18/12/2011
PUNJ LLOYD PSA MASTERS 2011
James Willstrop: A PSA Master & World No1
Reports |
Final
Semi Finals
Quarter Finals
2nd Round
1st Round Preview
|
|
Punj Lloyd PSA Masters 2011
12-18 Dec, New Delhi, India,
$165k |
Round One
12/13 Dec |
Round One
14/15 Dec |
Quarters
16 Dec |
Semis
17 Dec |
Final
18 Dec |
[2] Karim Darwish
(Egy)
12/10, 11/5, 11/4
Ryan Cuskelly (Aus) |
Karim Darwish
v
Tom Richards
|
Karim Darwish
v11-9,
8-11, 11-5, 11-3 (60m)
Mohamed El Shorbagy |
Mohamed El Shorbagy
12-10, 11-7, 11-1 (53m)
Gregory Gaultier |
Gregory Gaultier
19-21, 11-8, 11-4, 4-1 ret. (99m)
James Willstrop
|
Hisham Ashour (Egy)
14/12, 13/11, 11/6
Tom Richards (Eng) |
Adrian Grant (Eng)
12/10, 11/6, 11/4 (51m)
Borja Golan (Esp) |
Borja Golan
11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7 (63m)
Mohamed El Shorbagy |
[6] Mohamed El
Shorbagy (Egy)
11/7, 13/15, 11/6, 11/5
Stephen Coppinger (Rsa) |
[8]
Laurens Jan Anjema
(Ned)
11/7,11/7, 11/9
Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) |
Laurens Jan Anjema
11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 (60m)
Omar Mosaad |
Laurens Jan Anjema
11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (38m)
Gregory Gaultier |
Omar Mosaad (Egy)
8/11, 11/3, 11/7, 11/9 (50m)
Chris Ryder (Eng) |
Azlan Iskandar
(Mas)
11/6, 11/9, 11/8
Ong Beng Hee (Mas) |
Azlan Iskandar
11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (39m)
Gregory Gaultier |
[4] Gregory
Gaultier (Fra)
11/4 11/1, 11/6
Siddharth Suchde (Ind) |
Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
8/11, 11/7, 11/5, 11/5
[3] James Willstrop (Eng) |
James Willstrop
11-3, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)
Alister Walker |
James Willstrop
11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 (65m)
Daryl Selby |
James Willstrop
11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (30m)
Peter Barker |
Alister Walker (Bot)
11/5, 11/6, 11/5 (28m)
Alan Clyne (Sco) |
Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy)
11/7, 11/6, 11/4 (34m)
Simon Rosner (Ger) |
Simon Rosner
11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5 (68m)
Daryl Selby |
Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/5, 11/4, 11/1 (25m)
[5] Peter Barker (Eng) |
Peter Barker
11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5 (52m)
Saurav Ghosal |
Peter Barker
11-13, 11-7, 11-8, 11-1 (45m)
Ramy Ashour |
Julian Illingworth (Usa)
12/10, 11/4, 11/2
Saurav Ghosal (Ind) |
Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11/5, 9/11, 11/4, 13/11
Jonathan Kemp (Eng) |
Cameron Pilley
11-5, 12-14, 11-2, 11-4 (42m)
Ramy Ashour |
Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas)
9/11, 11/3, 11/4, 11/9
[1] Ramy Ashour (Egy) |
Final
James Willstrop: A PSA Master & World No1
The climax to an incredible end-of-year run
by James Willstrop on the international squash
circuit saw the Englishman clinch his third successive
PSA World Series title today at the Punj Lloyd PSA
Masters in India in a victory which will ensure his
status as world number one in the January Dunlop PSA
rankings.
The 28-year-old from Leeds, whose title
triumphs in the Hong Kong Open and Kuwait PSA Cup
in November catapulted him to second place in the world
rankings this month, faced French rival Gregory Gaultier
in the climax of the ninth and final PSA World Series
event of the year at the Siri Fort Complex in the
Indian capital New Delhi.
Willstrop went into the match with 14
successive Tour match wins under his belt since November -
but was lining up against the last player who beat him, in
the World Open semi-finals in Rotterdam.
And the opening game was a classic. The
battle lasted almost an hour, with rarely more than a point
separating the pair until the Frenchman emerged the winner
21-19 after one of the highest-scoring games in the history
of the 'PAR to 11' scoring system.
But Willstrop fought back in the second game
to draw level and was in control in the third as it became
clear that all was not well with his opponent.
After treatment in the break, world No3
Gaultier returned to the court - but was clearly suffering
from cramp. After a few points, the Frenchman conceded the
match to give Willstrop the title, and much more!
"Winning the PSA Masters is a massive big
deal," said the new champion at the trophy presentations
after his historic 19-21, 11-8, 11-4, 4-1 (ret.) triumph in
99 minutes.
"We've been proud to play this event for
three years now - we've been extremely well looked after.
It's been a very enjoyable event to play in - so thanks to
everybody involved, especially Punj Lloyd."
It was in India that Willstrop won his first
major title - the World Junior Championship - in
2002, and at the same venue in New Delhi eight years later
that he contested the Commonwealth Games final. But
it required victory in today's final for Willstrop to
overtake the ranking points average of fellow Yorkshireman
Nick Matthew, thereby succeeding his England
team-mate at the top of the first world rankings of the New
Year.
"There are so many people back home to give
thanks to - but I think might avoid doing that as I'll just
forget some very important people," continued the new PSA
Masters champion, now winner of 15 career PSA World Tour
titles.
"It's a very special day for me. I can't
really believe I've played and won this match - and I'd like
to thank Greg for the great spirit in which it was played.
"It's special to have achieved this here with
so many close people here, including my girl-friend Vanessa
(Atkinson), a fantastic and loyal friend; my Dad, Malcolm,
who's given me an incredible amount of attention since the
start; and my brother David, the endless sessions and work
we've put in together; and Mick (Todd).
"To have had them here has made such a
difference. If I'd done it here alone on this day - and Greg
talked about not having his team with him here, but I've
been lucky as we planned this - it's just the most special
thing: they've given me so much!
"The day is so special - it wouldn't mean
half as much if I hadn't had these people behind me.
"I'm very proud I've done it here in India -
I've had some really nice times here - and won the world
junior title here as well."
The success also means that Willstrop heads
the 2011 Dunlop PSA World Series Standings, and that
the line-up for January's ATCO PSA World Series Finals
- which features the top eight players in the list - is now
finalised.
2011 Dunlop PSA World Series Standings:
Position |
(Prev) |
1 |
1 |
James Willstrop
(ENG) |
525 |
2 |
1 |
Nick Matthew
(ENG) |
425 |
3 |
3 |
Ramy Ashour
(EGY) |
400 |
4 |
4 |
Gregory Gaultier
(FRA) |
335 |
5 |
6 |
Karim Darwish
(EGY) |
270 |
6 |
5 |
Amr Shabana
(EGY) |
265 |
7 |
7 |
Peter Barker
(ENG) |
240 |
8 |
8 |
Mohd Azlan Iskandar
(MAS) |
170 |
9 |
9 |
Stewart Boswell
(AUS) |
150 |
10 |
12 |
Mohamed El Shorbagy
(EGY) |
145 |
11 |
11 |
Laurens Jan Anjema
(NED) |
135 |
12 |
10 |
David Palmer
(AUS) |
120 |
12 |
12 |
Tom Richards
(ENG) |
120 |
14 |
12 |
Nicolas Mueller
(SUI) |
115 |
14 |
16 |
Cameron Pilley
(AUS) |
115 |
16 |
17 |
Daryl Selby
(ENG) |
110 |
|
Semi
Finals
Willstrop & Gaultier Make Masters Final
Frenchman Gregory Gaultier and
England's James Willstrop will line up in the
surprise final of the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters after
straight games successes in today's semi-finals of the ninth
and final PSA World Series squash event of the year
at the Siri Fort Complex in the Indian capital New
Delhi.
Fourth seed Gaultier, a former world number
one from Aix-en-Provence, ended the brave run of 20-year-old
Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy to reach his second
World Series final of the year - while Willstrop, the third
seed, despatched England team-mate Peter Barker in
just 30 minutes to reach his third World Series final in a
row.
After reaching No2 in the world rankings this
month following World Series title successes in the Hong
Kong Open and Kuwait PSA Cup last month,
Willstrop is now just one victory away from becoming world
number one for the first time in his career in January.
Gaultier has been in fine form at India's
2010 Commonwealth Games venue in New Delhi where he
has cruised into the last four without conceding a game.
There was no let up in the match against El Shorbagy, the
rising star of Egyptian squash who was celebrating his
second successive appearance in a World Series semi after
claiming a career-first victory over his senior compatriot
Karim Darwish, the event's second seed.
After prevailing in a tight first game, world
No3 Gaultier took control of games two and three to close
out the match 12-10, 11-7, 11-1 after 53 minutes to reach
the 43rd PSA World Tour final of his career.
"For a 20-year-old like Mohamed to be nearly
in the top five is really impressive," said the Frenchman
after coming off court. "I was only top 10 at that age. Only
him and Ramy (Ashour) have done it that quickly. He played
well against Darwish last night and he's had an amazing
2011.
"I've a really good year but a poor first
half of the season because of a hamstring injury. Since then
I've found my squash again and I'm happy to have had a
better second half," added Gaultier.
The success in Delhi has rocketed El Shorbagy
up to 10th place in the 2011 PSA World Series Standings
- but his defeat today ensures that Malaysian Mohd Azlan
Iskandar will finish in eighth place, and therefore
qualify for next year's ATCO PSA World Series Finals
for the first time.
The second semi saw Englishmen Willstrop and
Barker do battle on the PSA Tour for the 18th time since
February 2003, and for the seventh time this year! And
underdog Barker, who was celebrating his first World Series
semi-final appearance since making the last four in the
event two years ago in India, came out as runner-up in all
but one of those meetings.
Despite confidence 24 hours earlier, Barker
seemed unable to make an impression on his England team-mate
in this latest clash - perhaps still recovering from his
shock victory over Egypt's event favourite Ramy Ashour
in the previous round.
"People, and the media especially, love to go
on about the stats between me and Peter - but I don't dwell
on it, and I'm sure Peter doesn't," said Willstrop after his
11-4, 11-3, 11-3 triumph - his 15th Tour match win in a row.
"It's not a fair reflection as we've had some ridiculous
matches in the past. It's going in my favour a bit, but
every time we play it's tough.
"We're lucky in England to have such an
amazing support system in place," continued Willstrop, who
is already certain to finish the year at the head of the PSA
World Series Standings. "Myself and Nick (Matthew), Peter
and Daryl (Selby) - and the girls, obviously - get loads of
help from the trainers, coaches, physios, nutritionists,
etc. at home and the success we've all had wouldn't have
been possible without them."
The world No2, now in the 28th Tour final of
his career, has his life-long coach Malcolm Willstrop,
his father, with him in India: "It's great to have Malcolm
here. He thinks because I won in Hong Kong and Kuwait
without him that I don't need him - but that couldn't be
further from the truth.
"It's a massive help having him around at
this tournament alongside the other people close to me. It
often makes the difference of a couple of points a game, I
reckon."
|
Quarter Finals
El Shorbagy
Shakes Off Darwish In Delhi
Egypt's
Mohamed El Shorbagy celebrated a career-first win over senior fellow
countryman Karim Darwish in today's quarter-finals of the Punj Lloyd
PSA Masters when he upset the No2 seed in four games to reach the
semi-finals of the ninth and final PSA World Series squash event of the
year at the Siri Fort Complex in the Indian capital New Delhi.
The
20-year-old from Alexandria has made massive strides on the PSA World Tour
this year - but in four meeting in almost three years with Darwish, the former
world No1 currently ranked five in the world, El Shorbagy had only previously
taken one game.
But, despite
difficulties in shaking off jet-lag since arriving in India, El Shorbagy was in
masterful form against his experienced 30-year-old opponent - winning 11-9,
8-11, 11-5, 11-3 in 60 minutes to reach his second successive World Series
semi-final.
El Shorbagy
admitted afterwards that his reaction was a mixture of delight and sadness, as
he had a great deal of respect for Darwish, who had been very helpful to him
earlier in his career.
"I'm VERY
happy," tweeted the world No8 later on. "I can't even explain how I feel right
now!!!"
This late
success in the year - in only his fifth appearance in a 2011 World Series event
- has put El Shorbagy in touching distance of a place in January's ATCO PSA
World Series Finals in London. But the youngest player in the world top 30
needs to win the title to guarantee a top eight place in the World Series
standings, and therefore a place in the draw at Queen's Club.
Sixth seed El
Shorbagy will now face Gregory Gaultier, the fourth seed from France who
was in sparkling form to beat eighth seed Laurens Jan Anjema 11-5, 11-2,
11-5 - and deny the Dutchman a top eight finish in the PSA Word Series
Standings.
The other
semi-final will be an all-English affair between third seed James Willstrop
and Londoner Peter Barker, the fifth seed.
Willstrop, the
man in form with title triumphs in the previous two World Series events in Hong
Kong and Kuwait, faced fellow countryman Daryl Selby, the No7 seed from
Essex against whom he has not lost a Tour match in seven meetings since January
2007.
But the
underdog from Brentwood has also rediscovered his form of late - and pushed his
higher-ranked England team-mate all the way in a hard and intense battle on the
all-glass court in India's 2010 Commonwealth Games venue.
Selby showed
enormous courage to come back from two games down to take the third. The
29-year-old world No16 then demanded the very best from his opponent in the
fourth before Willstrop emerged triumphant 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 after 65
minutes - with Selby diving for the ball twice in the very last rally before
finally conceding defeat.
"I knew it was
going to be tough and dogged," said Yorkshireman Willstrop. "He's extremely
tough.
"My mission
today was to win - and I didn't care how I did it."
Willstrop's
quarter-final success ensures that he will finish at the top of the 2011 PSA
World Series Standings, knocking fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew, the
world number one, into second place.
And in the
final match of the day, Peter Barker earned his first win over Ramy
Ashour since August 2006 when he beat the top-seeded Egyptian 11-13, 11-7,
11-8, 11-1.
Ashour was
making his return to the PSA Tour after a hamstring injury - and looked strong
throughout the first game. But soon into the second, it was clear that all was
not well with the 24-year-old from Cairo, as his movement became impaired.
After losing
the second, it seemed likely that the former world number one would concede -
but Ashour refused to give in and manfully contested the following two games
before Barker claimed victory.
"He nearly
beat me on one leg," joked Barker in his post-match interview. "Ramy's a
phenomenal player so I hope he's not done any real damage today."
Barker and
Willstrop have played each other countless times since their junior days - but
the Londoner has only achieved one win in 17 Tour meetings since 2003.
"We've played
each other a lot this year," added Barker, who is celebrating his first World
Series semi-final appearance since the PSA Masters two years ago. "But I'd like
to think I've learned a lot from those meetings so I'm looking forward to
tomorrow." |
2nd Round
Selby
Celebrates World Series Quarter-Final
An appearance
in his first PSA World Series event quarter-final this year was Daryl
Selby's reward when the Englishman beat top-ranked German Simon Rosner
in today's second round of the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, the ninth and
final World Series squash event of the year at the Siri Fort Complex in
the Indian capital New Delhi.
The reigning
British champion needed to be on his guard against Rosner, the 24-year-old from
Paderborn who boasts a career-high world No24 ranking.
Seventh seed
Selby took control of the first game, winning it without looking at risk. After
several exciting rallies at the beginning of the second, the confident world
No16 from Essex soon led 4-1 and later 7-2. Rosner pegged back a few points but
Selby strolled to a two-game lead.
It seemed
unlikely that the German would stage a comeback - but, seemingly encouraged by a
successful 'Video Review', the underdog ran away to a 9-5 lead. When he hit a
forehand volley winner at 10-8, Rosner raced from the court, pre-empting the no
let decision which followed.
Selby led
early 3-0 in the fourth, but was no longer the dominant force of the first two
games. From 9-5, Selby romped to victory after Rosner handed him the match with
two unforced errors.
"It feels
great to be in my first World Series quarter finals this year," said Selby after
his 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5 victory in 68 minutes. "I had a good opportunity when
I sneaked into the top eight but had to get through a couple of tough opponents
to get there. Especially today as Simon has been playing really well lately and
I knew I was in for a hard day at the office.
"I felt like I
played my best squash for a few months and am at last feeling 100% fit and
confident in my game again."
The
29-year-old from Brentwood will now face England team-mate James Willstrop,
the world No2 from Leeds who arrived in Delhi fresh from successive title
successes in the previous two PSA World Series events.
"I've got
nothing to lose tomorrow against a man that is bang in form," added Selby. "But
I won't be lying down easily. I'm really looking forward to it and have enjoyed
it here in India again, I always seem to do well here."
Third seed
Willstrop faced former Leeds resident Alister Walker, the 29-year-old
world No17 who recently moved to New York and took up the nationality of
Botswana, his country of birth.
Willstrop
started with the assurance expected of a player in high form and soon led 4-1
and 5-2. A handful of Willstrop errors from 7-4 saw Walker draw level to
seven-all.
Walker served
at 10-9 but, after another remarkable rally, Willstrop took the game to a
tiebreak which he won 12-10. The considerable contribution Walker had made in
the first game told in the second when Willstrop raced to 7-1 before winning it
11-4.
Walker won the
first two points of the third - but Willstrop regained the upper hand, hitting
several winners of perfect length to lead 7-3 before pressing on to win the game
and match 11-5.
A third
Englishman grabbed a place in the last eight when Peter Barker ended
Indian hopes in the championships by beating Kolkata-born Saurav Ghosal
11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5 in 52 minutes.
The win takes
the fifth-seeded Londoner into his ninth successive 2011 World Series
quarter-final - thus recording a more consistent World Series performance over
the whole year than any other player.
Barker will
now face Egyptian star Ramy Ashour, the former world No1 who is making a
Tour comeback after a hamstring injury forced his withdrawal from last month's
World Open.
Looking in
sparkling form, top seed Ashour despatched Australian number one Cameron
Pilley 11-5, 12-14, 11-2, 11-4 in 42 minutes.
Anjema Boosts
World Series Finals Bid
Victory for
Laurens Jan Anjema in today's second round of the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters
in India has boosted the Dutchman's chances of securing a place in January's
ATCO PSA World Series Finals in London.
The eighth
seed extended his unbeaten Tour run against Omar Mosaad to eight matches
when he beat the world No15 from Egypt 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 to reach the
quarter-finals of the ninth and final PSA World Series squash event of
the year at the Siri Fort Complex in New Delhi.
Anjema's
success followed defeat earlier in the day for Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the
Malaysian who is in eighth place in the 2011 Dunlop PSA World Series
Standings - a position which would guarantee him a place in the draw for
next month's flagship PSA event at Queen's Club which features the top eight
players in the final list.
Anjema, the
world No12 from The Hague, currently sits in ninth place - but would need to
reach Sunday's final in order to overtake Iskandar.
Iskandar went
down 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 in 39 minutes to Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, the
No4 seed who won the PSA World Series Qatar Classic in October.
Gaultier,
assisted by errors from Iskandar, established early leads in the first two games
and although Iskandar raised his game in the middle of the games it was Gaultier
who finished the stronger in each of them.
The Frenchman
found himself 6-5 down in the third, but another backhand error brought him
level and when the Malaysian hit it straight back to himself down the middle of
the court it was 8-6, then 9-6, before he closed out the match 11-8.
"I wasn't
actually supposed to play Azlan - we were in different halves of the draw until
Nick (Matthew) pulled out but then the draw changed and we realised that we
could meet second round," explained the world No3 from Aix-en-Provence.
"So we still
just spend time together and one hour before the match he goes one way and I go
another. He's a good friend of mine but once we step on the court I just shut
off my mind, shut the door and play. I'm happy with this match because it's a
good preparation for my next one. Azlan plays a fast pace which helps me to get
ready for the next round," added the 28-year-old.
Anjema and
Gaultier will now face each other for a place in the semi-finals.
The opening
match of the day saw Egypt's sixth seed Mohamed El Shorbagy take on
Spaniard Borja Golan - their most recent encounter ending in a tiebreak
fifth in favour of Shorbagy.
A place in the
quarter final awaited: After the Egyptian opened up a 2/0 lead, Golan found
himself 4-3 up in the third after a couple of Shorbagy errors on the backhand.
More errors from the Egyptian and a forehand cross court winner from Golan,
followed by a forehand straight drop from half court, gave the Spaniard an 8-5
lead.
But another
backhand error from Shorbagy led Golan to game ball at 10-5 - which he duly
converted to reduce the deficit.
But from 6-5
up in the fourth, El Shorbagy pulled quickly clear to 9-5 following errors from
Golan - and later a forehand drop settled matters as the Egyptian progressed to
the quarter finals following his 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7 victory in 63 minutes.
El Shorbagy
will now face fellow countryman Karim Darwish after the No2 seed
despatched England's Tom Richards 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 in 37 minutes.
"I'm really
happy to be in the quarters after playing an up-and-coming Tom Richards,"
said Darwish, the world No5, later. "I'm really enjoying playing at the moment
and felt good on court today. The schedule is very tough but it's the same for
all the guys so we just have to get on with it." |
1st
Round
Bottom Half
Ghosal Grabs
Last 16 Slot In Delhi
Saurav
Ghosal
ensured surprise home interest in the second round of the Punj Lloyd PSA
Masters in India after upsetting higher-ranked US champion Julian
Illingworth in today's first round of the ninth and final PSA World
Series squash event of the year at the Siri Fort Complex in New
Delhi.
The
Kolkata-born 25-year-old arrived in the Indian capital direct from Chennai where
he endorsed his status as the country's number one player by winning the Indian
national title for the sixth year in a row.
Currently
ranked 29 in the world, Ghosal went into his match against world No28
Illingworth with a 1/0 lead in previous Tour meetings - albeit more than four
years ago, when both were ranked outside the top 40.
And spurred on
by local fans, Ghosal survived a close first game before overwhelming the record
seven-time US champion Illingworth 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 in 42 minutes to claim his
first appearance in the last 16 of a PSA World Series event this year.
Based in the
UK city of Leeds, Ghosal later saw his town-mate James Willstrop secure
his place in the second round. But England's new world No2 - who could become
the world number one by winning the $165,000 Delhi event - found himself a game
down against Nicolas Mueller before going on to beat the rising Swiss
star 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 in 45 minutes.
A further pair
of Englishmen made it through to round two - after straight games successes.
Seventh seed Daryl Selby, the world No16 from Essex, held off a stiff
challenge from Mohammed Abbas, beating the former world No13 from Egypt
11-4, 11-7, 11-9.
"Got a 3-0 win
in today - but happy because Abbas is a very talented player," tweeted Selby
after his win.
Peter
Barker,
the fifth seed from London, edged closer towards recording his ninth successive
World Series quarter-final appearance this year when he beat Finland's Olli
Tuominen 11-4, 11-4, 11-1 in just 25 minutes.
Top seed
Ramy Ashour, the former world number one from Egypt who is making his return
to the PSA World Tour after sustaining a hamstring injury in last month's
World Open, needed four games to overcome Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan.
The
24-year-old from Cairo, who already has three 2011 World Series titles to his
credit, battled back from a game down to beat Adnan, ranked more than 30 places
lower, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9.
Top Half
Richards
Masters Hisham In New Delhi
England's
Tom Richards caused the first notable upset in the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters
in India when he defeated Egypt's world No13 Hisham Mohamed Ashour in
today's first round of the ninth and final PSA World Series squash event
of the year at the Siri Fort Complex in New Delhi.
Currently at
12th place in the 2011 PSA World Series Standings after a disappointing
first round exit in last month's Kuwait PSA Cup, Richards pulled out all
the stops in his bid to make an appearance in next month's ATCO World Series
Finals, the event which will feature the top eight in the final World Series
Standings of the year.
Richards
battled hard to secure his career-first straight games victory over Ashour,
ranked eight places higher, winning 14-12, 12-10, 11-6 in 35 minutes to secure a
place in the second round.
The
25-year-old from Surrey will now meet another Egyptian for a place in the
quarter-finals. But Karim Darwish is the event's second seed - and the
world No5 recorded today's quickest win in despatching Australian Ryan
Cuskelly 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 in 32 minutes.
But shortly
after the Richards win, there was disappointment in the English camp when former
world No9 Adrian Grant crashed out of the event at the first hurdle. It
was the latest success in Spaniard Borja Golan's comeback trail after a
major knee injury.
Golan,
currently ranked 25 in the world, survived a close first game, then maintained
the upper hand against London left-hander Grant, ranked six places higher,
before closing out the match 12-10, 11-6, 11-4 in 51 minutes.
The Spaniard
will face another of the day's successful Egyptians in Wednesday's second round.
Mohamed El Shorbagy, the sixth seed from Alexandria, needed exactly an
hour to quash South African Stephen Coppinger 11-7, 13-15, 11-6, 11-5.
Laurens Jan
Anjema
and Mohd Azlan Iskandar are two players with a keen eye on next month's
ATCO World Series Finals - and both secured straight games wins at the 2010
Commonwealth Games squash venue to strengthen their chances.
Anjema became
the event's No8 seed on last week's withdrawal of defending champion Nick
Matthew, the world No1 from England. The Dutchman, currently in ninth place
in the standings, dismissed Egypt's Mohd Ali Anwar Reda 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
in 45 minutes.
But Iskandar
is the player most in Anjema's sights: The Malaysian needs to consolidate his
eighth place in the latest list - and made the best start by overcoming fellow
countryman Ong Beng Hee 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 in 61 minutes.
Iskandar will
now face Gregory Gaultier, the No4 seed from France who beat Indian wild
card Siddharth Suchde - while Anjema lines up against lower-ranked
Egyptian Omar Mosaad, the world No15 from Cairo who defeated England's
Chris Ryder 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9. |
Preview
Matthew
Withdraws From PSA Masters
9 December
2011
An injury
sustained in last month's penultimate PSA World Series event of the year
in Kuwait has forced top seed Nick Matthew to withdraw from next week's
Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, the ninth and final 2011 World Series event in
India.
Title success
in the New Delhi event a year ago led the Englishman to the top of the world
rankings in January - a position Matthew has retained throughout the year.
"I'm obviously
massively disappointed and have done everything in my power to get fit in time,"
said the 31-year-old from Sheffield, who is nursing an adductor injury.
"However it's
too much of a risk and eventually sense has prevailed. I am going to use the
extra time to come back 100% in the New Year," added Matthew.
The withdrawal
could lead to Matthew losing his world number one ranking: Fellow Yorkshireman
James Willstrop is enjoying the best form of his life - and this month
moved up to second place in the rankings after back-to-back victories in the
previous two PSA World Series events, winning the Hong Kong Open and the Kuwait
PSA Cup.
Should the
28-year-old from Leeds win the 2011 Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, he will overtake
Matthew to become world number one for the first time in January.
Willstrop is
the No3 seed in Delhi, and begins his PSA Masters campaign against Swiss number
one Nicolas Mueller.
Matthew's
withdrawal moves Ramy Ashour to top seed and fellow Egyptian Karim
Darwish to the position of second seed. Ashour, the previous world number
one, is marking his return to the PSA World Tour after a hamstring injury caused
his withdrawal from the PSA World Open in November.
Ashour faces
Malaysia's Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan in the first round, while Darwish now
takes on Australian Ryan Cuskelly.
France's
Gregory Gaultier moves into the fourth seed position and now lines up
against local player Siddharth Suchde. Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema
becomes the new No8 seed and will now face Egypt's Mohd Ali Anwar Reda.
It is also an
Egyptian that takes up the vacancy in the draw provided by Matthew's departure.
Omar Abdel Aziz, the world No42 from Cairo, will meet line up against
Germany's Simon Rosner.
The $165,000
championship gets underway at the Siri Fort Complex in New Delhi on
Monday (12 December) and reaches its final the following Sunday.
Punj Lloyd
PSA Masters:
Revised 1st round draw:
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Adrian Grant (ENG) v Borja Golan (ESP)
[6] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[8] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Chris Ryder (ENG)
Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Siddharth Suchde (IND)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Alister Walker (BOT) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Simon Rosner (GER) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
[7] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Mohammed Abbas (EGY)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Jonathan Kemp (ENG)
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Delhi Hosts
Final PSA World Series Event Of Year
The world's
best players will head to New Delhi next week to compete in the ninth and
final PSA World Series squash event of the year, the Punj Lloyd PSA
Masters which is marking its third successive year in India.
Top seed in
the $165,000 championship at the Siri Fort Complex - organised by KWAN
Entertainment and Marketing Solutions Private Limited - will be Nick
Matthew, the 31-year-old whose title triumph in the event a year ago took
the Englishman to the top of January's PSA world rankings, a position he has
held throughout the year.
Matthew is
making a comeback after being forced to withdraw midway through last month's
PSA World Series Kuwait PSA Cup with an adductor injury. The Yorkshireman
opens his 2011 Masters campaign against Australian Ryan Cuskelly.
Matthew is
expected to face Egyptian rival Ramy Ashour in the final on Sunday 18
December. Ashour, the previous world number one, is also returning to the PSA
Tour, after a hamstring injury caused his withdrawal from the PSA World Open
in November.
Ashour -
winner of three World Series titles this year, in the USA, Australia and England
- faces Malaysia's Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan in the first round.
But the man in
form currently is England's James Willstrop, winner of back-to-back World
Series titles, the Hong Kong Open and PSA Cup. Runner-up to
compatriot Matthew in last year's Delhi final, fourth seed Willstrop opens his
2011 campaign against rising Swiss star Nicolas Mueller - and is
scheduled to meet Ashour in the semi-finals.
The event is
also the last chance for players to fight for places in next year's ATCO PSA
World Series Finals - the event in London in January which will star the top
eight players in the 2011 Dunlop PSA World Series Standings.
Matthew and
Willstrop currently jointly head the list - with Ashour, fellow Egyptians Amr
Shabana and Karim Darwish, plus Frenchman Gregory Gaultier,
assured of places in the Queen's Club event. It seems unlikely that
seventh-placed Englishman Peter Barker, a quarter-finalist in each of the
eight events to date, will not qualify - but the eighth place is still open.
Malaysian
Mohd Azlan Iskandar, currently at No8, faces fellow countryman Ong Beng
Hee as he begins his bid to consolidate his place in the draw. The most
likely 'outsider' is Laurens Jan Anjema - but the Dutchman, who faces
German Simon Rosner in the first round, needs to achieve his best ever
World Series finish to oust Iskandar.
Among those
for whom outright victory could give them a place in the Queen's line-up are
Mueller, England's Tom Richards and Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy. |
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