France’s
World No.28 Mathieu Castagnet claimed his first title since the 2016
Canary Wharf Classic at the Wimbledon Club Squash Squared Open as the
fifth seed made it two final defeats in a row for England’s World No.34
Tom Richards.
Castagnet – who defeat Ben Coleman, Youssef Soliman and James
Willstrop en route to the final – took control of the opening game to
take an important lead.
The second game was a much closer affair with Richards – who was beaten
in the final last year by Alan Clyne – executing his shots better,
however, the Frenchman was able to get the better of his English
opponent in a close ending and then recovered from an early 5-0 deficit
to take the third and complete a straight-games victory by an 11-6,
11-9, 11-6 scoreline.
The win marks Castagnet’s first PSA World Tour title since the Canary
Wharf Classic back in March 2016.
“The last time I won one of the biggest tournaments in my career was in
London at Canary Wharf,” said the 31-year-old Frenchman.
“And two years later I have won this one – I should be born here!
“I want to thank my wife, every day she helps me make my comeback on the
PSA World Tour and so I really want to thank her and Arnaud Hays and
Renan Lavigne.
“I think the difference was the second game, when I got it to go 2-0 up
it gave me so much confidence because you just need one game and he
needs three and it’s hard to come back.
“He started the third game well and I saw him struggling a bit when I
was using my cross, so I kept pushing him.”
Although number two seed and 2016 Squash Squared tournament winner,
James Willstrop, played some of his signature long-reach-and-drop shots
against charismatic Frenchman and winner of the 2016 Canary Wharf
Classic, Mathieu Castagnet, the number five seed proved too strong
overall.
Castagnet build good rapport with the Wimbledon crowd and amused us by
challenging the referee on one decision against him for crowding his
opponent with his Gallic shoulder shrug and the plea, “but I was in
Paris and he was in London”!
Terrific stuff as, although Willstrop recovered from 0-2 down to take
the third game, Castagnet’s fast-paced aggression and error-free play
saw him win wear down a tiring Willstrop for the fourth game, taking the
match 3-1.
A familiar face at the Wimbledon Club, number seven seed, Tom Richards,
had determination written all over his game as he challenged for a place
in the final for the second year running against the impressive man from
Paderborn in Germany, unseeded Raphael Kandra.
Playing forward on the court in most rallies, Tom gave his usual fist
pump as he nicked the first game 15-13. Although Raphael’s court
coverage and retrievals were equally as athletic as in his earlier
rounds, Tom went for his shots making winners from 4 out of 5 backhand
overhead volleys into the front right corner nick helping him to take
the match 3-1.
Tom’s semi-final win sees him return to his second Squash Squared Open
final where he will meet Mathieu in a classic Anglo-French duel, with
klaxons and cries of “Allez les Bleus” expected from the galley this
evening!
Final
18.30 (7) Tom Richard (ENG) vs (5) Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
The Wimbledon Squash Squared Open 2018 is made possible by our generous
sponsors, London property developers and agents Strawberry Star
Developments, Tooting based estate agents Mercer Taylor and financial
research company Pelham Smithers Associates located in the City of
London.
Quarter finals day at the Squash Squared Open 2018 at the Wimbledon Club
saw two Frenchmen, “Les Deux Bleus” and one German compete for places in
the semi-finals.
A terrific battle between Frenchman, Mathieu Castagnet, and the young
Egyptian, Jouseff Solimann, saw them both dance around the court with
silken feet and, while Jousseff had his chances after winning the first
game 11-9, his time of nearly four hours on court in his previous three
matches started to show and unforced errors crept in as Mathieu took the
match 3-1.
Local hero, Tom Richards, was too strong for Welshman, Joel Makin, and
the tiring effects of Joel’s demanding five set win the day before began
to show. Tom’s consistency and largely error-free game delivered him the
result he wanted as he aims for a place in the final for the second year
running.
The second French quarter final player, Lucas Sterme, had a battle on
his hands against the huge reach and impressive pick-ups of 2016 Squash
Squared tournament winner, the 6 foot 3 inches tall James Willstrop who
always appeared to be in control winning this tie 3-0.
But the TWC Match of the Day goes to the intriguing tussle between
number one seed and favourite, Darly Selby, and (until now) the
relatively unknown German player from Parderborn, Raphael Kandry.
With seemingly superhuman gets from throwing himself about the court,
Raphael adapted his game to match Daryl’s slower and more tactical
approach in a thrilling game of cat and mouse and, by the fourth game,
Daryl had no answers as Raphael won the match 3-1.
Quarter Final Results
• Raphael Kandra (GER) bt (1) Daryl Selby(ENG) 3-1 (11/9- 11/5- 7/11-
11/1) 62m
• (7) Tom Richards (ENG) by Joel Makin (WAL) 3-0 (11/8- 11/5- 11/7- )
42m
• (5) Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt (Q) Youseff Solimann (EGY) 3-1 (9/11-
13/11- 11/3- 11/4) 65m
• (2) James Willstrop (ENG) bt (8) Lucas Sterme (FRA) 3-0 (11/4- 11/6-
11.5) 41m
The semi-final matches this evening, with enthralling Anglo-French and
Anglo-German duels, are:
• 18.45 (1) James Wilstrop (ENG) vs (8) Lucas Serme (FRA)
• 20.00 Raphael Kandra (GER) vs (7) Tom Richards (ENG)
The Wimbledon Squash Squared Open 2018 is made possible by our generous
sponsors, London property developers and agents Strawberry Star
Developments, Tooting based estate agents Mercer
Taylor and financial research company Pelham Smithers Associates located
in the City of London.
The surprise result on day two of the qualifiers at the Wimbledon Club
Squash Squared Open saw an in-form Ritchie Fallows oust the number two
seed, Ollie Touminen, in a thrilling five set, last-on-court match late
last night.
The highly experienced Finish squash star played with his recognisable
angular style plus an (almost) ever present smile but could not out-play
the pleasingly calm Ritchie Fallows who took the final game 11-3. These
two combined theatre and squash into an entertainment that delivered a
real crowd pleaser.
The longest match of the tournament qualifiers was played out by Youseff
Solimann of Egypt who beat Spain’s Iker Bernabeu in a hugely
entertaining marathon lasting 115 minutes. This tie was played in the
best spirit with refreshing smiles and camaraderie throughout from both
men and it was a shame that there could only be one winner, and that was
Youseff Solimann by three games to two.
For its extreme length and the good spirit in which it was played, this
rubber was awarded our second “TWC Match of the Day”.
Josh Masters won the first game and held his own against the more
experienced Chris Simpson as most of Josh’s exciting-to-watch but
ambitious winners paid off but mistakes crept into Josh’s fourth game
allowing the calm and clinical Simpson to take the rubber 3-1.
Philadelphian Todd Harrity played with focus and was largely error free
in his tie against Cheltenham’s Nathan Lake taking the rubber by three
games to one.
The Wimbledon Squash Squared Open 2018 is made possible by our generous
sponsors, including Tooting based estate agents Mercer Taylor and
financial research company Pelham Smithers Associates located in the
City of London.
The eight first round matches kick off at 5.30pm this evening, Tuesday
20 March, with England’s Tom Richards and France’s Lucas Serme both
playing one of the four qualifiers.
The final match this evening, scheduled to be on court at 8.30pm, will
see English squash legends and top seeds Daryl Selby and James Wilstrop
taking to the Wimbledon courts.
The third Squash Squared Open kicked off on Sunday 18 March at the
Wimbledon Club with eight matches in the first round of the qualifiers.
This year the prize purse has grown to $35,000 from last year’s $25,000
and the entry list has fourteen players in the world’s top 50 and five
are within the world’s top 30.
Some are fist timers and others are returning popular faces such as the
tournament’s inaugural winner and former world number 1, James Wilstrop.
At a local level, four players who represent The Wimbledon Club in the
Surrey Cup squash league are in the draw, namely Rob Downer, Jamie
Haycocks, Hasnat Farooqi and Tom Walsh.
Funds from the tournament and auction again go to help grow the club’s
charity for deserving children, Squash Squared, with 80 pupils from
local primary schools attending weekly coaching sessions enusuring our
squash reaches the masses at grass roots level.
The tightest matches in today’s eight qualifiers were between Chris
Simpson and Mahesh Mangoanar (3-2), and Ritchie Fallows and George
Parker (3-2).
The referee had a challenge keeping two tall men, Fallows and Parker,
apart and giving fair rulings “as he saw it”. It was a firey affair with
honours equal on lets and points with Fallows running out 11-9 in the
final game. This confrontation was awarded our “TWC Match of the Day”.
Earlier in the afternoon, Chris Simpson kept his head and came through
from 1-2 down against talented Mahesh Mangoanar from India.
All the results were as follows (all the players are from ENGLAND unless
otherwise shown):
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Jan Van Den Herrewegen (BEL) 3-1 (11/7- 8/11-
11/2- 11/6)
Richie Fallows bt George Parker 3-2 (11/3- 11/9- 9/11- 7/11- 11/9)
Youseff Solimann (EGYPT) bt Edam Lopez (ESP) 3-0 (11-7 11/2- 11/5)
Ollie Tuominen (FIN) bt Tom Walsh 3-2 (5/11- 11/5- 8/11- 11/2 11/7)
The club shared in the festival tournament atmosphere as 145 people
enjoyed lunch in the restaurant on a sunny day overlooking a
snow-covered cricket pitch.
