Quarter-finals day began with Becky Botwright v Rachel Willmot. The
Lancashire girl now combines her squash with working full-time with
special needs children, but her squash ambitions are still intact and she
was too lively and persistent for Willmot, the Sussex girl who was a
dominant junior and now studies at Surrey University, is coached by Danny
Lee and looks more relaxed than in her junior days.
She showed enough to suggest that when she returns to full-time squash, as
she intends after her degree in law, she may regain her former status.
[4] Peter Barker (Eng) bt [Q] Chris Ryder (Eng)
11/5,
11/3, 11/1 (27m)
Barker eases into
the semis
Someone is looking down favourably on Peter Barker just now - after his
triumph in Chennai, he has come to the Mamut English Open full of
confidence, as may be expected, and brushed aside Daryl Selby and Chris
Ryder, both 3/0.
Ryder had his day yesterday against Alex Gough, but Barker plays at a
higher pace and with more power than Ryder could handle.
As for Barker his immediate target is to win here no doubt. Less pressing
perhaps, but just as important, he will be looking to break into the world
top ten, and that day cannot be far away ...
"It wasn't exactly
comfortable but I'm very lad to get off 3/0 without taking too much out of
myself for the semis tomorrow. I had to work hard at the start of each
game, then took it away from there.
I'm glad to be playing during the day, I'm still waking up early with the
jetlag so that's been good for me. I'm feeling fine on court, no niggles,
no injuries. I played well in India and carried that forward to here, but
it's a monumental step up if I play James tomorrow, I'll have to improve
again …"
James Willstrop began at pace and, from 4/1 down in the first, had Renan
Lavigne on the end of several demanding rallies. He took that first game
and went 2/0 up, but amidst plenty of skilled racket work there were some
unusual errors on the backhand.
Lavigne persisted as he does, worked hard and earned his reward by winning
the third. Although the Frenchman did not relent, Willstrop maintained an
early lead in the fourth and sealed the match 3/1.
The British Champion doesn't look far off playing well, but he will need
to do so in the semi-finals since Peter Barker has been impressive in both
his matches so far.
Rikki
Swannell talks to James
"I took it short
for the first few rallies, I thought he might struggle with that at the
beginning, but his strength's in the front. After that he was cutting it
off and volleying everything so I had to play deep, make the rallies
longer because I was going to get chopped at the front, which happened in
patches.
"I was comfortable with the pace but we both made a lot of mistakes, there
was a bit of a lack of patience from both of us. Had my chances in the
fourth too, I missed a backhand drop to put him 10/8 up, that was crucial.
"It's a good finish to the year though, I've got a couple of league
matches in Holland then I'll take a month off, rest at home and get some
solid training it."
England's leading under 19 girl Victoria Lust took on the experienced
Lauren Briggs for the right to meet Becky Botwright in the semi-finals,
and right well did she acquit herself.
She is much to be commended for the way she has controlled the wayward
behaviour of her early days and her play showed plenty of promise too.
Indeed, leading 2/1 she threatened to win before Briggs' experience saw
her through to a 3/2 victory.
The whole match was played in splendid sporting spirit and the girls
looked very comfortable with the 11 scoring which I hope will soon be
universally accepted.
[2] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Jonathan Kemp (Eng)
11/9, 11/7,
11/4 (34m)
Matthew stays on course
Jon Kemp started well against world number five Nick Matthew and had a
considerable lead in the first game. However a series of errors, mostly
unforced, brought Matthew back into the game, which he then won.
A 1-0 lead would have given Kemp the confidence needed to stay
competitive, but a 1-0 deficit did the opposite and
Matthew won the second comfortably and the third easily.
He will face past champion John White in the semi-finals, with James
Willstrop and Peter Barker in the other - three of England's world
championship winning side being involved.
"From 3/0 down in the first I played really well. When you're playing Nick
you have to be in front of him, and that' what I was doing, but at 9/6 I
stepped off, went too defensive and allowed him to dominate the T.
"I thought a few close decisions went against me, but they certainly
didn't affect the outcome, he played well. He really stepped up the pace
at the start of the third, took me by surprise, and once he had a lead it
was always going to be difficult.
"I don't play on the glass court that much, so I never feel really
comfortable on it, which is strange because it should suit me as a shot
player. I'll e trying to get more practice on it over the next few months,
so that it becomes my normal game.
"I'm off to Canada now for Christmas, then the ToC and a few tournaments
over in the States, back for the Nationals in February …"
White limps through
For two and a half games it looked as though the John White hitting
machine was easing through to the semi-finals, as the Aussie-Scot raced to
two game and 6/3 up against Shahier Razik.
Then something happened. He started grimacing on every shot, his court
movement became laboured and he wa obviously hurting.
Somehow
he still managed to get to 10/9, then 11/10, that arsenal of winners
standing him in good stead. But Shahier, sensing wounded prey, stuck at it
and took the game.
Clearly in pain John started the fourth, then at 2/3 down took a
three-minute injury break. Some stretching, some spray on his hip, and he
was back on court but soon 8/4 down.
It didn't look good, but somehow he kept going, the pain appearing to ease
as he pegged the lead back, took the lead and to his great relief this
time took the match on the first opportunity.
It is to be hoped that the injury will be remedied for the stern
examination of Nick Matthew in the semi-final.
Welcome back Jeannine
Jeannine Cowie, formerly Leatherbarrow, once 20 in the world and making a
comeback after 12 years' absence, had to face former world number one
Vanessa Atkinson.
She is playing for Lancashire again and feels that playing men's
North-West Counties League squash has helped her to regain some of her
past form.
Playing someone of Atkinson's standard is different though, and well
though Cowie battled the Newcastle born Dutch number one won 3/0.
"I took it short
for the first few rallies, I thought he might struggle with that at the
beginning, but his strength's in the front. After that he was cutting it
off and volleying everything so I had to play deep, make the rallies
longer because I was going to get chopped at the front, which happened in
patches.
