16/1/11

WORLD SUPER SERIES FINAL CANCELLED
Regrettably, the Squash World Series Finals being held at the Queen’s Club, London have been cancelled. This is due to technical difficulties with the structure in which the event was being held.

The final will now be held over until a later date. Details see (www.worldseriesfinals.com ).

All those who had tickets for the final day’s play will have their money fully refunded.  Details

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Saturday 15 January, 2011 (15:45)

ATCO PSA World Series Final Postponed

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) wishes to advise that due to a technical fault, today’s schedule of play at the ATCO PSA World Series Finals has been postponed.

We are currently looking at rescheduling play for tomorrow (Sunday 16 January), and will provide a further update as and when we know more. 

We sincerely apologise to our spectators for any inconvenience this may have caused, but the PSA will never compromise the safety of its players and spectators. The ATCO PSA World Series Finals has provided fans of squash with world-class entertainment throughout the week, and we look forward to being able to put on a final day to remember.
 

Matthew v Shabana for Super Series Final
Englands Nick Matthew will play Amr Shabana, Egypts four-time world champion, in the ATCO PSA World Series Finals on Saturday evening at the Queen’s Club in London.

The world No 1, world and Commonwealth champion beat long-time rival James Willstrop in a one-sided match 11-4, 11-6, 11-8. Shabana wasted little time in ousting Ramy Ashour, his younger compatriot and one of the future stars of the game, in a repeat of the 2008 World Open final.

The Egyptian left-hander, 31, will now attempt to win for the first time on British shores after finishing runner-up here on four occasions his first coming at the British Junior Open in 1993. Ashour, feeling the effects of a hamstring injury, went down 4-11, 5-11, 5-11 in 27 minutes.

Playing here at Queens is proud moment, Shabana admitted afterwards. I have always enjoyed watching the tennis on TV since I was a kid. Hopefully Nick and I can play another great match in front of this great crowd.

Both Matthew and Shabana will also bid to become World Series champion for the first time, the Egyptian having also lost to Gregory Gaultier in the 2008 final.

For Willstrop, the defeats continue to mount against his fellow Englishman. He last beat Matthew in the 2007 English Open final and each match he had lost since 11 of them now has clearly played a psychological advantage as Matthews dominance has increased on the world stage.

Not that Willstrop has gone down without a fight. He lost out in a brutal British Open final, where Willstrop held match balls, and the Canary Wharf Classic semi-finals, which saw the Yorkshiremans bid end with severe cramp after one of the finest contest in recent years.

In the World Series semi-final, Matthew stretched his opponent early, creating a number of winners from Willstrops loose angles in the opening game.

In the second he raced to a 6-1 lead before Willstrop produced his best squash of the match, using his backhand volley drops to clinical effect to close the gap to 7-5.

At 9-6 down, Matthew sent a forehand winner to the back wall as Willstrop failed to find a way past the 30 year-old. He was denied a let, claiming he clipped Matthews shoe, and his frustration played into Matthews hands as he closed out the second 11-6.

Matthew refused to play short in the third as he bid to dig Willstrop into the ground. However the 6 4 Pontefract player wearing a rare set of cycling shorts, a sign that he was struggling with injury kept in the match as he crawled two points ahead at 7-5 before Matthew, yet again, surged towards the winning post.

Matthew said: I tried to keep the pressure on all the way through. You get that bit between your teeth when you see the winning line and you lose a little bit of composure. Its important to will yourself on with those big points like the Egyptians do so well, but I think I achieved that tonight.

A clearly despondent Willstrop said: Im really sad I couldnt produce it today. I was really flat. For two years I have been second best to him and all I can do is keep battling away.

He was also hard on himself when asked for his highlight of the week. Beating Ramy, even though he was on one leg, Willstrop added.

In the womens invitational event, Jenny Duncalf, the top seed, ousted Camille Serme, Frances rising star, to reach Saturdays final. Duncalf won 11-8, 11-13, 11-7.

The England No 1 will play compatriot Laura Massaro, who outplayed Vanessa Atkinson, the former world champion.

England/Egypt World Series Final Guaranteed At Queen's

England and Egypt underlined their dominance at the ATCO PSA World Series Finals when the two rival nations hogged the four semi-final berths for Friday's matches at The Queen's Club in London.

Yorkshire's Nick Matthew, the world No1, will play arch rival James Willstrop, while Egyptian duo Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour face off in the other semi-final after the quartet progressed from the group stages in contrasting circumstances.

Matthew, who beat Willstrop in last month's World Open final to become the first Englishman to lift the title, edged past his gritty compatriot Peter Barker 12-14, 11-3, 11-7 in 51 minutes. It was the second time that Matthew had played beyond 50 minutes in the fast-paced, best-of-three pool format.

Matthew lost the opening game of his final group match - at 23 minutes, the second longest of the week - but used his physical strength and mid-court dominance to edge out the left-hander from London. Barker, playing his best squash of the week, matched Matthew in all departments as the world No8 forced the world champion into a number of uncharacteristic errors to the tin.

With both players realising that defeat would end their World Series bid, Matthew took the initiative in a seven-minute second game as the 30-year-old racked up seven points in a row to take the match into a decider.

Barker was clearly saving himself but still managed to raise a smile on both sides of the court mid-game. Having been denied a let at 4-3 down, the Londoner, who had only beaten Matthew once in nine meetings, remonstrated with the referee but was told to close the door and continue the ensuing slog-fest. Barker couldn't resist: "I'm just trying to get a rest in here."

Matthew, never adventurous, kept plugging away at Barker's resolve with trademark rallies that had been a feature of the Englishman's play in 2010. Errors soon crept in and, despite saving two match-balls, Matthew finished the game with a stroke.

"If you lose the first game it is pretty hairy and not that enjoyable," Matthew said afterwards. "You can never let up in this format and it will continue to eat away at my nerves."

Enjoyment was not an attribute handed out to Ashour, the leading player in the 2010 PSA World Series rankings, as the Egyptian moved edgily into the semi-finals following his 15-13, 11-3 win over England's Alister Walker, the former Leeds-based player who now resides in New York.

The Egyptian admitted afterwards that he was still feeling the effects of a hamstring injury that forced him out of last month's World Open in Saudi Arabia.

The 'Cairo King' stormed into a 4-1 lead as he aimed to quell Walker's own attacking instincts. But Ashour soon showed his frustration as Walker clawed his way back, saving two game balls at 10-8 down, before the Egyptian, yet to find his rhythm, found enough resolve to clinch the opener 15-13.

The second was in stark contrast as Ashour found renewed belief, rattling off eight points in a row from 3-3 to finish Walker's campaign.

"I've done a lot of physio and there are still a lot of things missing from my body," Ashour, the 2008 world champion, said. "I've had to think more this week in how I've played my shots, but I'm really glad I'm through.

"It is not enjoyable when you're not 100 per cent but all I can do is keep pushing myself."

Ashour will have to be at his best to beat Shabana - a repeat of the 2009 World Open final when the young Egyptian left the court in tears against his older rival.

Shabana, the four-time world champion, has never won on British shores but looks in good shape here with a convincing 11-9, 11-9 win over compatriot Wael El Hindi.

The formidable Egyptian has looked a real threat this week and took just 25 minutes to seal his semi-final berth as El Hindi lost his third straight group match.

In the final match of the night, Thierry Lincou of France knew he had to beat Willstrop 2/0 to take his place in the semi-finals.

At times, 34-year-old Lincou defied his tag as the world tour's elder statesman. But Willstrop played a tight and controlled match to win his third match of the week, along with Shabana the only player to do so.

Willstrop said, after his 12-10, 11-7 victory: "There was a big contrast from playing Ramy last night. Thierry's tightness was impeccable and, as always, it's always good to beat him two-love."

Semi-final line-up:
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v [2] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [1] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
 

Shabana Moves On Matthew at Super Series Finals

Amr Shabana has produced his fair share of classic tussles with English rivals over the last decade but the great Egyptian, for all his achievements, has yet to win on British shores.

The four-time world champion went a step closer on Wednesday night at the ATCO PSA World Series Finals when he shaded a brutal battle with Nick Matthew, the world No 1, at the Queen’s Club in London.

Playing the best-of-three format that this event stipulates, Shabana edged the 30 year-old world champion 5-11, 11-7, 17-15 in a match lasting just shy of the hour mark. Matthew now needs to win his last match on Thursday night against compatriot Peter Barker if he harbours dreams of progressing to Friday’s semi-finals after missing last year’s event following shoulder surgery.

Shabana said afterwards: “Nick has raised the bar for all of us. It is a fine line and I had to perform my best – but at least it means I am right on track to have what it takes to finally win here [in the UK].”

The match was billed as the first to go the distance after straight-games wins on Tuesday and they duly lived up to the hype. Level at seven career wins apiece stretching back to 2001 – Shabana won the majority of his matches during his domineering years five years ago – a methodical Matthew took early bragging rights with a comfortable opener.

Back came Shabana. Having lost out to Matthew on his way to becoming the first Englishman to win the world title in December, the 31 year-old Cairo right-hander took the second after uncharacteristic errors from the Englishman.

It paved the way for an unforgettable decider. At 7-5 down, Shabana advanced to hold two match balls at 10-8. The pair then traded match balls in a gruelling period involving a number of key lets before Shabana’s denouement.

James Willstrop then produced a vintage performance to recoup pride after the home favourite’s loss. Willstrop, Matthew’s Yorkshire rival since junior days, just pipped Egypt’s world No 2 Ramy Ashour, whom Willstrop last beat on his way to lifting the Tournament of Champions title last January, winning 10-12, 11-6, 11-9.

On a night when the victors paid tribute to their opponents, Willstrop said: “Ramy is so unique and he has the great ability to leave you with little oxygen even when he is being deceptive. It is just a higher pace of squash with him but I’m feeling good.”

Willstrop never let Ashour settle after losing a tight first game. He won a succession of tight drops and managed to hold court even when the pair visibly tired in the third. The former world junior champion’s retrieval play was also exceptional as Ashour’s frustration increased during the 49-minute tussle.

In the final match of the evening, Peter Barker beat Wael El Hindi in straight games to give himself a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

The Londoner, who needed to win after losing to Shabana on Tuesday, was handed a conduct warning during the match but kept his nerve to win 13-11, 11-9.

Earlier Alister Walker lost his second match in succession and failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Walker, 28, lost to Thierry Lincou, of France, 11-8, 12-10 in another high-tempo match.

Having come out of the stalls early against James Willstrop on the opening night, Walker opted for a more sedate opening against the Frenchman but a number of errors counted against the former Leeds-based player as Lincou took the opener 11-8.

The tempo increased in the second as both players jockeyed for mid-court supremacy. It was level-pegging until Walker found himself with two match balls at 10-8. However the dogged Lincou, who has never lost to Walker, won four points in a row to put himself in the driving seat for a semi-final berth.

Backed by Ziad Al-Turki, the charismatic Saudi businessman and Professional Squash Association chairman, the ATCO PSA World Series Finals are the culmination of the 2010 Super Series season. 

The eight players will play in two pools of four until Friday’s semi-finals. The finals will take place on Saturday.
 

12/1/11 click on Images for Larger View

Top Seeds Triumph In World Series Finals Openers

7/1/2011

Darwish Makes Way For Walker In World Series Finals

A hamstring injury sustained in last year's Saudi PSA World Open has caused Egypt's world No3 Karim Darwish to pull out of next week's ATCO PSA World Series Squash Finals in London.

The ATCO PSA World Series Finals, which will be staged at The Queen's Club from 11-15 January, is the culmination of the 2010 PSA Super Series tour.

Formerly known as the Super Series Finals, the Queen's Club event will see the world's eight top male players competing for the Tour championship title and the highest first prize ever played for in the UK and Europe.

Darwish ended the year in fourth place in the 2010 PSA Super Series Rankings after reaching three event finals and claiming the titles in the El Gouna International and the Qatar Classic.

Darwish will be replaced in the eight-man field by Alister Walker, the world No20 from England who has recently relocated to New York. The Botswana-born 28-year-old will be making his debut in the event.

The draw has also been revised, with the players now lining in two pools as follows:

Pool A: [1] Ramy Ashour (Egypt), [3] James Willstrop (England), [5] Thierry Lincou (France), [8] Alister Walker (England)

Pool B: [2] Nick Matthew (England), [4] Amr Shabana (Egypt), [6] Peter Barker (England), v [7] Wael El Hindi (Egypt)

The eight players will play best-of-three-game matches in two pools of four from Tuesday to Thursday (11-13 January) before best-of-five game semi-finals on Friday 14 January, followed by the Grand Final on Saturday 15 January.

The World Series Finals will take place in an iconic inflatable structure, specifically created for the show-piece event. Inside the structure, the 'Z-Court' will contain the very latest in squash-viewing - enabling uninterrupted 360° views of the action.

The purple glass court features innovative lighting and natural flooring - and has been specifically developed to capture the speed of the game on camera and produce the best quality viewing experience.

Pool playing schedule:

Tuesday - 1st pool round:
Pool A
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v [8] Alister Walker (ENG)
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [5] Thierry Lincou (FRA)
Pool B
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [6] Peter Barker (ENG)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [7] Wael El Hindi (EGY)

Wednesday - 2nd pool round:
Pool A
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [8] Alister Walker (ENG)
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [3] James Willstrop (ENG)
Pool B
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [4] Amr Shabana (EGY)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v [7] Wael El Hindi (EGY)

Thursday - 3rd pool round:
Pool A
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [8] Alister Walker (ENG)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v [5] Thierry Lincou (FRA)
Pool B
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [7] Wael El Hindi (EGY)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [6] Peter Barker (ENG)