24/07/2011
CIMB MALAYSIAN OPEN 2011
Gaultier Celebrates Triumphant Malaysian Open Debut
CIMB Malaysian Open 2011
Women's Draw
Championship Website:
malaysianopensquash.com
18-23 Jul, Kuala Lumpur, $60k |
Round One
20 Jul |
Quarters
21 Jul |
Semis
22 Jul |
Final
23 Jul |
[1] Nicol David (Mas)
11/7, 11/6, 11/4 (31Min)
Donna Urquhart (Aus) |
Nicol David
11/7,9/11,11/1,11/6 (57
Min)
Laura Massaro |
Nicol David
11-9 12-10
11-4 (45m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
Nicol David
11/9,12/10,11/4 (45Min)
Jenny Duncalf |
[6] Laura Massaro (Eng)
11/9, 12/10, 11/7 (44m)
[Q] Sarah Kippax (Eng) |
[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
11/8, 7/11, 11/6, 11/9 (39m)
Annie Au (Hkg) |
Rachael Grinham
11/7,4/11,11/9,2/11,11/9 (60Min)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
10/12, 9/11, 14/12, 11/9, 11/3 (75m)
Delia Arnold (Mas) |
Raneem El Weleily (Egy)
11/9, 8/11, 11/8, 8/11, 11/9 (66m)
[8] Camille Serme (Fra) |
Camille Serme
11/6, 11/8, 11/8 (40Min)
Joelle King |
Camille Serme
14-12 11-5
11-8 (39m)
Jenny Duncalf |
[Q] Joelle King
11/9, 11/2, 11/6 (40m)
[4] Madeline Perry (Irl) |
[Q] Dipika Pallikal (Ind)
6/11, 11/4, 13/11, 7/11, 11/3 (76m)
[5] Kasey Brown (Aus) |
Kasey Brown
9/11, 6/11, 11/6, 12/10, 11/4 (76Min)Jenny Duncalf |
[Q] Low Wee Wern (Mas)
11-5, 11-9, 12-10 (39m)
[2] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) |
CIMB Malaysian Open 2011
Men's Draw
18-23 Jul, Kuala Lumpur, $50k |
Round One
20 Jul |
Quarters
21 Jul |
Semis
22 Jul |
Final
23 Jul |
[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (27m)
[Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan
(MAS) |
Gregory Gaultier
12/10, 11/2, 11/7 (54Min)
Ong Beng Hee |
Gregory Gaultier
11-5, 11-5, 11-1
(41m)
Alan Clyne |
Gregory Gaultier
1-8, 11-3, 11-3
(43m)
Aamir Atlas Khan
1 |
Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
(AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
(31m)
[Q] Ryan Cuskelly |
[Q]
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
9-11, 11-6, 18-16, 9-11, 11-9 (100m)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) |
Karim Abdel Gawad
11/6,11/6,11/4 (39 Min)
Alan Clyne |
[Q]
Alan Clyne (SCO)
11-7, 5-11,
7-11, 11-9, 15-13 (64m)[4]
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) |
[3] Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
11-5, 12-10,
11-7 (47m)
Kamran Khan (Mas) |
Azlan Iskandar
11/5, 10/12, 11/9, 11/6 (56Min)
Aamir Atlas Khan
|
Aamir Atlas Khan
10-12, 11-6,
11-4, 11-9 (54m)
Cameron Pilley |
Chris Ryder (Eng)
11-7, 3-11,
11-7, 3-11, 11-7 (60m)
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) |
Tarek Momen (Egy)
11-7, 11-9,
11-8 (65m)
Cameron Pilley (Aus) |
Cameron Pilley
11/6,11/6,14/12 (55Min)
Mohamed El Shorbagy |
Aaron Frankcomb (Aus)
11-6, 11-5,
11-9 (39m)
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) |
 Gaultier
Celebrates Triumphant Malaysian Open Debut
French squash
star Gregory Gaultier celebrated his debut appearance in the
long-established CIMB Malaysian Open in Selangor by winning the
PSA World Tour International 50 event today at the Curve Shopping Mall
in sensational style.
The top seed,
ranked six in the world, swept through the high-class field to reach the final
without dropping a game.
His surprise
opponent was unseeded Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan - the 20-year-old world
No28 from Peshawar who followed his quarter-final upset over home favourite and
title-holder Mohd Azlan Iskandar by dismissing higher-ranked Australian
Cameron Pilley in the semis.
But the mighty
Gaultier was not to be stopped: Appearing in the 40th PSA Tour final of his
career, the 28-year-old from Aix-en-Provence brushed aside Khan 11-8, 11-3, 11-3
in 43 minutes to avenge his defeat by the Pakistani in their last meeting in
Qatar in 2009.
It was the
French and European champion's first Tour title triumph of the year - but the
18th of Gaultier's distinguished career.
Gaultier &
Aamir Atlas Make Malaysian Open Final
Unseeded
Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan continued his giant-killing run in today's
semi-finals of the CIMB Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur to set up a
meeting with French favourite Gregory Gaultier in the final of the PSA
World Tour International 50 squash event at the Curve Shopping Mall.
In his most
impressive Tour run for almost two years, Khan upset home favourite Mohd
Azlan Iskandar, the title-holder and third seed, in the quarter-finals
before facing higher-ranked Australian Cameron Pilley in the semis.
And after
recovering from the loss of the opening game, the 20-year-old world No28 from
Peshawar defeated Pilley 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 in 54 minutes to reach the
tenth PSA Tour final of his career.
Meanwhile
Gaultier, the world No6 in his maiden appearance in the event, chalked up his
third straight straight games win in the tournament when he beat qualifier
Alan Clyne.
The Scot had
enjoyed one his most impressive recent Tour runs - making his breakthrough in
the opening round by ousting fourth seed Hisham Mohd Ashour before
overcoming a further Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad.
But Gaultier
was too strong for the 24-year-old from Edinburgh, winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-1 in
41 minutes to mark up the 40th Tour final appearance of his career - but his
first for almost a year.
Gaultier
enters the final as firm favourite for the title - but whilst his career
head-to-head Tour record against Atlas Khan is one win apiece, it was the
Pakistani underdog, ranked 28 in the world, who emerged triumphant in their last
meeting, in the second round of the Qatar Classic in November 2009.
David and Duncalf set up blockbuster final in CIMB Malaysian Open
The world number one and two set up the dream final in the CIMB Malaysian Open
today.
The second event of the WISPA World Series has already showed some incredibly
high levels of squash from the world’s top female players and the semi finals
were no exception.
England’s Jenny Duncalf was the first through to the final with a straight game
victory over Camille Serme, both sporting Adidas kit. Duncalf owned a 3-1 head
to head over Serme, but she would have been aware of the danger that the French
girl posed. The first game was close all the way into the tie break, which
Duncalf managed to sneak 14-12. From there on Duncalf assumed control and didn’t
allow Serme to play her game, always one step ahead. Duncalf closed out the
match in straight games after 39 minutes. She would have been relieved to get
off court in straight games after her marathon comeback win in the quarter final
over Kasey Brown.
Nicol David delighted the home fans by coming through in straight games against
Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy. Kawy, who has not been in the best of form this year,
found her game again in the previous round to edge out Rachael Grinham. David,
who wears Adidas designed by Stella McCartney, fought off a stern test from Kawy
who was in full attacking mode throughout. She had her chances in the second
game, taking David to a tie break, but the effects of yesterday’s match took its
toll and the Duracell bunny closed out the match after 45 minutes.
The final will be an intriguing repeat of last year’s epic final which David won
in five. The world’s top two players also contested the final of the first World
Series event of the season, the Cayman Islands Open, where David won in four
games.
Malaysians
Ousted In Day Of KL Upsets
In a day of
shocks in the CIMB Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, defending
champion Mohd Azlan Iskandar crashed out in the quarter-finals to
extinguish Malaysian interest in the last four of the PSA World Tour
International 50 squash event at the Curve Shopping Mall.
In one of his
best victories in recent months, Pakistan's unseeded Aamir Atlas Khan
toppled the third-seeded Malaysian 11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6 in 56 minutes. It is
only the second time in eight years that three-time champion Iskandar has failed
to reach the semi-finals.
Khan, the
20-year-old world No28 from Peshawar, now faces fellow non-seed Cameron
Pilley after the world No17 from Australia produced the event's biggest
shock yet by beating Egypt's No2 seed Mohamed El Shorbagy, ranked nine in
the world, 11-6, 11-6, 14-12.
Scottish
qualifier Alan Clyne continued his impressive run in the event by beating
fellow qualifier and higher-ranked Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad 11-6, 11-6,
11-4.
The
24-year-old from Edinburgh - at 49, the lowest-ranked player to qualify - will
now face top-seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier for a place in the final.
Gaultier, the
world No6 in his maiden appearance in the event, denied three-time champion
Ong Beng Hee his fourth appearance in the semi-finals since 2000 by beating
the former Malaysian number one 12-10, 11-2, 11-7.
Clyne Claims
Mighty Malaysian Open Upset
Scottish
qualifier Alan Clyne claimed the biggest upset in today's first round of
the CIMB Malaysian Open when he beat fourth seed Hisham Mohd Ashour
to earn a surprise place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour
International 50 squash event at the National Squash Centre in
Bukit Jalil.
After fighting
back from 2/1 down, the 24-year-old from Edinburgh survived a lengthy tie-break
decider to overcome the world No13 from Egypt 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 15-13 in
64 minutes.
World No49
Clyne, the lowest-ranked player to qualify, will now face fellow qualifier
Karim Abdel Gawad for a place in the last four. The 19-year-old from Egypt,
the youngest player in the draw, battled for 100 minutes to see off Pakistan's
Farhan Mehboob 9-11, 11-6, 18-16, 9-11, 11-9.
There was
better fortune for fellow Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan, however, when the
20-year-old from Peshawar survived a see-saw game with Chris Ryder,
beating the Englishman 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7.
Leading
Malaysian pair Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee delighted the
home crowd by securing places in the last eight. Defending champion Iskandar,
looking for his fourth title since 2004, defeated wild card compatriot Kamran
Khan 11-5, 12-10, 11-7, while Beng Hee - also a three-time winner of the
crown - beat Australian qualifier Ryan Cuskelly 11-6, 11-9, 11-5.
Can Nicol Make It Seven in A Row?
Nicol
David will
be aiming for an incredible seventh title in a row this week at the CIMB
Malaysian Open, being held at the National Squash Centre and The Curve shopping
mall in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament, which has recently been upgraded, will be
the second World Series event of the year, following on from the Cayman Islands
Open back in April. David won the title in the Caymans and will look to stay
atop of the World Series standings in front of her home fans.
However,
there will be a whole host of top players with their eyes on the title and many
will feel they can potentially dethrone the Queen of Squash. Earlier this year
David was defeated for the first time in over twelve months by world number
seven Laura
Massaro in
the final of the Cleveland Classic. Massaro and David could have a repeat clash
in the quarter final if they are both to come through their openers. Massaro,
the British Champion, opens against a qualifier and David starts her campaign
with a tricky match up against Australia’s Donna Urquhart, who made a
shock run to the semi final of the Cayman Islands Open.
Nine of the
worlds top ten feature in the draw, with the only absentee being world number
five Alison Waters, who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
World
Number two Jenny Duncalf, David’s closest rival, starts against a
qualifier and will be looking to go one further than last year when she pushed
David to a nail biting fiver setter in the final. She could possibly play
Australia’s Kasey Brown in
the quarter final. Brown takes on a qualifier in the first round.
The two
standout matches from the first round feature world number three
Rachael Grinham and French number one
Camille Serme, both will have to be at their very best to make the
quarter final. Grinham takes on Annie Au
and whilst Grinham holds a 2-1 head to head advantage, Au won their last meeting
in the first round of Cleveland in January. The winner is set to meet
Omneya
Abdel Kawy
in the quarter final. The World Open finalist has not been in top form this year
and will look to turn things around here. She faces Malaysia’s Delia Arnold,
the wild card.
Serme
has an equally difficult first round against long time rival
Raneem
El Weleily.
The Egyptian will be confident going into their match, knowing she has never
lost to Serme. Madeline Perry
will be the likely quarter final opponent for one of these two. The world number
four will face a qualifier in her first match.
All
these players will also be wary of the danger that lurks in qualifying. Kiwi’s
Joelle King and
Jaclyn Hawkes,
local star
Wee Wern
Low
and England’s
Sarah Kippax,
if they make it through, will not be underestimated.
With more
money and crucial World Series points up for grabs, the tournament will be
tougher than ever.
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