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31-Aug, Day FOUR, Quarter Finals
[1]
Nicol David (Mas) bt [7] Madeline Perry (Irl)
8/10, 9/6, 9/3, 9/7
(64m)
[4]
Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
6/9, 9/4, 9/4, 9/0 (41m)
[3]
Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt [8] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
2/9, 9/5, 9/1, 9/3
(50m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt [Q]
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
9/7, 9/6, 9/0 (47m)
[1] David Palmer (Aus) bt [6] Davide
Bianchetti (Ita)
11/6, 11/6, 11/7 (50m)
[4] Alister Walker (Eng) bt [8]
Dylan Bennett (Ned)
10/12, 11/8, 11/6, 11/7
(71m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt
[5] Bradley Ball (Eng)
11/6, 11/3, 11/8
(52m)
[7] Omar Elborolossy (Egy) bt [2]
Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/9, 11/8, 4/11, 6/11,
11/8 (74m) |
Photo Galleries
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QUARTER-FINALS ... |
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[4]
Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 6/9, 9/4,
9/4, 9/0 (41m)
Grainger finds her form
It wasn't a good start form the number four seed, as her skilful
Egyptian opponent made the PanAm Games champion do most of the work,
moving her all over court with combinations of drops, boasts and
lobs, all cleverly disguised.
That's not Natalie's game, but we saw the real one from the start of
the second as she upped the pace, kept the ball low and hard and
blasted to 5/0 and 7/1 leads.
Omneya stemmed the flow towards the end of the game, and in the
beginning of the third, but Natalie was soon back on track, imposed
her game on Omneya, and she was never going to lose that style of
match.
"I just didn't get going in the first, there was loads of short
stuff and I wasn't making many good decisions, but I told myself I
needed to stay on there and at least I got some points on the board
and got going.
"As soon as I stepped up and started hitting through the ball my
length and width got better, and the front of the court becomes
further away.
"In the end, well happy with that."
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"I think I played well
in the first game…I won it 9/6. I’d made a plan for my game and I
tried to stick to it and control the game, but I lost concentration
in the next games…
"I think she read my plan, guessing some of my balls. She was well
focussed, but I think I played well, better than in Singapore and
Malaysia. I’m happy with my performance."
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3 refs, 1 decision please ... |
that one's a stroke |
view from the top ... |
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[7]
Omar Elborolossy (Egy) bt [2]
Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/9, 11/8, 4/11, 6/11,
11/8 (74m)
Omar ousts Olli
Omar Elborolossy, the former world number 14 who returned to the
circuit last year after an extended layoff, recorded the best win of
the second stage of his career today in Amsterdam, but boy, he did
it the hard way.
 Losing
out in two very tight first games, the second seed came out firing
in the third, keeping the pace high as he likes, and started to reap
the benefits as Omar finally started making some mistakes.
8/2 in the third was quickly converted, and a 6/3 lead in the fourth
was enough as the Finn levelled. He wasn't doing anything
spectacularly different, he was just that bit steadier, and looked
the likely winner.
Omar was suffering, and time after time he was stretching out that
long arm of his, retrieving balls that looked lost. But he hung in,
and earned himself a lead in the fifth. A lucky nick on the side
wall and a careless tin from Olli and it was 8/5 and the second seed
was in trouble. Omar got to match ball at 10/6, Olli saved two but
no more, and the second seed was out.
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"I think this was my toughest match since I came back last year, and
it was my best win and the best result as well. I’m happy with the
way I played but I’m even happier with my physical condition.
"I wasn’t sure if I could do all this running and playing for so
long, but I was able to push myself I the fifth. It’s tough to play
someone like Olli as he plays so fast and I’m happy that I could
keep the pace and stay on court for almost an hour and a half...that
gives me confidence on playing my next match.
"I’ll have a good rest today and hopefully I’ll be feeling fresh
tomorrow…"
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[2]
Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt [Q]
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
9/7, 9/6, 9/0 (47m)
No miracle for Isa this time
It was asking a bit much of Isabelle Stoehr to recreate yesterday's
heroics, especially against the world number two on her 'home'
court, but my how she tried.
Natalie
just couldn't break free from the Frenchwoman at the start, who
matched her shot for shot, losing out narrowly at the end of the
game. And she held her own for most of the second too, thriving on
any high balls that Natalie gave her, and returning her own lobs to
keep the Australian on her toes.
But it had to come to an end, sure enough Natalie moved away from
6/5 in the second, and dominated the third with Isabelle unable to
chase down those little flicks, boasts and drops any more. She''ll
sleep well tonight ... |
"I
thought she would be tired after yesterday's match, but I started
off playing well and she stuck with me for all of the first game.
"I slowed down a little in the second and she picked up the pace. I
guess was waiting for her to get tired rather than taking the
initiative myself, and by the third she didn't have much left.
"She's a really good player though, it was a great win for her
yesterday and she shouldn't be disappointed at losing today, she's
top ten material for sure ..."
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[4]
Alister Walker (Eng) bt [8]
Dylan Bennett (Ned)
10/12, 11/8, 11/6, 11/7
(71m)
Walker survives ...
It's never easy playing the local favourite in front of his home
crowd, when Alister Walker went 10/7 up in the first he looked to be
doing a good job of quelling local expectations. Five points later
when Dylan Bennett clinched that first game, the reaction from Dylan
and the crowd told Alister that he had a real battle on his hands
now.
And so it unfolded, at times fast and furious with great scrambling
rallies, at times a little fractious with plenty of work for the
three refs to do.
Alister managed to keep his nose in front for the rest of the match,
but it was only in the fourth that he ever managed to create real
daylight, Dylan played with great determination and no little skill
to stay in touch.
Even that 5/0 lead in the fourth came under threat, as a comfortable
7/1 became 7/4, and 9/5 became 9/7. But one deceptive crosscourt and
a final tin from Dylan was enough - just - to put the Englishman
into the semi-finals.
 "I
was lucky to win the first since I was down 7/10 but I won it in the
tie break. The second game was close…at seven all I made thee or
four unforced errors which led him to score easily.
"I thought I had the chance to win the third but he played some
solid squash and made a come back…In the forth he made a quick lead
of 5/0…and when you’re five points behind, it’s really tough to come
back and win the game…
"Overall I’m happy to play my first tournament…I’m going to rest for
the next couple of days and then head for Pakistan to play my next
tournament!"
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 "At
10/7 up in the first I put in two or three tins and then I was under
real pressure. This is a recurring theme for me, I have to learn how
to be better at finishing games off. Once he'd taken the first it
meant he was always in with a sniff, either of taking the lead or
levelling the match. It made me a little edgy and it became a bit of
a battle from there.
"I've got to work on not letting people back in, even in the fourth
I had a good lead and nearly let it slip.
"I felt a bit uncomfortable on the court, the lighting made it seem
as though I was seeing the ball a bit later than I'm used, but for
the most part I think I played ok, there was a bit of pressure
playing the home favourite, so I'm pleased to be through."
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[1]
Nicol David (Mas) bt [7] Madeline
Perry (Irl)
8/10, 9/6, 9/3, 9/7
(64m)
Madeline gives Nicol a scare
Nicol David is not unknown to make a bad start, usually because of
her own lack of focus. She didn't so much make a bad start here
though, as fin herself on the wrong end of a good start by her
opponent.
Madeline Perry matched the world champion for that opening game,
playing controlled squash, making few errors and causing Nicol quite
a few troubles. She had to come from 8/7 down to win it, but win it
she did.
And she carried on in the same vein in the second, leading 5/2.
Nicol levelled, then a couple of rare tins from Madeline brought a
cry of "you idiot", as Nicol went on to level.
With Nicol though, you know the storm will come. She's at her most
dangerous when she's down, and although she never totally dominated,
the trademark incessant pace, relentless volleying and disheartening
retrievals started to catch up with Madeline.
Nicol took the third and opened up to 4/1 in the fourth, but
Madeline was far from finished. She started matching Nicol again,
was unafraid to attack and it started to pay dividends as she pegged
back the deficit and turned it into a 7/6 advantage.
She maybe didn't need it, but Nicol got the help of two drives that
just died in the nick at the back, then finished off the match with
a crosscourt that was too wide and a drop that was too tight.
But this was a fright, for sure.
As Madeline said at the end, "I so nearly had that," and she did you
know, she did.
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"She started really strongly and made
it very hard for me today. She's a real fighter and she just keeps
going and going, you can't afford to let up for one minute.
"In the end I managed to find my composure and got the points I
needed."
"I played really well
… I was volleying early, putting her under a lot of pressure, and I
think I was unlucky to lose the last two or three points of the
match quickly…"
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[3]
Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt [5]
Bradley Ball (Eng)
11/6, 11/3, 11/8
(52m)
LJ in control
It's not easy playing in front of a home crowd who expect ... but
then it's no less easy playing a home favourite with the crowd's
backing.
Laurens Jan Anjema coped well with the expectations, getting off to
a quick start and keeping the challenge of Bradley Ball at bay. The
Englishman threatened to extend the match in the third, but some
determined play by the Dutchman kept him ahead and he closed out the
match with some aplomb and a mighty cheer.
He was seeded to meet the semi-finals, but he won't be playing the
second seed there. LJ and Amsterdam expects ...
 "I
was well in control in the first two games, but I started to get
edgy in the third, I was thinking too much about the end of the
match rather than just playing it point for point.
"I'm really well prepared for this match, for this tournament. It's
an advantage to play in front of a home crowd of course, but it also
adds a bit of extra pressure, so I was probably a bit overexcited
when I won, so there was some extra relief when I finished.
 "All
my friends know I play squash, but it's not like the English boys
who all go on tour together, I haven't got anyone to share
experiences with when I'm away so it's great to have my friends and
family all here this week.
"I don't look at the rankings or seedings, I just know I'm playing
Omar tomorrow and I'll just play the best I can. I've been in the
twenties for a while now, this is the time to make a step up, into
the top 16.
I think I'm ready …"
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 "He
played well, I feel like he didn't let me in. He was on top of me
and I never relaxed at all, not until the third and by then it was
too late. I am a bit disappointed really.
"He was good, I wasn't good enough, but I've got plenty to look
forward to, I'll just keep battling away for the wins …"
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[3]
Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt
[8] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
2/9, 9/5, 9/1, 9/3
(50m)
Rachael weathers the storm
After suffering an early bout of attacking play from local favourite
Vanessa Atkinson, Rachael Grinham slowly exerted control on the
match, through her usual tactics of slowing it down and mixing it
up.
Vanessa continued to run things down, but from the middle of the
second she was having to run further and further, more and more
often as Rachael placed the ball just where her opponent didn't want
it, time after time.
The favourite tactic was the lob, from any part of the court. She
must love the very high roof on this court - in face I almost called
this report "in the air tonight".
After setting up another meeting with her little sis, the compere
asked whether Natalie would still be coaching Rachael in the
semi-final. "I suppose I will," joked Natalie, "she's going to need
it ..."
 "In the
first game, I don’t know, I was maybe trying too hard. I didn’t know
what to expect. I wasn’t comfortable. I haven’t played her in so
long, I wasn’t comfortable. She is fresh and is playing good shots.
She was up 4-1 in the second, but then I settled in. I started
playing more rallies, not trying so hard. I was playing longer, she
wasn’t as fast, I think she was tired and started making more
errors.
"It sucks when I have to play my sister. But on the bright side,
there will definitely be one of us in the final. Natalie is not in
her best shape at the moment. She is injured and is only playing
about 80-90%, so even if I did win, it wouldn’t be a real win. She
is such a good mover anyway. But at least we know it will be a good,
fair match.
"I definitely think that the three man system is better than one
referee. But it needs tweaking. I think they cheat sometimes by
looking at each other. So it definitely needs some tweaking."
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[1]
David Palmer (Aus) bt
[6] Davide Bianchetti (Ita)
11/6, 11/6, 11/7 (50m)
Palmer too strong tonight
Their previous two meetings had been real battles, both taking the
full five games. But tonight David Palmer started off strong and
stayed strong throughout, denying the Italian the opportunity to
make the match close.
Perhaps because he wasn't making any headway with his opponent,
Davide decided in the middle of the third to take on the central
referee, who had just awarded a let to Palmer who claimed the ball
that Bianchetti had just served was wet.
"There's three of you, you can't just make a decision on your own,"
was the gist of an argument that raged for five minutes and ended up
with the Italian receiving a conduct stroke and a 5-second countdown
to disqualification.
That scenario was narrowly avoided, but it wasn't long before the
top seed was in the semis.
 "I
was pretty much in control most of the time, but he's a tough
competitor and very consistent, we've had some hard matches
recently. He likes a slower game than me and I got sucked into that
a bit in the third, but it's a concentration battle and I managed to
stick in and win it.
"I've only played Alister once before, he's in good form and has
nothing to lose so I'm looking forward to a good match. My daughter
has been here, but because I've always been on last she's flaked out
before I get on court. I'll have to try to make the final as that's
in the afternoon …"
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 "The
court was very bouncy. He was very strong. I am not that strong
physically at the moment – it was long rallies and I was getting
tired. He was moving me around the court more and more. So I tried
to shorten the rally, but he was very fast at the front. It was just
rally after rally and I got more tired. But it was a good solid
match.
"The referees were average as normal. There were some shocking calls
for both of us. They gave me a let when I didn’t even ask for one
and it was obviously a no let. When David said I had to dry before
the ball before serving, the central referee just decided on a let. It is
meant to be a three referee system but for some reason he didn’t
want to ask the other two."
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"Well
she’s very good, fit and quick…so I had to mix up the pace like
slowing down and going fast again…I was feeling good before the
match…not tired from yesterday’s match, and that’s a good sign for
me…
