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30-Aug, Day THREE:
First Round
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt Margriet
Huisman (Ned)
9/2, 9/3, 9/3
(40m)
[7] Madeline Perry (Irl) bt [Q]
Aisling Blake (Irl)
9/7, 9/2, 9/7 (45m)
[4] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/3, 9/1, 9/4 (28m)
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt
[Q] Latasha Khan (Usa)
9/4, 9/7, 9/5 (30m)
[8] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) bt [Q]
Annelize Naude (Ned)
9/0
9/4, 9/5 (29m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt Jenny
Duncalf (Eng)
9/4, 9/2, 9/7 (44m)
[Q] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt [5]
Vicky Botwright (Eng)
10/8, 0/9, 6/9, 9/7, 9/3 (98m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
Alison Waters (Eng)
9/1, 9/3, 3/9, 9/5 (43m)
[1] David Palmer (Aus) bt [Q] Badr
Abdel Aziz (Swe)
11/7, 11/7,
11/7 (32m)
[6] Davide Bianchetti
(Ita) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra)
10/12, 10/12, 11/9, 11/5, 11/1
(87m)
[4] Alister Walker
(Eng) bt
Amr Mansi (Egy)
11/6, 11/7, 11/8
(68m)
[6] Dylan Bennett
(Ned) bt [Q] Bradley Hindle (Aus)
12/14, 11/8, 11/5, 11/7
(80m)
[5] Bradley Ball (Eng) bt Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/8, 11/9, 1/11, 11/9 (47m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt Tom Hoevenaars (Ned)
11/6, 11/6,
11/5 (38m)
[7] Omar Elborolossy (Egy) bt Jan Koukal (Cze)
6/11, 11/3, 11/4, 11/2 (45m)
[2] Olli Tuominen (Fin) bt [Q]
Julien Balbo (Fra)
11/5, 11/7, 11/6 (35m) |
Photo Galleries
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Round One Roundup ...
First round proper at the Frans Otten Stadion, and while the evening
session was very much 'Dutch Night', it was the French who were
making the waves during the day.
 Isabelle
Stoehr played the longest match of her life by 20 minutes in
beating fifth seed Vicky Botwright. A 98-minute marathon
looked unlikely when Vicky took the second 9/0 in six minutes to
level, after losing a close first game. But on the bouncy outside
courts neither was prepared to give way, and they played out a
high-quality, low-error, tension-filled epic. At 25 minutes the
fifth was the longest game – but only just – and it was the
Frenchwoman's control, especially her high volleys, that eventually
won her the day.
Isabelle will be tired tomorrow, and so will Davide Bianchetti.
It took him almost as long to finally quell the spirit of young
Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet. Having complained of being worn
out by a heavy schedule yesterday, Mathieu proceeded to take the
first two games – both 12/10 – off the sixth seed, and he darn near
took the third too. By the end he was spent, not surprisingly, but
it was a performance that impressed all those watching, and his
relieved opponent too.
 Elsewhere
the Grinham sisters, second and third seeds, overcame English
opponents in Alison Waters and Jenny Duncalf who both
suffered from slow start then picked up their games too late, while
fourth seed Natalie Grainger got her season off to a solid
start in under half an hour against Engy Kheirallah.
The evening session saw both world champions in action. Wildcard
Margriet Huisman contained Nicol David at the start of
their match, but once the Malaysian had broken out of the 1-all
stalemate she fairly quickly wrapped up the match, although Margriet
acquitted herself ell and was never overwhelmed.
Then it was two all-Dutch affairs, both going to seeding as
Laurens Jan Anjema and Vanessa Atkinson both won in three
against Tom Hoevenaars and Annelize Naude, leaving it
to men's top seed David Palmer to wrap up proceedings and end
the run of late-night appearances for Badr Abdel Aziz.
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[1]
Nicol David (Mas) bt Margriet Huisman
(Ned)
9/2, 9/3, 9/3 (40m)
"I think I played a
good match … it was a good experience, my first time to play the
main draw of a gold event…
"The pace of the game was really high an Nicool just gets to
everything, it felt like I had to win a rally like 10 times to win a
point…
"It’s nice to play here in Holland, because everyone can come and
support me…my coach is there and my parents as well…I’m pleased to
get a wild card place in the draw, and I’m pretty happy to play
against the world champion…"
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[Q]
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt
[5] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
10/8, 0/9, 6/9, 9/7, 9/3 (98m)
"It was very tough. It
was probably the longest match in my life - I can't even remember
the scores in each game. I am really glad I won. We were both really
tired.
"In the end it was all about the head and I was stronger today. It
was really tough to play as well because the ball was bouncing
really high.
"But she is a really good player. I am happy about the match."
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"I think Vanessa played really well
tonight, putting too much pressure on me with her good lengths…It’s
a pity we played each other, so I’m finished with the tournament
now.
"But it was nice to have this tournament at home in Holland…I can
sleep in my own bed, play my drums, and get to the club on my
scooter!”
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[8]
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) bt
[Q] Annelize Naude (Ned)
9/0
9/4, 9/5 (29m)
"I'm quite happy with how I played. It's always difficult after
training in your first match back, as you are quite rusty. I'm not
match-sharp.
"But I'm glad, I played well and it was good to get ready for
tomorrow. It was just hard enough but not too hard that I would feel
it in my legs."
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[3]
Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt
Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
9/4, 9/2, 9/7 (44m)
"I haven't played on
this court much but I quite like it. It behaves more like a Perspex
court than glass, it's not too fast, and if you get the ball tight
you can get winners out of it but you get punished if it comes out.
"It's tough to get someone like Jenny in the first round, she's
matured a lot recently, has been getting some great results, and
it's not unusual to see her in the semis of major events.
"I played well, didn't do anything special but she made a few errors
in the first two games. Then she stopped going for so much and cut
out the errors, it was really tight in the third for a while so I'm
really glad to be able to beat her 3/0."
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[2]
Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
Alison Waters (Eng)
9/1, 9/3, 3/9, 9/5 (43m)
 "I
think I played pretty much the same throughout, but she didn't play
very well in the first two. I was hoping she'd carry on like that
but she came out much better in the third which took me a bit by
surprise.
"I wasn't doing anything special, but managed to get it back so I'm
happy with the win. I get coached on this court so I'm used to how
it plays, it rewards a good straight length."
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[4]
Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/3, 9/1, 9/4 (28m)
"It's my first match
back in a little while – it's the first of the season. You're never
quite sure if you're going to play like a complete lemon, but I
played well.
"I was relaxed and happy to be on court and playing. I'm happy I
managed to get through it."
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[7]
Madeline Perry (Irl) bt
[Q] Aisling Blake (Irl)
9/7, 9/2, 9/7 (45m)
 "I
hadn't played her since we met in the World Open in Belfast, but I
enjoyed this one more.
"The first was tough, the second easy and I was probably expecting
the third to be the same but I was 7/0 down before managing to come
back to win it.
"It's good to see two Irish girls in a big tournament like this, but
it's a pity we had to play each other …"
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[5]
Bradley Ball (Eng) bt Tarek Momen (Egy)
11/8, 11/9, 1/11, 11/9 (47m)
 "I played
good solid squash for the first two, just trying to steady it and
stop him attacking everything like he does, just trying to control
it really.
"In the third he came out hitting winners and after about four or
five I let that one go to concentrate on the fourth. I got my length
back and managed to sneak it, but he's an impressive player, lots of
skill and great movement.
"I've been training here with LJ since Saturday, so if I get to meet
him hopefully we'll have a good match.
"I've had a real good three months, I'm really excited about this
year and looking forward to all those tournament in the UK next
month …"
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[2]
Olli Tuominen (Fin) bt
[Q] Julien Balbo (Fra)
11/5, 11/7, 11/6 (35m)
"It was a good start
to the tournament and to the whole season. It was my first game of
the season and I played alright.
"Now I am just going to watch the matches to see who I am playing
tomorrow. "
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[7]
Omar Elborolossy (Egy) bt
Jan Koukal (Cze)
6/11, 11/3, 11/4, 11/2 (45m)
 "It
was Ok. I'm usually not at my best in my first match. I was a bit
tense in my first game. I only arrived yesterday and had an early
morning flight, so I didn’t sleep very well.
"He played very well in the first. After loosing the first, I
relaxed a little and played well in the second. I got my confidence.
The third and forth were quite easy, because I had got my confidence
back.
"I am always happy to get through the first match. Hopefully I will
get some rest and be better tomorrow."
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[6]
Davide Bianchetti
(Ita) bt
[Q] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra)
10/12, 10/12, 11/9, 11/5, 11/1
(87m)
"Well it wasn't easy,
was it!
"He surprised me a little. He is very young and I thought that after
a couple of games, he would slow down the pace, after so many
matches. For his age he is really strong.
"It was a very bouncy court. I was struggling to put the ball away
and he was picking up everything. It was hard for the first three
games. He slowed down a little. I only just won the third and then
it was a bit easier in the fourth and fifth."
"I played very well. When I was 2-0 up, he had to win the third. It
was 8-8 all in the third. It was very tough on the head, very tough
mentally.
"I have played a lot over two weeks and I am very physically and
mentally tired. But I played good drop shots and volleys.
"Yes I am disappointed to lose, but I am happy to play like that. It
is very positive for the next tournament in Wolverhampton,
Birmingham."
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[6]
Dylan Bennett
(Ned) bt
[Q] Bradley Hindle (Aus)
12/14, 11/8, 11/5, 11/7
(80m)
"Obviously very tough
match…We train together here, so I knew it was going to be hard… I
was up for it because I had a good summer training…but I was a bit
nervous about it because I hadn’t had a match for 7 weeks….
"I should have won it three since I was up 10/6 in the first game
and I forgot to win it …but I kept focused and I was feeling fresh…
"I think it was half way through when he got tired in the third and
started making mistakes…
"Overall I’m happy to win this first match …see how my body will
feel tomorrow…"
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[4]
Alister Walker
(Eng) bt
Amr Mansi (Egy)
11/6, 11/7, 11/8
(68m)
"Just happy.
I played well. It was good to get a 3-0 win.
"There were some testing times though. I was down in the second, but
managed to come back. But a 3-0 win under my belt is always good,
especially with some really hard matches coming up later in the
tournament.
"The young Egyptians can be really tricky – so I'm happy."
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[3]
Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt
Tom Hoevenaars (Ned)
11/6, 11/6,
11/5 (38m)
"Obviously I was lucky
drawing the wild card in the first round – although there is no easy
opponent. I was just trying to get into rhythm, testing out the
court and the heights.
"I was always going to win, but it was good to get used to the court
and get ready for tomorrow. My opponent tomorrow, Bradley Ball, is a
very tough and experienced player."
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[1]
David Palmer (Aus) bt
[Q] Badr Abdel Aziz (Swe)
11/7, 11/7,
11/7 (32m)
"Fantastic experience
playing the world champion. I loved every single moment of it. He’s
such a great player and getting a chance to play him is great.
"There was no pressure on me so I could relax and enjoy it. I’m very
happy with the way I played…I’ll keep on training and hope to play
these players more often…"
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'Three Chicks in my Boot'
Jos Aarts is here in a dual capacity, as referee and photographer,
but seems to be quite happy to take on a third role, that of
shuttle bus driver (or should I say 'Transport Executive').
He was kind enough to pick Sima and I up from the airport and has
been ferrying us back and forth from the hotel to the club.
This morning as we were readying in the lobby Natalie Grainger and
Vicky Botwright were waiting for the official bus. "Have you got
room for us?" they asked.
Well, yes, was the tentative reply.
The 'but' is that although Jos has a huge Chevrolet 5.7 litre thingy
("that's the small version," he says), it amazingly has only two
seats. Undeterred, the three girls merrily clambered into the back,
and Jos did his very best to avoid the bumps on the way to the club.
No really, he did ...
And you know what ... we beat the official bus there by at least 30
seconds! |
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