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25/09/2011
BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2011
Ramy Ashour Retains ROWE British Grand Prix Title
19-25 Sep, Manchester, $115k |
Round
One
19 / 20 Sep |
Round Two
21 Sep |
Quarters
22 / 23 Sep |
Semis
24
Sep |
Final
25 Sep |
[1] Nick Matthew (Eng)
11/3, 11/3, 11/6 (26m)
Jens Schoor (Ger) |
Nick Matthew
11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (38m)
Ali Anwar Reda |
Nick Matthew
11-5,
15-13, 8-11, 11-7 (78m)
Peter Barker |
Nick Matthew
11-8, 11-4,
6-11, 11-3 (54m)
Amr Shabana
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Nick Matthew
1-11,
11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (67m)
Ramy Ashour |
Ali Anwar Reda (Egy)
11/7, 11/8, 7/11, 7/11, 11/8 (76m)
Ong Beng Hee (Mas) |
Azlan Iskandar
(Mas)
11/4, 11/3, 12/10 (52m)
[Q] Mohammed Abbas (Egy) |
Azlan Iskandar
11-4, 11-9, 11-6 (60m)
Peter Barker |
[7] Peter Barker
(Eng)
11/7, 11/4, 11/3 (39m)
[Q] Steve Coppinger (Rsa) |
[5] Amr Shabana (Egy)
7/11, 11/4, 11/7, 11/2 (36m)
Hisham Ashour (Egy) |
Amr Shabana
11-9, 14-12, 4-11, 11-7 (54m)
Simon Rosner |
Amr Shabana
11-5,
11-6, 12-10 (46m)
Adrian Grant |
Tom Richards (Eng)
12/10, 11/8, 12/10 (58m)
[Q] Simon Rosner (Ger) |
Adrian Grant (Eng)
6/11, 11/7, 11/13, 11/2, 11/3 (67m)
Olli Tuominen (Fin) |
Adrian Grant
10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (83m)
James Willstrop |
[4] James Willstrop (Eng)
11/9, 11/4, 9/11, 11/3 (58m)
[Q] Borja Golan (Esp) |
Stewart Boswell (Aus)
9/11, 11/8, 11/5, 11/8 (67m)
[3] Karim Darwish (Egy) |
Karim Darwish
11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4 (48m)
Tarek Momen |
Karim Darwish
11-6,
11-9, 11-7 (57m)
Omar Mosaad |
Karim Darwish
11-7, 5-11,
11-2, 11-5 (54m)
Ramy Ashour |
Alister Walker (Bot)
11/8, 10/12, 11/6, 11/6 (57m)
[Q] Tarek Momen (Egy) |
Omar Mosaad (Egy)
14/12, 8/11, 11/5, 10/12, 11/9 (65m)
Jonathan Kemp (Eng) |
Omar Mosaad
11-7, 6-11, 2-11, 11-5, 11-4 (66m)
Thierry Lincou |
[Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (Egy)
11/6, 11/3, 11/7 (27m)
[8] Thierry Lincou (Fra) |
Saurav Ghosal (Ind)
11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (47m)
[6] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) |
Gregory Gaultier
11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4 (61m)
Daryl Selby |
Gregory Gaultier
12-10,
11-7, 11-9 (69m)
Ramy Ashour |
Daryl Selby (Eng)
5-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 (83m)
[Q] Nicolas Mueller (Sui) |
Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (31m)
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) |
Cameron Pilley
11-7, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3 (62m)
Ramy Ashour |
[Q] Chris Ryder (Eng)
11-8, 11-3, 11-7 (34m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) |
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2010 Event Page
RESULTS: PSA World Series ROWE British Grand Prix,
Wolverhampton, England
Qualifying finals:
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 11-9,
11-7, 11-8 (43m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 8-11,
12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (88m)
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-9, 11-5,
11-4 (44m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 (62m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-3, 11-5,
11-3 (34m)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 6-11,
11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4 (61m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 11-4,
11-6, 11-9 (29m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-9, 11-3,
7-11, 9-11, 11-7 (64m)
1st qualifying round:
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Richard Birks (ENG) 12-10, 11-9,
11-6 (31m)
Siddha Suchde (IND) bt Declan James (ENG) 11-5,
11-5, 11-8 (43m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Rafael Alarcon (BRA) 11-8,
11-3, 8-11, 11-3 (48m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN)
11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (39m)
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Andrew Birks (ENG) 11-4, 11-4,
11-4 (40m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Oliver Mapp (ENG) 11-2, 11-2,
11-4 (23m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Chris Simpson (ENG)
13-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 (65m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-8,
11-5, 11-5 (35m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-4,
10-12, 11-6, 11-6 (79m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 13-11,
2-11, 11-5 (64m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Ben Ford (ENG) 7-11, 11-3,
11-7, 11-9 (58m)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Joey Barrington (ENG)
11-8, 11-3, 11-7 (44m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL)
15-13, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7 (65m)
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 10-12,
12-10, 11-9, 11-7 (69m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Oliver Holland (ENG) 11-7, 11-4,
11-3 (29m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Darren Lewis (ENG) 11-3, 11-5,
11-7 (26m)
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Ramy Ashour
Retains ROWE British Grand Prix Title
 After winning
just a single point in the opening game, Egypt's world No2 Ramy Ashour
went on to overcome Nick Matthew, the world number one from England, in
four games in the final of the ROWE British Grand Prix to retain the
PSA World Series squash title at the National Squash Centre in
Manchester.
Matthew was in
dazzling form in the first game while Ashour had a 'fallout', he later admitted.
But, with two
successful victories over Matthew in the last six weeks, Ashour bounded back
into the match - quickly building up a 5-1 lead in the second as the
Yorkshireman's control began to evaporate.
More and more
errors crept into the local hero's game as the mercurial Egyptian claimed
winners from all parts of the court before going on to claim his 1-11, 11-3,
11-7, 11-4 victory in 67 minutes.
The triumph
marks Ashour's third PSA World Series title of the year, and the 22nd Tour
trophy of his career.
"This court
has never let me down," said the 23-year-old from Cairo who is unbeaten on the
ASB all-glass court in four appearances since the World Open in 2008. "It's just
an honour to win this prestigious event another time.
"That was the
best game I played all through the tournament," added the jubilant Egyptian. "I
felt I got better and better all week.
"Every time
you play Nick you have to be 100% focussed - he's very fast on court. I have to
adapt my game against him and keep as solid as I can.
"I may not be
one of the oldest guys on the Tour, but I have spent my whole life since I was
six years old working towards this. But I always try and learn something new
from each match."
 When asked to
explain the first game, Ashour said: "I had a bit of a fallout in that game -
and Nick came out fighting. But sometimes it's like that. You have patches in a
match where you lose concentration, sometimes they're in the middle, sometimes
at the end - but this time it was at the beginning.
"But I am very
pleased with the win - and want to thank various people including my sponsors
Ziad and EgyptAir, my coaches Mohamed El Said and Hosam, my manager Mick Todd,
my brother Hisham, and my feeder Hisam Ashoush."
A downcast
Matthew, who lost to the Egyptian twice in August - in the Australian Open final
and the World Team Championship final - admitted that he lost his way in the
middle of the match.
"There as a
crucial point in the second game where I got frustrated by a few decisions and
lost my concentration for a few minutes," said the 31-year-old from Sheffield.
"Then he came
back like a steam train - he was just too good."
Despite his
defeat, Matthew will retain his world number one ranking.
"It doesn't
feel like I'm world number one," said the Yorkshireman. "He's beaten me now
three times in a row.
"But I'll go
away and come back stronger."
Ashour and
Matthew, who have contested all four PSA World Series finals this year, lead the
latest 2011 World Series Standings by a considerable margin - Ashour in the lead
with 365 points and Matthew in second place.
There is just
one change in the all-important top eight - with Karim Darwish, a British
Grand Prix semi-finalist, moving into eighth place after competing in only two
World Series events this year.
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Matthew &
Ashour To Star In Dream ROWE British Grand Prix Final
The world's
top two squash players Nick Matthew and Ramy Ashour will contest a
dream final of the ROWE British Grand Prix in Manchester after
identically-timed semi-final victories in the PSA World Series squash
event in its second year at the National Squash Centre.
The ROWE
British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World Series
championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the UK this
year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's top 20
players, including six former world number ones.
 In a career
rivalry stretching back more than ten years, England's world number one Matthew
beat Amr Shabana (right background) 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3 in 54 minutes to claim his tenth
PSA World Tour victory over the four-time world champion from Egypt.
Shabana,
competing in his first Tour event for six months, twice led in the opening game
- but Yorkshireman Matthew bounced back to take the game and lead throughout the
second.
The
32-year-old left-hander from Cairo picked up his game in the third and was ahead
throughout before reducing the deficit.
But after a
tight start in the fourth, Matthew rattled off eight points in a row from
three-all to clinch victory.
"Every
rally was so evenly-contested - you can never relax for one minute against
Shabs," the 31-year-old from Sheffield told the event website
www.britishsquashgrandprix.com
afterwards.
In describing
the third game, Matthew said: "He came out and upped the pace - which was fast
enough already! We got into too many exchanges at the front of the court.
"I got a bit
lucky with a few errors in the fourth - and went from three-all to 8-3 without
realising it. It took me by surprise as I was just concentrating on my shots,"
added Matthew, now in the 44th Tour final of his career.
"My coach DP (David
Pearson) was a great help in my corner. I tend to get a bit excitable in
games, and he helps calm me down - and that's what he did before the fourth."
 Earlier
Ramy Ashour (left foreground), the world No2 from Egypt, took out fellow countryman Karim
Darwish, ranked just a single place below, 11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 11-5 - also in
54 minutes.
The
charismatic 23-year-old from Cairo came back from losing the second game to turn
on his dazzling style - winning 11 points in a row to take the game from 2-0
down.
"I think I was
really focussed - but you have to be against Karim," said Ashour, now in his
35th Tour final. "He gets very confident very fast. He hits a lot of winners,
especially on his forehand.
"But the more
I play him, the more I learn. There's a great rivalry between us."
In trying to
explain the loss of the second game, Ashour said: "Sometimes the demons can play
in your head - and you have a bad patch. But that's what the game's all about -
you have to keep scrappy thoughts out of you head, it's so easy to lose focus."
Remarkably,
Ashour has never lost a match on the ASB all-glass showcourt in Manchester:
"This court has never let me down - so I hope it won't tomorrow!"
Third seed
Darwish was disappointed with his game: "I was not sharp today. I tried to slow
down the pace.
"But he
attacks every shot, he's a really tough opponent," said the former world number
one, also from Cairo. "All credit to him."
Matthew and
Ashour will be meeting for the fifth time this year - and the fourth time in PSA
World Series event final.
"Ramy's got
the better of me the last two times we played - but I'm more confident in my
game this week than in the whole season, so I hope that translates into a good
performance tomorrow," concluded England hope Matthew.
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Darwish &
Ashour Set Up All-Egyptian ROWE British Grand Prix Semi
Karim
Darwish
and title-holder Ramy Ashour will meet in an all-Egyptian semi-final of
the ROWE British Grand Prix after prevailing in today's second day of
quarter-final action in the PSA World Series squash event in its second
year at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
The ROWE
British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World Series
championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the UK this
year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's top 20
players, including six former world number ones.
 Cheered on by
the capacity crowd surrounding the ASB all-glass court, defending champion
Ashour (right foreground) faced Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, the sixth seed, in a high
quality encounter.
Underdog
Gaultier took the lead various times in the opening game - and had two
game-balls from 10-8. But gifted world No2 Ashour refused to submit, winning
four points in a row to take the game after 27 minutes.
With both
players producing a dazzling array of winners, Ashour edged ahead from four-all
in the second to open up a two-game lead. And, after recovering from a 'lost
ball' at 5-3 in the third, the Egyptian surged ahead to clinch his second match
ball, winning 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 after 69 minutes.
"The
first game was the longest ever," the exuberant Ashour said
afterwards. "We both kept hanging in there. I gave a big push - but it could
have been anybody's game.
"Winning the
first game always gives you a boost," added the 23-year-old from Cairo. "Greg
was hitting nicks all over the place. Hisham told me to be patient - and I tried
to be as patient as I could. There were some crucial points for both of us.
"Karim and I
play each other a lot - we know each other's games. It's always a physical and
mental battle. I just hope I can play well and stay injury-free."
 In the first
quarter-final, former world number one Karim Darwish (left foreground) took on fellow
countryman Omar Mosaad, the second young opponent he has faced from his
home city of Cairo who is rapidly making a mark on the PSA World Tour.
The unseeded
23-year-old Omar Mosaad took his place in the last eight - only the
second World Series quarter-final of his career - after a significant upset over
experienced Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the former world champion who was
seeded eight.
And after
Darwish led through most of the first game, it was underdog Mosaad who took the
early upper hand in the second, forging a 7-4 lead.
The third seed
reeled off five points in a row to put himself back into contention and after
Mosaad saved one game ball it was soon 2/0 to Darwish.
The senior
Egyptian romped to a 5-0 lead in the third before Mosaad replied, but Darwish
held off his tall opponent's advances to close out the match 11-6, 11-9, 11-7
after 57 minutes to earn his first World Series semi-final berth this year.
"I tried to be
patient on court today. I didn't make a lot of mistakes," said Darwish.
"I had to move
him around the court, he's a big guy. He's a very tough opponent, he played
really well."
When asked
what he thought of the fact that he might meet a third successive compatriot in
the semi-finals, Darwish responded: "There are a lot of Egyptians in all events
today. If I want to reach a final, I'm sure to need to beat an Egyptian."
Darwish agreed
that his win in the decider of the World Team Championship final had given his
game a boost: "It's especially significant in this position in the rankings
where you really need to be confident. It's 80% in the head - you have to be
really confident."
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Matthew &
Shabana Make ROWE British Grand Prix Semis
World number
one Nick Matthew was fully tested by England team-mate Peter Barker
in tonight's quarter-finals of the ROWE British Grand Prix before finally
emerging triumphant after 78 minutes to earn his anticipated place in the last
four of the PSA World Series squash event in its second year at the
National Squash Centre in Manchester.
 The Yorkshire
favourite will meet Egypt's former world number one Amr Shabana, who
denied the crowd an all-English semi-final when beat Londoner Adrian Grant.
The ROWE
British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World Series
championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the UK this
year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's top 20
players, including six former world number ones.
It was
favourite Matthew, the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist from Sheffield,
who provided the most drama in the final match of day - coasting to victory in
the first game and leading up to 8-6 in the second.
It was then
that left-hander Barker, the world No7, began to assert his authority on the
match - picking up four points in a row to reach game-ball.
But Matthew
fought back - the advantage seesawing between the pair as Barker battled to save
three game-balls against him before the Yorkshireman finally clinched the game
15-13.
Barker,
however, was not to be outdone, and led almost all the way through the third
before reducing the deficit.
 A
more-determined-than-ever Matthew returned for the fourth to build up a 9-2
lead. Barker continued to try and deny his close friend an easy conclusion, but
after two match-balls the favourite clinched his 11-5, 15-13, 8-11, 11-7
victory.
"He's one of
my best friends off-court, so it's always difficult to play him," said Matthew
after his marathon win.
"It hinged on
crucial points - and we had one or two of those in the second game," added the
31-year-old. "Then he came back in the third. But I knew Peter was coming in
fresh.
"I was really
good in the first game and a half and made very few errors."
Earlier, Cairo
star Amr Shabana ended Londoner Adrian Grant's impressive run in
the World Series event. Grant, returning to form after a hip injury, produced a
blistering display in the previous round to upset England No2 James Willstrop,
the runner-up in 2010.
But the
30-year-old former world No9 couldn't match the inspired play of the Egyptian
who boasts 26 PSA World Tour titles including four World Open crowns.
Shabana, too,
is making a determined bid to return to the top of the world rankings, a
position he held for 33 months until the end of 2008. The charismatic
left-hander led for most of the match, recording an 11-5, 11-6, 12-10 victory
after 46 minutes - a win which takes the world No5 into his seventh successive
PSA World Series semi-final.
When asked by
compere Sue Wright, the former England international, to comment on the
fact that the first game seemed tough, Shabana responded: "The whole match was
tough. Adrian clearly had a game-plan and stuck to it. I was happy to get away
in three."
When reminded
by Wright that, despite his major title successes all over the globe, he had yet
to win a tournament in England, Shabana said: "I did win a British Junior Open
plate title a few years ago - but it is time for another one!"
The Prince of
Cairo had much praise for his opponent: "Since his injury, he's much faster and
much stronger. I had to play my best squash to beat him."
Shabana
admitted that he thought his career was ending after problem with both knees in
2009 and a slipped disc the year after. "I thought about what I could do next,
but hard work and determination got me back to where I am now.
"I'm in a
semi-final - I must be playing well!"
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London Pair Progress To ROWE British Grand Prix
Quarters
Londoners Adrian Grant and Peter Barker booked themselves into the
quarter-finals of the ROWE British Grand Prix after impressive victories in
today's second round of the PSA World Series squash event in its second year at
the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
The ROWE British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World
Series championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the
UK this year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's
top 20 players, including six former world number ones.
 Grant
(right foreground), a former world No9 fighting back after a career-threatening
hip injury, faced fellow countryman James Willstrop, the world No4 who finished
as runner-up in the inaugural event last year.
Left out of England's world championship team this summer, 30-year-old Grant
showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with by upsetting the
fourth-seeded Yorkshireman, the England number two, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 to
claim an unexpected place in the last eight.
Grant built up a 5-2 lead in the opening game before Willstrop fought back to
move 6-5 up. The underdog recovered the momentum to move to game-ball at 10-6 -
but again Yorkshireman Willstrop battled back to win six points in a row to
capture the first game.
Midway through the second, Grant fell to the floor after turning on his ankle.
His three-minute injury break was extended when it became clear that the thumb
on his left hand was also bleeding.
Seemingly unaffected by the break, Grant went on to win the next two games - and
in the fourth, rallied back from 5-7 down to win six straight points to pull off
the biggest victory since his layoff.
"The first three or four points seemed a bit laboured and I think I panicked
when I saw him coming back," explained world No17 Grant afterwards. "But in the
second, I stuck to a solid game-plan.
"By the fourth, I could see he was an inch or two behind - I was snapping at
everything and it all came off. But you can't relax with James - when he's down
he can still be lethal.
"That injury I had was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. It
took me out of the game for a long time, but it gave me the chance to re-assess
my approach to the game - and I have come back stronger.
"And I'm not young anymore, of course," added the 30-year-old.
Barker, the world No7, was delighted to record his first Tour win over Malaysian
Mohd Azlan Iskandar, ranked six places below.
"I knew it was going to be a hard game," said the left-hander after his 11-4,
11-9, 11-6 win over an opponent who has beaten him twice since 2003. "We're good
friends off the court, and sometimes that can be quite tough.
"But I'm happy to come off 3/0 so that I can conserve some energy for tomorrow."
Later in the evening, world number one Nick Matthew joined his England
team-mates in the quarter-finals after despatching Egyptian Mohd Ali Anwar Reda
11-5, 11-4, 11-4
The 31-year-old from Sheffield will now line up against Barker for a place in
the semis.
 There
was a further significant upset earlier in the day when unseeded Egyptian Omar
Mosaad (left background) removed eighth seed Thierry Lincou 11-7, 6-11, 2-11,
11-5, 11-4 after a 66-minute battle.
The world No14 from Cairo had only beaten illustrious Frenchman Lincou once
before - and that was also after being 2/1 down.
Mosaad, who immediately raced out of the arena to phone his father, later agreed
that his opponent was a good player - "a world number one with lots of
experience."
At the beginning of the fourth game he decided to be more focussed. "I changed
my game. And I was determined to get a good lead in the fifth to get an early
advantage.
"I'm really happy to beat Thierry - it's my first time in the tournament and
it's great to be in the quarter-finals," added the 23-year-old.
Despite being downcast, Lincou agreed that the better player won: "The
conditions really suited him today - the court was cold and the ball slow - and
I just wasn't able to get into my rhythm.
"He's a big guy and very powerful, also very accurate," said the former world
number one and world champion. "He really deserved the win - he just outplayed
me in the last two games."
Mosaad's next opponent will be Karim Darwish, the third seed who survived an
all-Egyptian clash with qualifier Tarek Momen, winning 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4.
Darwish, the 30-year-old world number three, was full of praise of his younger
compatriot: "He's a great guy. He's pretty tricky to play, very quick on court
and really good at the front. He's dangerous and has a very good future."
Two more Egyptians will line up at the last eight stage: Four-time world
champion Amr Shabana had to be on top of his game to see off German qualifier
Simon Rosner.
"He's a terrific player - totally different from when I last played him," said
the distinguished 32-year-old from Cairo after his 11-9, 14-12, 4-11, 11-7 win.
"He's much faster and much lighter. He's the next German player to bring squash
back to Europe.
"He took me out of my comfort zone. I was happy to get away in four," added the
fifth seed.
With four world titles and 33 months as world number one to his name, did
Shabana still have outstanding goals? "It would be nice to have a shot at being
world number one again, or winning another World Open. If I did one of them, it
would cap off my career nicely!"
It was a disappointing end to a great run by top-ranked German Rosner: "It
wasn't easy. He's difficult to read and puts you under a lot of pressure. I gave
it my best," said the 23-year-old from Paderborn.
Gregory Gaultier avenged Lincou's defeat by making sure of French interest in
the last eight. The sixth seed from Aix-en-Provence defeated England's Daryl
Selby 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4 in 61 minutes - repeating his win over the world
No11 from Essex at the quarter-final stage last year.
Ramy Ashour became the fourth Egyptian through when he beat Australian Cameron
Pilley 11-7, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3. The title-holder from Cairo will now face
Gaultier for a place in the semis. |
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Selby Scrapes Through To ROWE British Grand Prix Second Round
 After
four domestic successes in Monday's top half of the ROWE British Grand Prix
draw, Daryl Selby (right foreground) carried a sole English flag through to the
second round from today's action in the PSA World Series squash event in its
second year at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
The ROWE British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World
Series championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the
UK this year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's
top 20 players, including six former world number ones.
"I really scraped through this - there's plenty to work on," admitted the
28-year-old from Essex after his first appearance in Manchester since his
surprise British National Championship success on the all-glass court in
February.
Selby, ranked 11 in the world, had to fight back from two games down to beat
Swiss qualifier Nicolas Mueller 5-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 in 83 minutes, the
longest match of the tournament so far.
"I dominated one game and he dominated one game - and the others could have gone
either way. There were a few crucial points at the end of the fourth game,"
explained Selby, who made his world team championship debut for England last
month.
"It took me a while to adjust - it's been my first PSA event for six months. I
just wanted to win today - and I've done that, so I'm happy."
But Selby had much praise for his opponent, the 22-year-old world No32 from
Zurich. "He's a really good young player - he's not only talented but plays it
the right way. He'll be top ten at some point in the future, without doubt."
But while England dominated action on the opening day, it was Egyptian players
that ruled the roost overall today.
 Cairo-based
qualifier Tarek Momen (left background) produced the day's only upset when he
ousted
world No21 Alister Walker 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6. Walker, a former England
international who used to train at the centre, was making his first appearance
in Manchester since switching allegiance to his country of birth, Botswana.
"It was really important for me to win today - I haven't had a good result for
five months now," said 23-year-old Momen, a recent Electronic Engineering
graduate from the American University in Cairo.
"Since getting my degree, I have found myself torn between playing squash and
following another career," continued the world No33. "I tell myself I should do
the thing I love the best - and that's squash.
"I'd really like to keep playing and get into the top ten - perhaps even become
world number one."
Momen's victory was followed by Cairo colleague Omar Mosaad's 14-12, 8-11, 11-5,
10-12, 11-9 win over Englishman Jonathan Kemp.
Despite being ranked higher than Kemp, world No14 Mosaad was enjoying his first
win over the left-hander from Halifax after three defeats since 2005.
"I had the advantage today - all the previous times he was ranked higher than
me," explained the tall 23-year-old. "Most of the people I practise with are
right-handed, so I find it more difficult playing left-handers.
"This was an important win for me - it will be good for my ranking. I hope to be
in the top 10 this year," concluded Mosaad.
Egypt's Karim Darwish, a runner-up on the court in the 2008 World Open, also
claimed his place in the last 16 round. But the third seed had to fight back
from a game down to overcome experienced Australian Stewart Boswell, a former
world No4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.
"It was a tough first round - and I had to concentrate hard to beat him," said
the former world No1 from Cairo. "He had a very good start - the first game
against Boswell is always crucial.
"He lost a bit of energy in the second game, then I lost my focus at 10-7 in the
fourth when I rushed myself."
Boswell, based in Manchester with his former England international wife Vicky
Botwright, rued the fact that he had been unable to capitalise on his first game
lead.
"I practise here a lot, so it's disappointing to go out in the first round,"
admitted the Canberra-born 33-year-old.
And title-holder Ramy Ashour became the fourth Egyptian to progress after
despatching English qualifier Chris Ryder 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.
Did the world No2 feel under pressure as the defending champion? "You always
have pressure, you're always expecting something of yourself. Nick (Matthew) has
pressure being the world number one, especially here in England," explained the
23-year-old.
"It's been a great year for me. It's my second year here in Manchester and I'm
happy to be back."
A pair of Frenchmen secured places in the second round after commanding
victories: Eighth seed Thierry Lincou crushed Egyptian qualifier Marwan El
Shorbagy, the recently-crowned world junior champion, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 in just
27 minutes, while sixth seed Gregory Gaultier defeated top-ranked Indian Saurav
Ghosal 11-4, 11-5, 11-2.
"I had to put the pace high right from the start," said seasoned campaigner
Lincou, aged 35, after his victory over 18-year-old El Shorbagy. "And sometimes
it's really hard to get motivated for first round matches. But as soon as I
start expressing myself on the court, the motivation comes back.
"I've seen Marwan play, so I knew something about him," continued the former
world champion from Marseille. "He's so young, yet so mature for his age."
Gaultier was in high spirits after his first round win: "I have been playing
well since the worlds in Germany. I wasn't feeling great after my first two
tournaments, but I worked on my rackets skills and it all came together last
month," explained the 28-year-old from Aix-en-Provence.
"I feel strong mentally and physically and I am really enjoying every day. I
just want to compete and do my best every time I go on court. I am looking
forward to winning a big tournament."
Cameron Pilley became the only Australian to make the last 16 when he beat
Pakistan's Aamir Atlas Khan 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.
"It's strange not having David (Palmer) here and it's a pity about Bozza," said
the world No16 from New South Wales.
"I'm representing everybody in Australia for squash. It's a pressure - but I
like it!
"Aamir beat me the last time we played - and I was so keen to play him again. I
wanted to play a bit steadier - and bring a bit more structure to my game.
"In Malaysia, he had a lot of Pakistani support, and that helped him. But I knew
he was on his own here," added Pilley. |
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England Stars Dominate British Grand Prix Openers
English players dominated proceedings on the opening day of action in the ROWE
British Grand Prix in Manchester, the PSA World Series squash event in its
second year at the National Squash Centre.
The ROWE British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World
Series championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the
UK this year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's
top 20 players, including six former world number ones.
England's world number one Nick Matthew led the domestic charge, closing off the
evening session with a straightforward 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 victory in just 26
minutes over German wild card player Jens Schoor.
"It's good to be back on the court where the England squad train - but in the
end a court is just a court," said the top seed from Sheffield after his
convincing first round win.
"And I can't remember Ramy Ashour ever losing on this court," added Matthew, in
a reference to his main rival, the world No2 from Egypt.
Matthew was delighted to be back on court, particularly after missing out on
last year' event when taken suddenly ill on the eve of the tournament. "It's a
strange feeling - not having any ranking points to defend."
But the event favourite dismissed any thoughts that missing the 2010 event had
had a long-lasting effect: "Luckily, I went on to have some good wins elsewhere
on the Tour. I've got about 101 memories of playing on this court - and about 99
of them are good!
"A few players have put me under pressure in the first round of tournaments
recently, so it was good to feel that a couple of things I've been working on
came good tonight.
"I was pleased with the way I played - I got on top early in the game and was
glad to come off 3/0," added the 31-year-old.
James Willstrop, the world No4 from Leeds who was runner-up last year, had a
tougher battle, seeing off top-ranked Spaniard Borja Golan, a qualifier.
"When I saw the schedule, I felt I had one of the hardest draws - but getting
one of the strongest opponents in the first round can be a help," said the
England No2 after his 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 win over the former world No10.
"Though I was in my home surroundings here at the NSC, it was my first match -
whereas Borja has played his way through the qualifiers so had his eye in.
"It's a great feeling at the start of the season, feeling fresh and really
enjoying playing."
 Londoners
Peter Barker and Adrian Grant (right foreground) also scored notable, albeit
contrasting, successes.
Grant, a former world No9 making a comeback after injury, twice came from behind
to beat top Finn Olli Tuominen 6-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-3, 11-2 in 67 minutes.
"I had game-balls in the third but he played the important points better and got
the game to go 2/1 up," said Grant after his first Tour win over Tuominen. "But
in the fourth and fifth I just relaxed.
"Yes, this was an important win for me after my injury - I learned a lot from my
experience in Australia where I think I wanted to win too badly. I played like a
ten-year-old in a British U19 final!
"I've changed my game a lot and have set myself goals between now and December,"
added the 30-year-old, now ranked 17 in the world.
Later, fellow left-hander Barker despatched South African qualifier Stephen
Coppinger 11-7, 11-4, 11-3 in 39 minutes.
"Steve was a dangerous first round opponent - he's got some great shots," said
the No7 seed. "I was trying to keep it straight - and lift it when I was under
pressure.
"It's my first time in Manchester this year and it's good to be back in familiar
surroundings. But sometimes that can be tough - it being too familiar. But it's
good to be playing on the court that all the English guys feel very comfortable
on.
"I'm happy with my squash at the moment - probably the happiest I've ever been,"
enthused the 27-year-old world No7.
But there was domestic disappointment in the only upset of the day when rising
English star Tom Richards went down to German qualifier Simon Rosner in straight
games.
Despite numerous clashes at junior level, it was the pair's first PSA Tour
meeting - and only four world ranking positions keep them apart.
"I'm so relieved to get off in three - he's such a great player," said Rosner
after his 12-10, 11-8, 12-10 win. "I'm just so happy to be in the second round
of the British Grand Prix - it's awesome.
"At 9-7 up in the third, I couldn't help thinking about my first round match in
Australia, when I was 2/0 and lost," explained the jubilant 23-year-old from
Paderborn, the German city which hosted last month's Men's World Team
Championship.
"The Worlds in Paderborn gave me such a big push. And I've had some good results
lately - but I've been around the same position in the world rankings for about
18 months so hopefully I'll carry this momentum now on the PSA Tour and start to
move up again."
Egyptian Mohd Ali Anwar Reda also had cause for celebration after his 11-7,
11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8 triumph over Ong Beng Hee, the first Tour win in his
third meeting with the former world No7 from Malaysia.
"I felt really good in the first two games, but he slowed down the pace in the
third and he took full control in the fourth. I said to myself in the fifth,
'don't think about winning, just think about playing the right shots'. I was
looking forward to beating him for the first time - I didn't want to lose three
times!
"I've changed my fitness coach and have started to play a more attacking game. I
had surgery on my left knee in March - and that took me out of the game for five
weeks and I was struggling a bit in June," explained the 22-year-old world No24
from Cairo.
"But I won a $25,000 tournament in Cairo in July and this is now my first
tournament abroad. I expect to play Nick Matthew in the next round - and I'm
looking forward to my first match against him."
There was a second Egyptian success on the spectacular ASB all-glass court where
fifth seed Amr Shabana, the four-time World Open champion playing in his first
Tour event since February, beat fellow countryman Hisham Mohamed Ashour 7-11,
11-4, 11-7, 11-2.
The popular Egyptian fled to USA after the recent riots in Cairo, but returned
home a month ago.
"The main reason I went back to Cairo was for Ramadan - it's the first time I've
spent Ramadan at home with my family since I was 14," said the 32-year-old
former world number one. "But after travelling for most of the rest of the year
on the Tour, I'll go back to the US in January.
"But I've been healthy and trying to do a good form of training - not just
running for a hundred metres.
"Playing Hisham in the first round wasn't ideal, but I'm enjoying being back on
the Tour and look forward to the next rounds."
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Ryder Boosts
Home Interest In British Grand Prix
A second
successive straight games qualifying win in the ROWE British Grand Prix
in Wolverhampton sees local hero Chris Ryder boost to eight the
number of Englishmen competing in the PSA World Series squash event which
gets underway at the National Squash Centre in
Manchester.
The ROWE
British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, the fourth of nine PSA World Series
championships in 2011 - and the biggest squash event to be staged in the UK this
year - has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's top 20
players, including six former world number ones.
But it was at
the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club that Ryder, the club's former
pro, delighted the crowd by defeating Finn Henrik Mustonen 11-9, 11-5,
11-4 in 44 minutes to celebrate his second successive appearance in the event's
main draw.
The reward for
the 31-year-old world No38 from Leamington Spa is a first round clash with
defending champion Ramy Ashour, the world No2 from Egypt.
Ryder led a
cosmopolitan group of players celebrating successes in the qualifying finals -
including a German, Spaniard, Swiss, South African and three Egyptians.
And it was
Alexandria teenager Marwan El Shorbagy who had cause for the biggest
celebration after beating England's Robbie Temple to earn his first ever
appearance in a PSA World Series event. Still in his first year as a member of
the PSA, El Shorbagy has been making major strides on the World Tour since
winning the world junior title in July.
After ousting
experienced training partner Joey Barrington in the first qualifying
round, the 18-year-old defeated Temple 6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4 in 61
minutes.
"It's only my
second World Series event and my first time to qualify," said the world No65 who
begins a course at the University of the West of England in Bristol this autumn.
"I am obviously really happy and have been having quite a few good wins since
the world juniors."
El Shorbagy,
who is coached by British squash legend Jonah Barrington, will now line
up against Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the No8 seed and a former world
number one, in the first round.
"It is getting
more exciting for me now - and I always remember Jonah used to tell me that
every match I play could be the match of my life so I hope to get as much
experience against the top players as I can in this event."
Compatriots
Tarek Momen and Mohammed Abbas also survived the qualifiers -
bringing the Egyptian interest in the main draw to nine players. Abbas, a former
world No13, needed five games to see off France's Mathieu Castagnet 8-11,
12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 in an 88-minute marathon, while 23-year-old Momen was
also fully extended before overcoming top-ranked Scot Alan Clyne 11-9,
11-3, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7.
In the
shortest match of the night South African Stephen Coppinger overcame
England's Anthony Graham 11-4, 11-6, 11-9, whilst in the final match of
the evening Borja Golan of Spain beat France's Gregoire Marche
11-3, 11-5, 11-3 showing much of the form that made him a top 10 player a couple
of years ago.
And German
number one Simon Rosner will join his fellow countryman Jens Schoor,
the wild card player, in the main draw after seeing off Siddharth Suchde,
of India, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.
Nicolas
Mueller
becomes the first Swiss player to compete in the ROWE British Grand Prix after
his 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 victory over Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan.
Ryder Romps
Into ROWE British Grand Prix Qualifying Finals
Local hero
Chris Ryder led a trio of Englishman through to the qualifying finals of the
ROWE British Grand Prix after despatching fellow countryman Andrew
Birks in straight games in the first qualifying round of the PSA World
Series squash event at the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club in
Wolverhampton.
Ryder, the
club's former pro now based in Leamington Spa, defeated Shropshire lad Birks -
ranked over 200 places lower - 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 in 40 minutes.
"My new coach
has worked on making me much more aggressive on court, hitting the ball much
harder than I used to, as well as improving my fitness," said the 31-year-old
world No38 afterwards.
Ryder, hoping
to make his second successive appearance in the ROWE British Grand Prix -
which gets underway at the National Squash Centre in Manchester on
Monday - will now face Henrik Mustonen in the qualifying finals. The Finn
needed just 23 minutes to see off beat Englishman Oliver Mapp 11-2, 11-2,
11-4.
Londoner
Robbie Temple survived an all-English clash with Ben Ford, recovering
from a game down to beat the experienced 36-year-old from Kent 7-11, 11-3, 11-7,
11-9 in 58 minutes.
The
Gloucester-born 25-year-old will now face Egyptian sensation Marwan El
Shorbagy. The 1
8-year-old
world junior champion from Alexandria, who is coached by British legend Jonah
Barrington, produced one of the biggest upsets of the day when he beat
Jonah's higher-ranked son Joey Barrington - a regular training partner -
11-8, 11-3, 11-7 in 44 minutes.
But an earlier
major shock resulted in unexpected home interest in the final qualifying round
when Anthony Graham defeated Frenchman Julien Balbo, who is ranked
seventy places higher in the world rankings.
Both the first
and second games went to 10-all and could have gone either way - and were shared
- but at one-all and 7-7 in the third, the in-form Graham, playing tight
accurate squash, forced a frustrated Balbo into making too many errors,
eventually closing out the game 11-9.
But, after
staging a significant comeback in the fourth, Gloucestershire-based Graham ran
out a 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 winner after 69 minutes.
"My aim this
year was to beat a top sixty ranked player," said Graham - who narrowly missed
his aim by two ranking places!
The
Zimbabwe-born 21-year-old - ranked 126 in the world - now takes on South
Africa's world No34 Stephen Coppinger, a 15-13, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7 winner
over New Zealander Campbell Grayson.
Matthew Bids
For Revenge In Manchester
England's
Nick Matthew will be after revenge when he competes in next month's ROWE
British Grand Prix Squash Championship, the fourth and latest PSA World
Series championship of the year in Manchester.
The ROWE
British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011, one of the nine PSA World Series
championships in 2011, will take place at the National Squash Centre in
Manchester from 19-25 September.
Matthew, the
world number one from Sheffield, is expected to face title-holder Ramy Ashour,
the world No2 from Egypt, in the event's final on the spectacular all-glass
showcourt in Manchester.
After twice
leading his Egyptian rival in last week's final of the Viridian Australian
Open - the third PSA World Series event of the year - Matthew went down in
five games in his first loss to Ashour since January.
"I was
disappointed with the fifth - it just ran away from me and sometimes he can get
on a run of points in the blink of an eye and before I knew it he was five, six,
seven, eight and I couldn't stop the rot," said the 31-year-old World Open
champion and double Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
"But I am
looking forward to getting stuck back in in Manchester," added Matthew. "It's
one of my favourite venues in the world - the England team regularly train there
and I have enjoyed a number of important title successes on that court.
"And the
Manchester crowds are amongst the best in the world - and this will be a huge
boost."
Matthew begins
his 2011 ROWE British Grand Prix campaign against German wild card Jens
Schoor. The top seed, England's first world number one for six years, will
want to make up for the disappointment of being forced to withdraw from last
year's championship after being taken ill on the eve of the event.
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