Al Ahram World Open 2006
30-Aug to 06-Sep, Cairo, Egypt

En Bref Issue 5

SALUT L’ARTISTE

Like I thought it would be, this last encounter between the Boss and my compatriot was a tough moment for your Frog of a servant. In one corner, a player that I’ve come to consider as my little brother. In the other corner, the player I admire, love and respect the most on the tour. Two different personalities, style, physical appearance, with two common points. A passion for squash, and a guttural hatred for defeat.

Thierry couldn’t afford to think about the extraordinary circumstances of this encounter. The pyramids setting. The wind that brushes your face with those tiny grains of sand. The humidity. The noise that surrounds the court. And the Boss’ last tournament. He had to win. Pure and simple.

He had done it the last two matches. He was more confident than he ever was against Peter. But he also knew that Peter Nicol, MBE, would never ever give him an inch, that if he wanted to win this last time, he would have to win the point again and again - and take the humiliation to work the man for rallies and rallies, only to see him roll you into flour with that last defensive shot that becomes a winner, just when you thought you finally had him, again and again.

And he started extremely well, with a Peter slow to get into it, led 8/3 rather quickly. But then, as he always does, the Englishman opened up, stretched out, woke up his whole body and energy channels, and if the French clan was slightly overconfident I thought, I knew that this was just the beginning…

And it didn’t fail. The second game was all the Boss’. In a perfect mirror to the first game, Peter led 8/3, and now it was the Frenchman who was starting to get back into it. And I could see clearly what he was doing. He knew he had lost the game. He just wanted to make him play one more rally, one more minute, make him spend that drop extra of energy that could become vital later in the match…

And what a third that was, guys. What a battle. What a classic. Two wild animals in an aquarium in the middle of the fricking desert fighting for every shot, for every inch of territory, length, length length, short short, doesn’t work, back to length length length, cross court, nick, retrieving, winner that still comes out, lob, drive, boast, and length, length length…Pure ecstasy. A typical and utter classic.

And that game was to be the key. Had Peter won it, I truly believe that his pride pumped on adrenalin would have made him win, as Thierry would have had the Ol’Friend Doubt creeping all around his brain. But with a 2/1 lead, the 2004 World Champion knew that he just had to keep on pressing where it hurt.

And that’s what he did. Sending the Boss to a free visit of the four corners, he shot to 6/1, followed by a series of monstrous rallies where Peter was offering what he didn’t have left in the tank. The Englishman climbed back to 6/4. And that was the end really. He would score two more points but the Frenchman to whom he gave so many clinical squash lessons over the years had the last word. Ironic isn’t it.

The Boss left the court to a standing ovation.

As he walked to his chair, soon met by his dad Pat, we all knew that we had witnessed History in the making.

For the first time ever, the Boss had said “Die”.
   

"We never talked about the fact this could be Peter's last match. We never mentioned it. Because yes, it was a possibility, but we knew he would never ever let go. Peter doesn’t lose matches. His opponent has got to win it. It’s a job of every second. He doesn’t give you anything.

"Peter’s retirement is a enormous turning of the page. He has been an inspiration for ALL the players, who had to find variations to try and improve their game.

"Thierry will stay on three victories, Canary Wharf, the French Team Championship and tonight. That’s sport I guess, the fittest, and the hungrier for victory has won tonight. And Thierry will face that same situation in time…."

Franck Carlino

02-Sep-06:
Round Two:
Ramy Races to the Pyramids

He had to wait an extra day for his first match, but world junior champion Ramy Ashour made the most of it as he beat tenth seed Lee Beachill to record one of the best wins of his budding senior career.

It's on to the pyramids for Ramy, where he will face France's Gregory Gaultier, who was always in control as he beat John White in straight games.

The other quarter-final decided so far pitches two former world champions together, for the umpteenth time.

Peter Nicol's last match hasn't arrived yet, as he staged a mini-comeback to oust Aussie Stewart Boswell, and he will face Thierry Lincou, who overcame Olli Tuominen in a fiercely-contested four games.

After the evening session at the Pyramids, defending champion Amr Shabana will face a second consecutive domestic challenge in the quarters - Shabana beat Mohammed Abbas while Wael El Hindi produced another upset, beating seventh seed Nick Matthew in five.

Second seed David Palmer rounded off a late night with a hard-fought three-game win over Ong Beng Hee to set up an all-Australian clash with Anthony Ricketts.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY….
Framboise reports

Gentleman Mo, as I call him, will hate himself for the rest of his life on that one. He had his mate in the palm of his racquet and let him escape…

Guys, I already told you. DO NOT THINK!! It doesn’t suit you. The minute you try and think at the same time you are playing squash, what happens? You lose your squash…

Seriously, from the moment those two great players stepped on court, I never had the feeling that Abbas believed. He didn’t believe he could do it. The same way that Peter Barker didn’t believe he could beat the Boss a few days ago in the Mamut English Open. And when the opportunity is there, as they are have that chance, they starting visualising that victory.

Maybe that’s a mental exercise that should be done BEFORE the match. Not in the middle of it…

After taking the first game rather easily, even if the first rally was monumentally long (over 120 I counted), the Prince of Egypt started to wander around as only he can/knows how to do, “hum, yes, let’s have a look at who is in the first row, oh my God, we’ve got the President of the Federation, and the Egyptian Vice President of WSF, blast, God, shoot, I can’t make an fool of myself”, and the ball goes right in the tin. And again. And again.

You add to that a training partner who you can’t fool for a minute and who reads your game like an open book, and you get yourself down 1/1, 8/2. Brain suddenly connected again for Amr. Oh, I’m in the World Open, I’d better start playing my game, now, shouldn’t I…

And in a few seconds, the Dreamer Away Abbas and the Mind Wanderer Shabana were back on equal terms, 8/8 then 10/9 game ball to Amr. And a ball that goes ever so slightly out, it could have been a let, but no, Gentleman Mo just went straight to the door.

Now you know why I nicknamed him that way.

The last game was so close yet again. From 4/4 to 7/7, with Abbas soaring up to game ball 10/7. He had three of those, didn’t take any of them. Gutted, he found himself down match ball. Saved it on a flamboyant return of serve in the nick. But couldn’t save the second one.

He will kick himself all the way back to Cairo…

Difficult to play somebody who knows all my shots! I can never surprise him. But I’ve been training with him everyday for the past 10 years. So I was playing long rallies tonight, like we do in training, without giving much importance to the shots. And it’s only at 8/2 that I starting realising that this was not a training match, but the second round of the World Open! I’m still nervous when I get on court here. The last time I played a tournament in Egypt was probably 5 or 6 years ago, and it was a club tournament. I’m not used to playing in front of such a large Egyptian crowd. Although I felt sharper than I was yesterday, I feel I’m lucky to win tonight. Tomorrow, I’m in the quarters… Amr Shabana

 

I was playing well, and I seem to always know what kind of shots he is going to play, a drive, a crosscourt… So what I do, I just keep the ball tight to the wall, and go for the shot when I can. It’s the only tactic possible against him…. I don’t believe it. When I was up 8/2 in the third, I started think that I had him, what about the match tomorrow, and the day after, I starting thinking I could win this match… and lost everything I had inside. Mohammed Abbas

TOUGH ONE
Framboise reports

It was never going to be an easy match, was it. Two up and coming hungry players, one on them playing on his home soil, in front of a crowd famous for supporting their man sometimes a bit too…. vigorously shall we say, from a non Egyptian point of view.

And boy did the crowd love seeing their guy Wael El Hindi winning the first game in a superb fashion, well in front of Nick Matthew, even if the Egyptian made a few too many errors.

Nick recovered extremely well from a bad start at 3/0 in the second, to equalise at 4/4, helped by a lack of precision from Wael on his backhand. For the rest of that game, Nick was just in perfect control, despatching his shots, varying pace, style and angle to perfection. We were now at 1/1.



After listening to his camp, eyes closed, Wael came back firing in the third, once again taking an excellent start 4/0, to glide to 10/3 in a matter of minutes. Winners. Nicks. Flicks. The lot. 2/1 for Egypt.

In the next game, Wael was flat as a pancake, bless him. No energy left. He let that one go to get a bit of a breather.

The fifth was to be an epic battle. 1/1. 2/2. 3/3. 5/5. 7/7. 8/8. 9/9. 10/10. Nothing between them. Most of the points were decided in the left front corner. And most of the times, I couldn’t even see what was going on out there. Was it up? Was it down? It was so fast, all at the front, drop, counterdrop, zoom on the other side, and drop counterattack…. And a lot of lets. And also a few no lets.

From 7/6 up to 8/8, Nick was awarded three “no let” on short shots. That's three “no let’ in four rallies. And of course, one on match ball that gives the victory to Wael.

To be honest, as they say in Pontefract, it all looked fine to me, but I heard quite a few comments afterwards about how those “no let” were not founded. That Wael had actually not allowed Nick to get to the ball, and that the English should have in all fairness been given at least lets.

I have to confess that my technical knowledge about squash has limits, and that I can’t most of the time detect that subtle difference between a perfect shot and a blocked one.

It was explained to me that, when you finish playing your shot, before moving out of the way, you do not move for a split second to allow your opponent to make a choice of routes to get to the ball. And then move out of the way. But that if you actually move too early, you get in his path, he looks like he can’t get to the ball. No let.

It is a very subtle split second that I’m not able yet to spot. I admit it. So, I can only report the two sides of the story.

Anyway, from an English point of view, Nick should not have been penalised with no lets. From an Egyptian point of view, Wael played some superb shots that couldn’t be retrieved.

A very frustrated Nick walked off court. An ecstatic Wael embraced the whole crowd that carried him to victory.

Next for Wael, Shabana.

DAVID’S MOVING WELL…
Framboise reports

Playing Beng Hee is always going to be a match where you’ll have move extremely fast, react to the 100th of a second, and be alert at all times.

I have to admit I only saw the end of the first game, as I was busy trying to talk with both Wael and Nick. Apologies to both David and Beng Hee. I arrived at 7/7, with David under quite a lot of pressure from the Malaysian, who was finding quite a few nicks all around.

It was a close call, but David clinched it 4-2 in the tie-break. And the second was as close a call, 7/7 then 9/8 before the Australian could wrap it up.

You would think that Bengy would say die from 2/0 down. Good Lord no. He led for most of the game, 6/3, 7/4, before being caught up at 7/7, 8/8 to finally admit defeat 11/8 in the third.

It was a strong performance from David, particularly fast today I thought, with maybe a Beng Hee a bit too systematically short at the front instead of varying his game with his lethal lobs/drop shot/flicks…

Next for the Marine, compatriot Anthony Ricketts, but first, a well deserved day of rest…

We always have a tough match, Beng Hee has been coming back up in the rankings, and I’m really glad to get a 3/0 win. We all have players that we find difficult to play, and I seem to struggle tactically against him, I find him hard to play. At the moment, he is more confident, he plays relaxed and that’s when he is the most dangerous, he is attacking a lot more. Maybe a bit disappointed to have let the games drag on a bit, not to have been able to close them out, but I thought that I played the important points well at the end. But I was ready to play all night long if needed be. I wanted to be in the quarter finals. Now, it’s a new tournament, I’m glad I’m in a position to challenge for the title.

EN BREF ISSUE 2

WAEL FULL BLAST
Framboise reports

For one, and sorry Wael, I had Karim down as the winner on this one.

But if Karim took an excellent start, winning the first game quickly and painlessly, he “lost control of the match” as Mr Galal Alam told me as we were watching the all-Egyptian affair.

I know it’s a cliché, but like Graham Ryding earlier, Wael was just on fire! So early on the ball, patient like I never saw him before, still as inventive as he always is, with flair to ice the cake.

Was Karim expecting an easier match? Did he just lose concentration after the first game? Is he injured? Or did Wael just gave the performance of his life?

The result is there. The 8th top seed was out of the tournament in four games. And a Wael, exploding with pride and joy, kissed his sister, who came to see him play squash for the first time.

My advice, she should keep coming….

Wael has been training in the UK with us for the past four months now, on particular on his fitness and on discipline. He always had the skills and the technical awareness, but not the physical backup. I thought he played very well tonight, he didn’t make many errors, with some great attacks and some good defending. Joey Barrington

I don’t think I was nervous, it’s just that his shots were very tight… In the third, I started to get used to the pace…

Obviously, he is a very talented and experienced player. I need more experience to be able to compete with such a player…

Aamir Atlas Khan

Aamir was a bit nervous in the first two games, then in the 3rd, he started to relax. He is very difficult to play, he doesn’t look for rallies, just nick! In the 3rd, I think he got at least 6 cross court winners!

The conditions are very tough here, it’s very windy, it’s very noisy, it’s difficult to get the feel of the match, but it’s still one of the most magic venues in the world.

I could have done with a few more rallies, and I know that my match tomorrow against Ben Hee is definitely going to e much more tough.

I think that if I was to win here, it would be the consecration of my career…

David Palmer

It was the first time I'd played Peter, he is a strong and up coming player and I was a bit tense to play in front of a large crowd, at home and also being the defending champion.

I just hope that I will improve match after match.

Last season was very hard, so I decided to have a break of it all. I started to train on the 10th June, I wanted to be fit, so physically, mentally, I’m fine. I just need a few matches.

Tomorrow hopefully I’ll feel better against Abbas, I train with him…

The first match of the season is always the hardest, you don’t know how you are going to react…

But for a second in the match, I thought that this was going to be our first and last match… !

Amr Shabana

I thought I played really well in the first, but Amr was so clinical, I don’t think he made any errors.

I played some good shots, but played a few mistakes as well. The next game was basically the reverse.

Then, at 2/2 in the third, I went for a backhand stuck in the back corner, and something just went in my leg, looks like the abductor.

And I really can’t beat the world number one on one leg…

Peter Barker

NICK VIGILANT…
Framboise reports

Nick may be 10 years younger than his opponent (I still haven’t got over Alex accepting to play the over 35 event at the British Open this year…) but he knows how the Welsh is lethally dangerous in the earlier rounds of a tournament. He paid a heavy price too often, the latest if my memory is correct would have been right after the Nationals, when he lost against Alex in the first round of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic.

So he really gave all his talent in this first game, determined to nip in the bud any desire of second round glory for his opponent. The result, an excellent first game that could have gone either way, Goughie saving three game balls, with a superb rally at 10/10 that ended with an unforced error from an already exhausted Welsh…

He got a nick return of serve to get his breath back, but the brain, the legs were gone, and he just never got his energy back…

Another Shahier Marathon
Fabrice Debus reports

When two marathon runners meet, what do you get ? A marathon of course ...

Shahier took a good start, helped by some referee's decisions: two cheap strokes and a no let that was a stroke to my mind (and Olli's as well) but Olli managed to come back at 4-4. Then Shahier took the lead and never relinquished it : 7-4, 9-7 to 11-8.

Olli started sharper in the second and raised the pace, went 3-1 up, broke his racket at 3-2 and gets to 7-3. Shahier made five points in a row to reach 8-7, then there is no more than one point difference until 10-9. Shahier tins his drop shot.

The third game was close until 5-all, but then it is a one sided affair as Olli lost his concentration and Shahier goes straight to 11 in 9 minutes.

A similar beginning for the fourth, 5-5, then Olli hardens his shots, Shahier shows his incredible retrieving skills but from 7 all Olli goes straight to 11.

The last game is very tense, Shahier goes up to 6-2, 3-7 and 5-9. Then a service return in the nick, a lucky nick, a no let and a kill shot make Olli's return to 9-9.

Shahier reaches his first match ball at 9-10, a second at 10-11, a very disappointed Shahier throws his racket and gets a warning. A third match ball is lost when Shahier clips the tin. A lucky nick and a tin gives Olli the match at his first opportunity.

JOHN, EXPRESS TRAIN TO CAIRO

The first two games of this match could be called “weathering the storm”. The Tall Man was firing from all angles, hitting the ball so hard that people in the crowd were commentating, murmuring, ahs and oohs all around.

And at the wheel of the express train, Mr White got 2/0 up in a matter of minutes.



But LJ Anjema is not an easy boy to frighten. He beat John before. He knew it was going to be possible. So he hung on in there, and waited, matching the Scot shot by shot, until the moment he realised that he was actually playing right into John’s garden, and became wise, slowed it down, which suddenly allowed him to step in front, a position he would keep for the next two games.

As they say in football, ball in the centre, and 0/0! We were at the decider.

1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4. Close isn’t it. And then John lost his patience, LJ kept his cool. 8/5 to the Dutch. John finds his patience again, 8/8.

And the ball bursts.

As LJ stated after his match, “a new ball, a new game, and John is so strong at that one”.

And a few seconds later, John White was walking out of the court, victorious, the lovely smile of Lady Luck over his shoulder.

Lincou in the Groove
Fabrice Debus reports

No slow start from Lincou this time. He takes the first easily.

He seems in control in the second, at 2-3 Alister requests a time-out for a contact with Lincou's racket ... it  lasts around five minutes. It seems that the interruption caused a lapse of concentration from Lincou and Alister takes the lead at 6-2, 8-5 and concludes 11-7.

Lincou starts the third very sharp, Alister can't follow the pace, he's completely dominated. Lincou goes up 8-0, Alister takes just two points before succumbing 11-2.

Alister poses fierce resistance in the fourth, 2-2 ... 5-2 to Lincou ... Alister equalises at 5-5 but then Lincou's power and precision is too much for Alister who makes some unforced errors as the Frenchman moves into round two.

He just played too well. I got in front of him in the second and a part of the fourth, but I wasn't strong enough to maintain it. He was very good ... Alister Walker

THE BOSS, ONLY JUST…
Framboise reports

This match could have been Peter Nicol's farewell to the PSA tour. And Graham Ryding produced the best squash I ever saw him play. He was just magical, on fire, fast on the ball, attacking relentlessly. But I feel that what made the difference today in fact was his volleying. He fired so many winners from that position, Peter had to dig and dig and dig again to just return the shots, unable to really put any pressure on the Canadian.

And to tell you the truth, after the fourth, I really thought that the Boss was about to go through the small door, he seemed exhausted, he seemed on his way out. And my feelings were confirmed when Graham zoomed up to 9/4…

But as ever, I didn’t nickname him the Boss for no reason. Mr Nicol climbed back up the mountain, helped by four tins of his suddenly under pressure opponent, came back to 9/9, but couldn’t pick up a lovely drop shot straight and faced a match point.

Was this going to be the moment? Was this the end?

Graham put the ball in the tin. A split second. An absence. A shot he has done so many times. Down. Gutted, he couldn’t refocus, and the Boss, imperial, closed out the match at his first match ball.

What a match from Graham, what a recovery from the Boss, and that was just the first round…

"At 9/5 in the fifth I lost my concentration. I settled down again at 9-all, but when I hit the tin at 10/9 I didn't know what to think or do. "It was a lot of work to put in to finally end on a mistake like that, not doing yourself justice. "In the middle of the fifth the idea that this might be Peter's last match crept into my mind, but only for a split-second, I put that thought away quickly. "The tin at match-ball was one of those crucial moments – I still think it was the right shot to play. "We were both hurting physically in the fifth, that's maybe why I lost my concentration, but I'm very disappointed." Graham Ryding

Two fine movers
Stacey Ross reports

This match was a master class for anyone who is unsure of how to move around a squash court. Both players are fantastic effortless movers.

This was a tough draw for Tarek who seemed to be taking it all in his stride and couldn’t have looked any more relaxed if he tried. Greg looked ready and clearly was not going to underestimate his opponent, Tarek not earning his 1st point until 6-1.

He made back some ground and made the score line in the first look semi-respectable at 11-6.

The second game produced an identical score line and continued in a similar pattern with Tarek chasing Greg’s long lead.

At 10-3 Greg had a momentary lapse in concentration allowing Tarek a very brief chance to play his game.

Greg took a quick 6-1 lead in the third which ended in a no let decision, much to Greg’s dismay. This lead to a doubling of concentration on Greg’s part and in turn a 9-2 lead.

The end of the match was imminent, Tarek looking slightly weary from the pace and possibly from his qualifying efforts too.
  

At first I was a bit nervous, I never felt set in the game. I was negative, but after the second game I found my rhythm. Davide played well.

I was 7-5 in the fourth and Davide pushed. But I didn't really suffer, I'm physically fine for tomorrow.

Adrian Grant

It was a pretty patch, quite rough match. Many contacts, it was a physical match. I think he was stronger in the end.

Davide Bianchetti

Omar earns his Card
Stacey Ross reports

Omar was looking to demonstrate that he was worthy of the wild card and wasn’t going to allow Anthony to have it all his own way. Anthony seemed unsettled and easily distracted, crowd movement catching his eye during rallies.

The first was tight until 8-7 when an accurate cross court length and two mistakes from Omar gave Anthony the first.

The second was point for point up to 5-5 until Anthony’s hard relentless hitting began to tell on Omar. Anthony seemed to have relaxed into his task and kept the game at a fierce pace racing to take the second 11-5.

His momentum continued in the third with solid drives peppering the corners and his early volleying giving Omar nothing to work with. The score quickly reached 10-4 and it was looking very much like an early shower for Omar, six match balls seemed more than enough.

But Omar wasn’t giving up and neither was the crowd which was more than behind their man. A combination of a lapse in concentration from Anthony and some incredible winners from Omar saw the score change to 11-10 in Omar’s favour along with a conduct warning to Anthony.

A tight back hand length from Anthony forced Omar to miss the ball completely moving the score to 11 all. Omar took the next point in a very physical rally to go 12-11 up but didn’t need to even hit the ball to win the game as a conduct stroke was awarded against Ricketts, the reason why unclear.

The fourth saw Anthony get straight into his stride and looking more focused than he had done all match. Good solid squash that is normally expected from Anthony suddenly appeared and earned him the match 11-3.
 

Abbas Squeezes through
Stacey Ross reports

Long rallies marked the very beginning of this match. Azlan looked steady and showed very little sign of the errors that can sometimes undermine what is otherwise a strong basic game. Very little separated the two but Abbas held a consistent two point lead up until Azlan levelled the first at 8-all. Two well constructed points and an error on return of serve from Azlan allowed Abbas to take the first.

The second was point for point up to 5-all when Abbas managed to win three quick points in succession. Azlan then slipped twice, again made an error from the serve and then found himself on the receiving end of Abbas' careful short game. 11-5 to Abbas.

Azlan’s body language showed his discontent with his performance up to this point. However, a well put together rally by Azlan stretched Abbas from front to back twice and indicated that there could be an important role for Azlan's physical ability to play here. Azlan’s first lead was to come shortly after this rally at 8-6 and provided a needed confidence boost. Abbas saved two game balls to reduce Azlan's lead to 10-8 but it wasn’t enough. Game Azlan 11-8.

The fourth game was littered with mistakes from the start from both players. Azlan was now playing more attacking squash, a style not evident in the first two games but was now paying off. At 10-9 Azlan served to level the match. An error from Azlan forced a tie break and induced some of the best squash of the match, both playing accurate winners. Abbas failed to convert two match balls but didn’t need a third. A no-let decided the ultimate point.

Boswell dents home hopes
Stacey Ross reports

Hisham flew out of the blocks, two outright winners and a stroke in his favour gave him a three love lead. Stewart soon settled in though, playing his trademark solid length and levelled the game at 5 all.

A combination of errors from Hisham and consistent steady length from Stewart saw the first game go 11-9 to the Australian.

In the second Stewart quickly took a 9-3 lead, characterised by steady error free squash, keeping Hisham pinned deep and making it difficult for him to fire in his short game. The game went quickly 11-5 to Stewart.

Hisham started well in the third displaying his fine shot making talent which allowed him to take a 4-2 lead, but again Stewart recomposed himself and returned to his winning formula taking a 7-4 lead. A long rally at 8-5 pushed Hisham to all four corners but an unforced error from Stewart let his opponent off the hook.

Hisham coped well with the pressure and looks like he has benefited from some recent hard off season training, but from 8-7 Stewart pulled away and took the third 11-8.

Next up ... the Boss.

"That was a tough three games. We were like opposites, me trying to play my length and Hisham going in short. I am hoping to be sharper tomorrow." Stewart Boswell "I felt I played well. When I thought I almost had him I didn’t push quite hard enough and simply didn’t play the important points as well as I needed. He played a tight game. I feel I was getting to him more at the end." Hisham Ashour

31-Aug-06:
Al Ahram Draw:
Made in Giza

After the completion of qualifying at the Cairo Stadium, it was off to Giza for the live TV draw for the Al Ahram World Open.

Only two places were known - defending champion Amr Shabana and 2002 champion David Palmer at the top and the bottom of the draw. For the rest it was wait and see.

Full story, photos and draw ...

I’m so happy I won.

I’m struggling to get back into this season, and I’m trying to stay on court as little as I can, and spend as little energy as I can, because I don’t have much!

Like all the Egyptians, he is a good catcher, and gets a lot of nice shots to the front, but I feel that the difference today came from the difference of mistakes. I didn’t make many, but he did just a few too many…

Davide Bianchetti

So tough. Pretty average today, so very pleased considering how I felt.

I hope I have a day off tomorrow.

Peter Barker

Today I had a bad start and it affected my confidence but I found the rhythm in the second. I tried to push him back but he's more experienced in the crucial points. I wish him luck in the next match.

Omar Abdel Aziz

LJ DOES THE JOB
Framboise reports

As very often the case when two players of a slightly different level play, the first game is the most interesting and disputed. Then the lower-ranked player often slows down.

And that's exactly what happened today. A very close first game, then an Amr Mansi just too tired to compete with the strong and solid game of LJ, even if by his own admittance, the Dutch Champion was not at his best.

A job well done in three games. Energy saved.

And he’ll need it to return the 250m/h shots of crowd favourite Mr John White…

I enjoyed playing against LJ a lot, although I didn’t play very well. My focus was on a tournament in Alexandria, which I won, and after that, I became a bit complacent with my training, and was not prepared enough for this tournament. I couldn’t play my best, I couldn’t play my shots, couldn’t find my length, but it’s all credit to him. I so enjoy playing in Egypt, it’s easier for us not to have to travel, and I always play my best here…   Amr Mansi

It felt like the first game lasted 30 minutes! I was not confident with my short game to start with, so I made the rallies last, and played him a lot of length, also to see what type of game and form he was in today…

In the second, I was able to put a bit more pressure on, and try and not leave him too much time to adjust his shots, and that made the whole difference today.

Like all the players here, you’ve got to be all the time on your guard, as you are facing the top guys, but especially against somebody like Mark who used to be top 10, and even if he is not at that level anymore, he still has some shots of a top 10 player, like a very fast volley.

He also made me realise how important it was for me to vary my game at the front, as so many times, he read my game, and anticipated my cross court or drives…. And when you are fighting for each point, it’s so frustrating to lose them like that….

Borja Golan

Borja was probably the player I least wanted to play. I think that now he has finished his studies, nothing is there to hold him back, and I rate him highly.

He played very well, although I feel I didn’t play badly, but I did too much work, probably all credit to him!

Mark Chaloner

I didn’t play well enough today, I had a poor choice of shots, and he controlled the game well.

I was not particularly tired from my match yesterday, maybe mentally I lost a bit of confidence, and was a bit more nervous that I should have been.

Jonathan Kemp

I tried to keep it straight, because he is specially good in the middle. All the games were tough, and the first and second could have gone either way. I could as well have won in five, or lost it in three…

I had a lot of expectation of this match. I guess I was so disappointed not to qualify for the Mamut English Open, I was gutted. So I wanted to make sure that I would get that step further, and stop losing on the last match!

I’m so glad that I’m going to be here when the real tournament starts…

Alister Walker

WRONG TACTIC FOR ROSS
Framboise reports

The Surrey player just didn’t play the right match against Pakistan Marvel Aamir Atlas Khan. He played far too short, far too early.

And Aamir was full of self confidence, and chose his shots with flair, retrieving every attack from Stacey with determination and a remarkable speed.

SquashSite's new recruit could/should have taken the second game, as he was up 7/2, but got caught at 8/8, and a few errors later Aamir was leading 2/0 on a tie-break.

The last game could have, once again, gone either way, and finished again on a tie-break, but it was to be the young Pakistani’s day, who will now be playing on the glass court for his first appearance in the World Open.

I wasn't confident enough, I played well in patches… In the second, I was 7/2 up, playing the squash I should have played the whole game, but he is very quick, and he makes you rush your shots a bit… Stacey Ross

OH WHAT A SUSPENSE….
Framboise reports

Once again in front of 300+ spectators, Tarek Momen went onto the court to win the match, not to play numbers.

He must have known that Joey had a long match the day before, yet again. But still, the Egyptian made far too many errors in the first game, nerves probably, but still got two game balls at 10/8 and 10/9 before Joey took the game on a tie-break.

Strangely enough, the same pattern repeated itself in the second game, Tarek up 10/8 to finally surrender again 3-1 in the tie-break.

From that moment on, the young Egyptian had nothing to lose, went for his shots, relaxed, and was supported by a loud and knowledgeable crowd,

Tarek took the lead from the start of the third and never released the pressure, to come back to 2/1. In the fourth, Joey got his one and only match ball at 10/9, but clipped the tin with a backhand drop shot.

We were now at 2/2. But quickly in the fifth, it became obvious that the Englishman was physically impaired, unable to pick up his opponent’s lethal short game.

At 5/1, Joey threw the towel, with a torn abductor.

Tarek Momem was in the main draw of the Al-Ahram World Open.

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It was the second time I've played against Joey. I played very well in the first two games, the third was probably the game I shouldn’t have lost. In the fourth I was extremely tired, and tried my best in the fifth, but he was then too good for me.

The first time I played, he beat me 3/1, today 3/2, I’m getting better! And this was my first visit to the World Open. I will try and get this one on board for my next tournament.

I’m pretty happy with my performance. I played here two weeks ago, and got some good results, but it was not on this court, but on the glass court.

These courts are much warmer, and do not take well short shots or length, whereas the other court takes the extreme very well.

Chris played a good match, he seemed to lose his strategy as long as the match went on, and it gets harder and harder, especially when you’re down 2/0. On a glass court you can come back, but on a bouncy court like that, it makes it very hard…

I think Renan played really well. He put me under pressure and he made me make mistakes.

He had good length and was very consistent. It was a good match. I wish him luck in the future.
 


It wasn't too difficult a first round match, although he is rather dangerous, so I had to stay vigilant.

He likes short shots, I was a bit tense at first but then I found a good length and could retrieve well.

The first, second and third games were pretty tough, thank you. I was down 6/2 in the second, but managed to come back.

Yasser is very quick and strikes the ball very well. He’s been in a few finals of the Junior Circuit, and when I saw him play yesterday, I knew he was going to be one of the toughest first round draw… He is an all round very solid squash player…

STACEY VERY FOCUSED…
Framboise reports

Mr Ross’ problem has always been a fluctuating concentration. But when he’s got his teeth and racquet well planted in a match, he can be lethally dangerous. Ask Mr Lincou last year in the British Open….

And today, Stacey was perfectly on the ball, in particular in the first and third games, slowing down the game at will, finding some good lengths and his trademark back of the court drop shots.

Coached by David Palmer during this match, Bradley came back very strongly during the second game, imposing his game better, putting much more weight and length into his shots, but wasn’t able to push Stacey into the lengthy rallies that could have been damaging for the Surrey player.

A very pleasant match, and Stacey will be happy to have played a short 40 minutes, as his encounter tomorrow against marvel Aamir Atlas Khan won’t be a stroll in the park…
 

"I played very loose, and that opened the court up for him in the middle. Stacey was sharper than I was today… "But I still enjoy playing in such an event, that’s what you play squash for…"

KEMP SURVIVES

Jonathan Kemp, second seed for the qualifying competition, came through a see-saw encounter with young Dutchman Dylan Bennett to claim a place in tomorrow's qualifying finals.

It didn't start too promisingly for the Englishman though, with too many tins in the first game, 9 to be precise, and all unforced! A sweet backhand cross court drop allowed him to level at 7-all, then Jonathan caught his opponent in the front of the court with his racket. He asked for a let on the contact, but was denied by the referee, even though Dylan was willing to play a let. However the Dutchman was the perfect gentleman, accepting the hand out and serving a deliberate fault to compensate - how nice it is to see a match played in this spirit. After 11 minutes Kemp took the lead on the tie-break.

The second appeared to have Jonathan in control and a lot more relaxed. He had width and depth and was flowing nicely. At 6/3 up it appeared that Dylan had conceded this game in his mind, and in under five minutes the Englishman had doubled his lead.

Jonathan was yet again in control in the third, and at 8/2 up looked to be cruising to victory. But there was a little dispute and hand out was awarded, and from that point it slipped. Soon it was 6/8, and then 9/9, and at 10/9 all he had to do was win one more point. But it was not to be as Bennett equalised, and took the 12-minute game 14/12.

Kemp took a good lead in the fourth, 4/1, but it soon became 4/6, and at this point both players were just doing what it took to survive. At 9/7 we were left wondering if he would finish it off this time. 10/9 match ball ... but Dylan held his nerve again and pulled the score back to 2 all, another tie-break, another 10-minute game.

Yet again the crowd felt that Jonathon was in control as Dylan appeared to be tiring, and at 8/5 everyone expected a Kemp victory. Dylan was giving it all he had, and after he fought his way back to 8/8 who knew which way it was going to end. At hand out Jonathon kept his cool and charged straight through to take it 11/8 ... just 9 minutes for the final game.

Perhaps not the tidiest squash from these two players but it was obvious to see that both wanted the win. Maybe Jonathon, placed at second seed in the qualifiers, was looking for an easier first match, but I bet he is glad to get through this one!!!

LUCK OF THE DRAW!
Fabrice Debus reports

Just two Pakistanis in the whole competition, and they meet in the first round ...

The two players stayed close to each other, score-wise, throughout the whole match. In the first, Aamir managed to take the lead at 9-6 but Mansoor came back to level at 9-all. The two last points were well fought by Aamir and he claimed the first 11-9.

Mansoor started the second with more determination, led 3-1 and 7-5. Aamir levelled at 7-all and then it was point for point to 9-all. Again, the last two points for Aamir.

Aamir fought hard in the last and always maintained a small lead - 7-5, 9-7, and again the last two points for 11-7.

We could see easily that Mansoor wasn't at 100%, he explained after the match that he had not completely recovered from an injury he sustained in Malaysia.

A tip for Stacey Ross (Aamir's next opponent): watch out for Aamir's backhand serve return - when he goes for the nick, it works three times out of four!
  

It was tough because Mark is one of the top guys. I was so tense in the first game…

He is so experienced, he slowed down the pace the whole match, whereas I was trying to speed it up.

I’m sure I can do better next time!

"The way I played was good, especially for the first match of the tournament. I felt comfortable, I moved well, I'm happy it's a 3-nil!

It's good to see the quality of the Egyptians.

Tough match, he's one of the best qualifiers. I was playing well in the first two games, then I got tired, he's very fit so that's how I explain his come-back. I started to play better in the fifth.

It's good to win a first match in a world open. I'm looking forward to playing well against Laurens Anjema tomorrow.



He played well in the first two games. Basically, I played well in patterns.

I put on more pressure in the third and fourth and won those because of that. He always had the lead in the fifth, but on another day I could have won ...

This was a very tense match for me.

Last time I played against Rafael, it was in the final of the Companion Challenge in Brazil, and I think the crowd played a big part, on that day, where I lost 3/2 and got very tense, but also today, where I won with the support of the spectators, and felt free.

I want to go as far as I can in squash, and Amr Shabana is my idol. I want to be just like him…!

BORJA JUST THAT
MUCH BETTER ...
Framboise reports

One of the great advantages of living in London (yes, (there are some) is that you get to see a lot of young players, and Steve Coppinger is one of those up and coming talented boys who seem to flourish on the World scene at the moment.

Each country is allowed one player in the qualifying draw I was told, and South Africa sent Steve this year for the first time, and as he joined PSA only last week, the young man was pretty excited about the whole “world event” atmosphere, as we all are.

But today, Borja at his best didn’t give the South African the time to breathe and settle in the match. I’ve seen Steve play some stunning squash, but he never got the chance to impose himself. Borja found all the right angles, made all the right choices, was so early on the ball and chased everything down.

A few mis-hits, a few too many tins, a few “corner shots”, you know, when you hit the corner, and the ball fizzes out back to yourself, and Steve lost some precious points that he couldn’t afford to lose.

A perfect performance from the young Spaniard, who impressed me in his match against Peter Nicol, and who is one of the only players on the circuit that I’ve seen adapting to his opponent's response and strategy.

A boy to watch, that Borja. He could surprise you…
 

BARKER IN CHARGE
Fabrice Debus reports

As the score indicates, qualifying top seed Peter Barker was never in trouble. He quickly went up 8-1 in the first, and finished it 11-3.

It was the same pattern in the second, with Sherif beginning to tire and making unforced errors.

Sherif always fought hard and even tried to increase the pace in the third, winning some points with tight drop shots, but Peter kept the control, and moved into tomorrow's qualifying finals where he will face Egypt's Omar Abdel Aziz, who beat Barker's compatriot Simon Parke in a gruelling 80-minute encounter
 

I'm really happy beating the legend former world no. three, I used to watch him playing when I was 9 years old ... I'm really so happy winning today in front of my audience, it was all my pleasure.

Omar Abdel Aziz