got dragged into
a short battle."
David denies Waters'
challenge
Would her England team mate Alison Waters fare better? The local
Malaysian community were back, competing with the
sing-an-anti-government-song ensemble beyond the stands. It would
have to be called Seoul Music, of course!
For a while they were quiet as Nicol David was on the end of an
early attacking phase from Waters. Building rallies but slotting
drops. Taking it early but finding the back corners. The seventh
seed got to 8/4 up in the first …..but then who doesn't get up
against David early on? It seems to take going behind to sting her
into action. Back she came with longer error free rallies to take
the game.
The story repeated itself in the second where a Waters 7/4 lead was
whittled away at. And though the third started evenly David slowly
pulled away to complete the job.
If she lets Grinham get into big leads she could find herself games
down, and this is the feature that Waters dwelt on afterwards. "I
was disappointed to lose 3/0 after being well up in the first two.
It was annoying not to get a game. While I was patient in the
rallies and put it in short when it seemed right, Nicol played the
big rallies better than I did and that is what I need to work on,"
she said.
As for the winner, she had been impressed with her opponent. "She
played really well and was attacking right from the start so I
needed to play well. Fortunately I got into my rhythm even though it
took me a while to get in there."
For all the semi finalists and other players too, their next task
was to deal with the line of autograph hunters snaking around the
court. Along the table of WISPA girls they went. A Japanese lady
reached Nicol David, told her that she had all her event DVDs and
was now so pleased to watch her live for the first time. And she
went away with the players’ signature too.
Tomorrow we see whether the world champion or world number one will
prevail. They haven't played this year until now so something to
savour. Memories of past meetings are littered with great moments.
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Quality quarters in Seoul
WISPA reports from Korea
For players to reach Seoul Plaza to play their matches on the
glass court involves a ten minute ride along a shop lined
thoroughfare. But the stores are not a mixture of all manner of
goods, as instead they are grouped in districts. There are stretches
where there are dozens of ceramic shops, then furniture ones, and
later a selection of tile outlets. Elsewhere there are areas devoted
to electronics, computers, clothing etc. And if you want to purchase
a coloured bulb there is doubtless a red light district too.
The Korean people are very orderly and precise in everything they do
– and this extends to the immaculate arrangements for the second
Seoul Open championship. The Seoul Squash Federation not only have
mounted a superb event, but have shown a great desire to ensure that
all the overseas players are well looked after at the hotel,
reaching the Plaza, practising and playing.
But even they couldn't bring the weather into line, even though
there were distinct improvements as the days have gone by. Nor could
they have known that the rest of the Plaza would be taken up with a
sea of demonstrators each night protesting about the government's
importing arrangements for USA beef. Interestingly, one of the
protest songs that swirled around the Plaza has been Living Next
Door to Alice. Sung in Korean, this 1970’s Smokie hit about young
love appears to have little relevance to the incidence of BSE in
cows over 30 months of age, but is fervently sung nonetheless!
And to cap the squash's central position in Korean national life and
strife, quarter finals evening saw the Plaza decked out as part of
the Korean Memorial Day of remembrance. A huge phalanx of police
were protecting the area; yards away there was no rest for the
restless who were causing unrest. To the shrieks of police sirens
were added the loudspeaker speeches and songs…………and the squash was
proceeding alongside all this!
But mercifully the forecast rain was falling elsewhere.
Waters outlasts Brown
As the light went the first match gave an opportunity for the
seventh seed or her unseeded opponent to take a semi final slot.
Fourth seed Shelley Kitchen had been ousted by Kasey Brown, who was
now pitted against seventh placed Alison Waters.
The first game was a step by step procession to six all, with both
players dragging each other forward then countering across. It was
full blooded all-court play. Locked at six each Waters drops failed
her and gave Brown enough of an edge to take the first. The second
was a mirror image but this time Waters prevailed from six all.
And so it went on. The Australian continuing to demonstrate that her
form from the first round was still with her, Waters, hunting the
ball and trying to keep her deep. Eventually Waters found herself
2/1 and 7/5 to the good but Brown reached seven all, read a backhand
crossed drop and took the game with a backhand driven drop to level.
In the fifth, the Brown strength was still there but the English
girl was looking collected. She should have won in four perhaps, but
did get home one game later.
Perhaps the knowledge of the last four shot against a non-seed
affected her, but she admitted that she could have done a little
better. ‘I was pleased to have won a tight match but I felt I was
struggling to play my short game with any real confidence’ she said.
Lengthorn squeezes through
Another Englishwoman followed her into the semis when Laura
Lengthorn-Massaro overcame a resilient challenge from Ireland's
Madeline Perry. She had said that she felt that she was back to her
best and certainly proved a handful for the eighth seed. It was a
full blooded hard hitting encounter with Lengthorn-Massaro showing
more and more of her predatory instincts covering any short blows.
Perry had gone well down in the first before getting back to 7/8
then 9/8 before a careless stroke allowed Lengthorn-Massaro to level
and take the game. And the story was the same in the second. Here
Perry had two game balls at 8/7 but couldn't convert. In the third
L-M was 6/2 up before finding herself 6/8 down. Perry was beginning
to pick off cross court drives too well. Yet again L-M saved the
game balls, four this time, before edging home..
Asked to describe the match the winner thought she had started well.
‘I had a game plan and when I stuck to it it worked well, but I was
a bit patchy’ she said. Adding, ‘In the second and third when I was
down I was pretty pleased to come back. I stopped going short too
soon to try and finish rallies. Against Madeline I knew I should
keep her back, wait for my opportunities and not hit the ball too
hard as that is how she likes it.’
Rachael races into semis
She will probably want to do much the same against semi final
opponent Rachael Grinham, who beat a slightly lacklustre Vanessa
Atkinson late in the evening. The world champion had been having
daily physio sessions to alleviate a back pull, yet was unfeasibly
bouncy round the court and playing her full flicky range. Atkinson,
a former world champion was also going in short and across, but
finding the top of the tin too often.
Once the second game was lost with only a couple of hands to show
for it the uphill battle was exactly that. Hard work with not enough
reward.
From nearly pulling out, Grinham was proverbially taking it one
match at a time. The semis were more than she had hoped for and who
knows what will happen tomorrow. As she explained to a
correspondent, ‘Maybe it's better when I have an injury! It makes me
think a little bit more about placing the ball. I actually feel that
I am moving well but don't want to really stretch. Fortunately, with
the ball sitting up nicely it is not really a problem.’
David beats Duncalf again
Waters may have hoped to come up against friend Jenny Duncalf, but
that was always would mean her disposing of the world number one
Nicol David.
She has been close before, and wasn't so far away from really
placing David in a really large hole. After some scintillating
exchanges which illustrated just how good Duncalf’s short game is,
aligned to her courtcraft, the fifth seed stood at one game all and
five one up. But from here she didn't secure another point in that
third and none until David had five in the fourth.
Cheered on by a group of Malaysians – they do seem to magically
appear, flags in hand wherever she plays – David regained the
initiative and her last four place. But for a while it was less than
certain that she would do so.
David commented, ‘I started off well while Jenny was trying to
kickstart her engine. When she got going I was on the receiving end
for a while and I just managed to work each point from 5/1 down to
get the tee off her. In the fourth game I had to follow through with
what I had. She played really well and I couldn't give her anything
as she put it away’.
Duncalf was not too downcast. ‘The court is rewarding and takes a
good shot at the front, but when I was ahead it was poor not to
capitalise. You don't often have a chance against Nicol and I should
have stood my ground’.
As to the future, ‘I have been pretty happy with my squash for the
last few months and am working on what I have learnt. Now I have to
work on the stuff some more for the next step, getting into the top
four’.
The stage is now set for two English girls with nothing to lose
against the top two in the Seoul Open semis. There could be mayhem
inside the glass box as well as just outside the arena.
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No joy for qualifiers in Seoul
The second part of the first round of the Seoul Open saw the four
qualifiers pitched against seeded opponents and all fell in straight
games ... WISPA reports from Korea ...
Not equal treatment, not equally wet. The second half of the first
round of the Seoul Squash Open didn't have the same wet start the
players had experienced the night before when everywhere outside the
court itself was awash.
The song which appealed "Please do not rain on my parade" was the
Korean mantra of the day as evening at Seoul plaza would see the
ceremonial beginning of the championship. But much to the chagrin of
the Seoul Squash Federation who had built such a superb arena, as
practice was concluding spits and spots were developing into splats
and splurges.
The Korean peninsula has China to the west, Russia to the north and
Japan to the East……and a very wide expanse of angry clouds overhead.
But by the appointed start time the anger in the clouds had abated
and while they were grey they were not depositing. So, instead of
the arena resembling a flood zone with water swirling all over and a
strong mental image of a rowing boat needing to be sent to sidle up
to the glass court door to pick up the players, it was mercifully
dry.
Unlike last night the player pre-match stretching would not need to
be vertical as laying down then on the rivulets in the player warm
up room, delightfully termed the operations waiting area, was hardly
an option.
Invited VIPS were protected under a newly rigged canopy, the TV
paraphernalia shrouded in plastic with only camera lens shyly
peeping out in case of rain resuming but only a few drops fell. The
player group were feted, the event formally opened. For opening
opens is openly what you do at opening ceremonies ...
The four matches which followed featured the qualification winners
from the preceding day. None was expected to win and none did.
However all gained valuable experience, ranking points and
remuneration.
Waters Waltzes
England's Alison Waters was first on, and while there was no
mopping going on around the court she was mopping up inside. Her
opponent Elise Ng had been fully extended before
extinguishing the challenge of Ahn Eun Chan in the final
qualification round and though not under water was out of her depth
now. Waters booked a quarter final slot against unseeded Kasey
Brown, conqueror of fourth rated Shelley Kitchen.
David Delights
Nicol David had hit a couple of balls with VIPs as part of
the opening ceremony, but had sterner opposition in the second match
against Jaclyn Hawkes. The New Zealander initially looked in
danger of a real drubbing, and admitted afterwards that initially
she was having trouble seeing the ball, but after a processional
first game she hit a better stride and was competitive.
As she told the local media afterwards, ‘Because I am not used to
the glass court and Nicol is such a good player it was difficult at
the start. But then I got into it, hit a better length and had some
good rallies. I really enjoyed it.’
The matches were being genuinely enjoyed by local enthusiasts and
invited guests alike. People would walk out to the myriad cafes
surrounding the Plaza, returning with takeaways and watch more of
the action. Coffees, soft drinks and beers too, along with the
ubiquitous water were being drunk. This included watching players,
who tended to stick with water as none have been spotted sampling a
cup of beondegi, a local brew of silkworm larvae; and
one can only guess that dogonitang, cow kneecap soup,
was given a miss too.
Massaro marches
Third match in front of the sipping spectators pitched prodigiously
talented Raneem El Weleily against in form eighth seed
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro who had climbed inside the world top ten
for the first time this week.
The long term future for the Egyptian is undoubtedly very bright,
but her short term involves a return home alongside the other two
Egyptian players who also went out in the first round. While El
Weleily sprayed the ball around Lengthorn-Massaro profited, but into
the third there was a better construction from the Egyptian and she
came close to extending the match to four games even though a game
ball was never further than a serve away.
El Weleily succinctly summed up her game by explaining, ‘In the
start I was trying to do everything but later I was calmer and not
trying to do so many things’. So, less is more then ...
Atkinson Axes
Finally, Emma Beddoes, who the previous day had shown great
pleasure in reaching a WISPA Gold main draw - ‘I have been nowhere
near one before’ - found that she will have to wait before she can
experience a Gold quarter final.
Vanessa Atkinson had too many arrows in her quiver, and
gamely as she fought, the 22 year old English girl found herself
resembling a wireless controlled model car being sent in loops
around the back corners.
Atkinson slammed the door on further progress for her opponent, but
Beddoes also bizarrely managed to slam the door upon herself too.
Entering the court to begin the third she contrived to close the
court door on her own finger! Ice was called for, the digit
examined, and then she continued.
Her explanation revolved around her not taking her other hand away
quick enough. Quite how she managed it is not entirely clear but the
evidence is available from Korean TV who captured the moment.
As she commented on the incident that appeared to have caused
bruising rather than a break, ‘How embarrassing for me to do that on
TV. Typical of me to do something really silly!’ When conversation
returned to the fray she related, ‘I was always on the back foot.
She hits such a good length and whenever I got it back loosely she
made me pay. I have to get used to playing a match at that sort of
pace and accuracy.’
The forecast for the weather may not be great, but the forecast for
a great set of Seoul Open quarter finals certainly is very good.
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Medical attention
for the press ?
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03-Jun:
Rain can't stop play
in
Seoul
WISPA reports from Korea
Picture the scene. It is 6pm, the qualification matches are over and
the main draw starts in two hours at an open air court in the
central square of Seoul city.
The organizers funnel through the exit of the club to walk to the
Plaza to find that the taps in the clouds have been turned fully on
and the downpour has sent all but the bravest or foolhardy
undercover.
The court itself is covered with a canopy,
but that only extends a few feet out from the court glass walls. The
seating is uncovered.
That was the position going into the main draw for the Seoul Women’s
Open ……… and to add to the unusual circumstances the square was not
only awash with water, but submerged under protesters unhappy that
the Korean government are allowing the import of American beef.
Around the arena candles were carried, speeches made, songs sung……and
the rains poured down.
A decision was taken. The court itself was dry, a hastily erected
cover would protect the match officials, and watchers could do so
standing under umbrellas or clad in the plastic kagools that were
being dished out.
Brown wins down under duel
Kasey Brown and Shelley Kitchen were uncertain about
the court conditions but willing to give it a go,
completely supportive to the hosts. As it
turned out, there were no problems for them as they alone were in
the only really dry area. Rain was pelting down feet from their
feet.
For everybody outside it was all about that feeling of dampness
spreading down the back of the neck, sodden shoes and equally
squelchy toes inside.
Kitchen had been in a rich vein of form and raced to a 7/2 lead in
the first before Brown found her rhythm, and although Kitchen edged
home it had taken 23 minutes. The dynamics were reversed in the
second with Brown rampant but oh so tight in the third before
Kitchen won, having saved a nine all game
ball. But from that point the New Zealander was always being
stretched. Brown was purposeful, hunting the ball and always just
ahead in the last two games.
When the third match ball was converted with a forehand drive
following a Kitchen scraped return from the rear the fist was
clenched, the pleasure evident after a mach lasting a minute shy of
an hour and a half.
As the Australian put it later, "I have
never played in the rain, this was a first! But though it was a
little weird at first the court was fine and I blocked things out
pretty quickly. Once I hit some good length and took the ball a
little earlier it was better – especially as I haven’t got a very
good record on glass."
The loser was more circumspect. "I was
disappointed to lose. She played well and I really wasn’t consistent
enough."
Duncalf delight
The second match went with seeding, though Engy Kheirallah
pushed fifth rated Jenny Duncalf in their three games. But as
the match progressed the recent British Open finalist settled after
what she later termed a dodgy start. The weather was settling too by
now and the rain had petered out about the same time as the Egyptian
challenge ended.
As for Kheirallah, she professed a liking for the court, that the
conditions outside had not unduly bothered her, and
"It is such a shame for the organizers
what has happened with the weather."
Perry peaks
Soon after another Egyptian, this time the third seed, was packed
out of the Seoul Open. Omneya Abdel Kawy started brightly
enough against Ireland’s Madeline Perry,
who was not moving smoothly and struggling against shorter balls.
But then her game slowly subsided as Perry became crisper.
Perry was understandably delighted to have got the scalp of the
seed, and professed to have been playing well recently so thought
that she had a chance.
Abdel Kawy put the loss down to something other than squash. She had
a wedding. Not hers but her brother’s – and she was chief organizer
of that and his apartment move. "I have
only trained for four days. He is my brother and I had to help him,"
she explained. "I hoped that I would play
better than this but she played well. I just wasn’t comfortable,"
she concluded.
Rachael's late show
The rain had moved off, and after the lengthy matches it was left to
second seed Rachael Grinham and Rebecca Chiu to
straddle midnight with their match. But it was one that looked
unlikely to take place for much of the day. Grinham had experienced
a back twinge after practice the previous day that worsened
throughout the evening.
The world champion was on the point of
pulling out in the morning,
but after a visit to a national sports
team physio who diagnosed a sprain between back ribs, his treatment
and a general easing, she decided to give it a go. A little
tentative at first she got into her usual flick, feint, lob and
probe routine and came through.
That was very much the story of the evening too. After a great deal
of doubt the Seoul Open came through the first clutch of matches.
Tomorrow it is the other four round one
matches where the qualifiers try to overturn seeds. It is also an
evening where not only the players will come armed with two pairs of
shoes ... for wet and dry. Seoul may not
be blessed with the most clement of weather but blessed with some
great squash already it certainly has been,
despite the unique situation ...
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03-Jun:
Qualifying complete
in Korea
WISPA reports from Seoul
In a busy Seoul Open second day, before four main draw first round
matches to be played in front of City Hall on Seoul Plaza in the
evening, the matter of which four qualification winners would join
them had to be played out at the Lemilleur Club.
All the winners would be playing their main draw matches tomorrow,
and first through was top seed Jaclyn Hawkes. Her opponent,
Korean number one Park Eun Ok, was neat and mobile but
eventually found the Kiwi pace too hot to handle. As she fought to
take in air between rallies in the third game the 30 year old who is
currently studying for a PHD in physical education was probably
furiously thinking of ways to maximise the flow.
The second match also featured a Korean trying to repel boarders. In
this case 18 year old student Song Sun-Mi. She didn't manage
it against fourth seed Emma Beddoes but the English girl only
came through after a good battle. Song has strength, light movement
and a good brain. All she lacks is the experience that time will
bring, and with it fewer errors at crucial points.
After the match Beddoes was quick to praise her opponent to a local
journalist, saying that Song really got a lot back and had a great
short game too. As far as she was concerned Song really has great
potential.
Third and last of the Korean challengers was next up. Twenty two
year old Ahn Eun Chan was pitted again Hong Kong’s third seed
Elise Ng, and with her mobility and resilience caused Ng
problems from the start. While she lost the fist two games there was
never more than a wafer between them. And when she sneaked home in
the third to the delight of her supportive supporters Ng was looking
like the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights. Both players
came off court to be surrounded by a knot of medics attempting to
stem blood flows; Ng’s knee and Ahn’s finger.
Back on court Ahn established a 6/2 lead in the fourth only to be
caught when Ng rallied by rallying. But by dint of a couple of
elastic stretches and continued hustling and harrying she levelled.
Into the fifth and she seemed to notice that Ng was showing a little
stiffness in one leg and lost her focus while computing how to take
advantage of it. Greater experience had prevailed and a visibly
relieved Ng was through.
There had been over a hundred ranking places between them but no
such gulf on the court. When Ahn gets more events under her belt
after studying is finished she will become a real threat.
Qualifying was wrapped up when Egyptian Raneem El Weleily
beat Mami Nishio in straight games. El Weleily was lacklustre
but the Japanese girl was not quite able to take advantage.
Play now moves to the Plaza tonight where the main draw begins. But
with rain falling, the seating area wet and only the canopy covered
court dry it promises to be an interesting and unusual evening!
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02-Jun:
Under way in Korea
WISPA reports from Seoul
The qualification matches for the second Seoul Open got underway at
the superbly appointed Lemilleur Club, a sports club in
downtown Seoul, while main draw players began practicing on the new
ASB all glass court bought by the Seoul Squash Federation and set up
in nearby Seoul Plaza.
The top seeds in the qualification had byes, while three Koreans,
two Japanese and a Mexican battled to join them having braved the
notorious city traffic to reach the venues. Notorious but not
unexpected when you know that around 21 million people live in
greater Seoul. And interestingly, though entirely irrelevant is the
fact that this constitutes 47% of the population of the country – a
percentage for a capital that is the highest in the world.
Mami Nishio had cause to be grateful that the traffic was
moving well as her morning plane from Nagoya was on time, but she
wasn't. Having missed it and caught a later one she arrived an hour
before her match against fellow Japanese player Miwa Maekawa.
It was Maeweka’s first WISPA event and the bookshop worker from
Tokyo demurred to her senior.
Song Sun-Mi was not so reverent though. Kim Ga-Hye is
ranked higher locally, but Song took advantage of her lack of edge
due to intense work preparing to become a physical education
teacher. While Kim showed her skills, Song exhibited endurance as
she pulled back a two game deficit to reach the final round.
She was joined there by countrywoman Ahn Eun Chan who beat
Mexican Imelda Salazar in straight games. Mexican yes, as
proudly displayed on her top, but very much a ‘local’ currently as
she is studying international business management in Korea at
present.
Meanwhile the main draw players were keeping dry by practicing as
heavy downpours, laced with lightening, hit Seoul. The court canvas
cover was keeping them dry while the organisers huddled on the court
skirt to get under the canopy. All requests to stand on the inside
were politely refused by the practisers! With a weather forecast
that falls shy of being inspiring, the next couple of days may
present a few problems for the outside court in the central square
of the city.
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Nishio & Maekawa
Kim takes advice
Salazar and Chan |
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