DRAW

"I was very tired, my legs were stiff and when you can’t move, you cannot get up the court to cover the short shots." Jean-Michel Arcucci

 

 

12-Jan, Quarter-Finals:
Shabana & Power into semis
to face Gaultier & Darwish
Liz Shaughnessy reports from Toronto

Borja Golan’s winning streak came to an end in the quarter finals of the PACE Savings & Credit Union Squash Classic, presented by Dundee Securities, when he ran into a brick wall by the name of Jonathon Power. Golan, from Barcelona, came through qualifying with ease and won his first round match after a real tussle opening night of the Classic with another Canadian, Graham Ryding, but Power is an altogether different sort of player.

Although he wasn’t completely out-classed, Golan never reached a stage in any of the three games where he was in control, but rather spent the time reacting to Power’s range of shots and constant change of pace.

The first game was almost a lesson from the master to the pupil, as Power dictated play with text book perfection to the back of the court and regularly using his patented backhand drops to the front left. Power was master of the game, with deeply cut cross-courts and fading boasts. Power can do so much with the ball, from any angle, that Golan found - like so many before him - that he spends most of his time on court trying to guess where the ball is going and the rest of the time trying to pick it up.

Golan did not lie down, but pushed to make the first game last 13 minutes, which is an accomplishment in itself. Power won that game 11-5, and then continued his wonderfully entertaining display to win the second game 11-3, He let up slightly in the third to give Golan a window of hope. A score of 4-4, Golan appeared fresh and hopeful. He started using backhand drops, but found that Power would and could counter drop to the same spot - and do it better.

A confident Power played for winners from the back of the court as he forced the young Spaniard all over the court. Leading 8-4, it looked all over, but Golan earned a couple of penalty strokes - much to Power’s complete surprise (there always has to be some drama in a Power match) - and climbed to 7-9. The hope arose again but was cut short as Power hit a backhand crosscourt cut to get to match point and followed it up with a ball tight on the wall which Golan was unable to scrape off. The game was won 11-7 and the 46 minute match - watched by a capacity crowd of 750 - was Power’s with a 3 love score line.
  
THE EXERTION OF SUCCESS OVERWHELMS ARCUCCI

In the all-French quarter final match earlier in the evening, the natural pecking order and extreme fatigue on the part of qualifier Jean-Michel Arcucci gave fourth seed Gregory Gaultier a very easy route to the semi-finals. The first game was literally a cakewalk for Gaultier, zipping his opponent 11-0 in 4 1/2 minutes. Arcucci was simply not moving to the short balls quickly enough. He said later that he was simply exhausted after the three hard matches which brought him through the qualifying rounds on Monday and Tuesday, plus the first round of PACE Canadian Squash Classic on the previous evening.

Arcucci’s game is based on rhythm and Gaultier likes to break that rhythm with finely timed boasts and deeply cut cross courts that barely leave the floor. Arcucci’s legs were simply not up to the task and when he finally got his first point with a forehand drop, there was ironic applause from the spectators which brought a wry smile to his face.

The first real rally came at 5-2 in the second game with Arcucci giving as good as he got and making Gaultier cover the entire court. But it was Gaultier who had the last word with a backhand drop. The exhausted Arcucci managed a few more points in that game but that was all for the evening; he lost the third game 0-11 and was probably glad to leave

EGYPT VERSUS EGYPT...

The first of two all-Egyptian quarter-finals matches day two of the PACE Savings & Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic, presented by Dundee Securities, featured World Open Champion Amr Shabana and world number 19 Wael El Hindi playing the kind of squash we have come to expect from Egyptians - full of skill and inventive shot making.

Shabana is one of the great shot makers on the PSA circuit and on form can hit more winners in a game than most players can hit in a year. In the first game he treated El Hindi with respect and played a good deal of percentage squash to the back corners. It paid off with a 6-2 lead and then he spoiled it with a series of unforced errors, allowing the well-built El Hindi to get back into the match and even the score at 7-7. Now we had a battle and these two players produced some exhilarating rallies filled with speed and guile.

With a score of 9-9, Shabana sportingly called his own shot down to put his opponent at game ball but saved the point when El Hindi could not get to a tight ball and was denied a let by the referee. At 10-10 they went into a tie-break, but Shabana hit a forehand winner to get to game point and El Hindi, who looked to be tiring, hit the tin to finish the 20 minute game. Shabana then hit a dazzling streak to run away with the second game. It was all over in a devastatingly six minutes, with a score of 11-6 in Shabana’s favour.

In the third game, Shabana did what he has done before - tried to send his opponent to the showers too early. The errors started to roll off his racket and El Hindi found a new lease on life, notching up a gear to win the game 11-8 and suggesting a possible five-game battle to an appreciative audience of 750 which jammed the John Bassett Theatre.

Shabana, however, had other ideas and, using his arsenal of sublime winners, streaked away to a six minute 11-4 win, ending the 49 minute match and comfortably positioning himself for the semi-finals.

The second all-Egyptian quarter featured fourth-seeded Karim Darwish and eighth-seeded Mohammed Abbas, and it took a full 70 minutes before Darwish managed to see off his compatriot to set up a meeting with Shabana in the semis.

DARYL'S DIARY FROM TORONTO #3

Daryl's Diary skipped a day yesterday as it was the last round of qualifying and I lost 3-1 to Borja in a tough match. So I was pretty gutted after it so didn't watch any of the other matches, hence no diary. But...

Round One at the Fitness Institute ...

Today I put my Framboise hat on, (how do you spell beret?! is that right?) took a day off from punishing myself in the gym and sat down to watch the last 16 matches. The matches started at the Fitness Institute which is an enclosed, hot, bouncy court with the score being called through speakers as the players cannot hear noise from outside the court.

First on was Gough v Arcucci. With a moderate crowd of 30 or so Alex started off getting in front of Arcucci and dominating the 'T' taking the first game 11-7. The game gradually changed after that with Alex finding the tin a bit more and Arcucci keeping the ball out of it. Arcucci was continually patient and Goughy looked to be getting tired and wasn't quite as accurate to the front as he normally is.

So after about 80 minutes and some bizarre decisions from the referee, Arcucci wins 3-1, which is a good effort considering he had two tough qualifying matches.

Next on was Chaloner v Abbas. I only saw the last game as I had to get my groaning stomach some lunch. After speaking to Mark afterwards he said that today Mohammed was hitting the ball exactly where he wanted it and did not hit any loose balls and hardly any tins. Mark never stopped chasing everything down but today Abbas was just too accurate. 3-0 to Abbas.

Darwish and Walker were the next Gladiators to enter the arena. The match started off at a ferocious pace and didn't let up. Karim was making the hot bouncy court look like an outdoor glass court in Iceland. His length was spot on, and his straight kills and cross-court flicks were sublime, although it was only on his 4th or 5th good shot that he won the rally as Ali was getting to everything.

In the second game Ali gave as good as he got and adapted his game well. His counter drops were catching Darwish out, but just a lack of belief I think and 2 tins in the tie-break gave Darwish a 2-0 lead, which he converted to 3-0 as Ali understandably ran out of steam.

But a good performance from both players, and watch out for Darwish when he gets on the glass court.

The last match being played at the Fitness Institute was El Hindi v Kemp. This was a contentious match from the outset with both players continually coming outside the court to remonstrate with the referee who in my opinion was probably not strong enough to referee this particular match.

I can honestly say I have never seen so many outright winners hit by both players in a match. It was a weird match because the rallies weren't very long and both players were looking to attack at every opportunity. Jon's holds were working well in the first game, then Wael found some rhythm and played some sublime drops, especially on the backhand.

Jon worked hard in the fourth and held his nerve the better at the end with Wael receiving a conduct point to give Jon the game. The fifth was tight and although he was getting in Jon's way a lot he was hitting some deadly lengths. At 7-7 it was anyone's match to win ... but a couple of errors from Kempy gave Wael a hard-earned place in the quarters.

Round One ... Part Two

Now it was off to the Convention Centre where the other matches were being played. Although it took me a while to get in as I didn't have a players pass because I didn't reach the main draw and they didn't believe I was Press in my jeans, Timberlands and Diesel T-shirt. Anyway finally blag (not really blag as I should be allowed in as a player!) my way into the Centre, and straight away it reminds me of the old Wembley Arena when my Dad used to take me to watch the British Open, when there was 800 people there and the big red comfy chairs all the way around. Well here there are only backwall seats but they are fanned out and tiered so everyone has a pretty good view.

I'm loving the venue, and with Mr De Lierre's team working the cameras there are TVs everywhere showing the live footage, replays, score etc. This is the sort of stage you want to play on if you're a Squash Player, and with a good 400 people there tonight I thought Mr Nimick and his team had done a fantastic job. The place is buzzing and the first match is a cracker.

Borja Golan who conquered myself against Graham Ryding. Graham started slow and found himself one down very quickly. The match from this point was very even, both players moving well, long rallies, of course some dodgy decisions from the referee but against both players, although I felt unfortunately for Graham his came at more crucial times. Tonight Borja played with no fear and really believed he could beat his much higher-ranked opponent. Borja's touch at the front was excellent, and coupled with uncharacteristic errors from Graham, maybe due to some pressure to do well in his home city, he led 2-1.

He also led 9-6 in the fourth but Graham never gave in and clawed himself back into the match and levelled at 2-2. It was really there for the taking for both players. The fifth was tight and the crowd were really getting behind there man, but there was nothing they could do as Borja held his nerve this time to clinch a dream match for him, against Jonathon in the quarters.

The second match on was LJ v Shabana. Shabana started well and led 6-2 in the first with some patient rallying and some clinical finishing.

LJ worked hard and came back into it with some winners of his own but Amr wins the 1st 11-7. The next game Shabana is controlling the middle of the court and LJ is having to do a lot of work to stay in the rallies- 11-3.

The last game was a lot tighter with LJ hitting deeper length and competing point for point, but you always had the feeling that Shabana could just step up a gear and he did at crucial points to win 3-0, although LJ played pretty well especially in the third.

And so to Bed ...

Unfortunately I had to leave after this match because it was getting past my bedtime, I hadn't eaten yet and I had been watching squash for 6 hours straight. My mind was tired, my back ached from sitting down.

Fram I don't know how you do it!!!! I can see how you don't have any time, because it's 11.30 now and I didn't even stay until the end. Apologies for not doing Power v Bianchetti, and Gaultier v Razik, I will try to do all the quarters, but I'm not promising!!

Daryl Selby

Short-lived glory for Ryding

Canadian Graham Ryding had the honour of opening the PACE Savings & Credit Union Canadian Classic, presented by Dundee Securities at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto, the first time a four-wall glass court has been used on a performing stage in Canada.

The glory was short lived as his opponent, Borja Golan from Spain, spoilt the party by just pipping Ryding in a five-game marathon. Golan, ranked 47 in the world, took advantage of Ryding’s slow start to steamroll his way to a one game lead winning 11-5 in just eight minutes.

Ryding settled down in the second game and started to read Golan’s drops to the front left corner. He took the lead at 7-6 and then, putting in some fine winners of his own, won the game 11-8 to even the match.

Golan is a tough competitor who strokes the ball with great precision and every time he played a drop shot, he had Ryding at full stretch. He used this weapon to win the third game11-8 and lead most of the fourth game, but Ryding raised his game to tie the score at 9-9. Golan tried one dropshot too many and on the next rally, hit the tin and put Ryding at game point. The Canadian, ranked 19th in the world, made no mistake on the next point with a backhand drop shot of his own to take the game 11-9.

Golan held the upper hand for the fifth game and, despite some dazzling rallies, Ryding simply could not catch up. Trailing 7-8, Ryding made a crucial error to put Golan two points from victory. Golan hit a passing drive to win the next point and on match point, Ryding tried an overhead backhand which hit the tin to seal his fate and give the up-and-coming young Spaniard another important win.

"I felt the court was very slow and found it hard to get the ball to the back, although I enjoyed the venue. "This theatre is better for the players, not so much through traffic and more room for the players to warm up. "I really like it." Jonathon Power

Shabana Cruises in Three

World champion Amr Shabana from Egypt showed why he is the champion with a controlled display of shots that left his young opponent, Laurens Anjema from the Netherlands, powerless. Shabana, ranked number two in the world, behind Jonathon Power, is known for his ability to hit winners from all over the court. Part of that ability is to disguise his intention, leaving his opponent going one way, while the ball is heading in another direction.

Anjema has shot up the rankings in the last year - he is now number 23 - but simply has not developed the sophisticated level of skills to combat the range of Shabana’s repertoire. Shabana won in straight games, despite a solid challenge from Anjema, which forced the third game into a tie-break to complete an Egyptian quartet in the bottom half of the draw.

Power's Emotional Opener

Jonathon Power had to contend with some Italian emotion as well as his opponent’s skill in taking a straight game victory over Italian champion Davide Bianchetti, ranked 34 in the world. In the first game Power was ruthless, winning 11-1 and leaving Bianchetti realizing that he had to change his approach.

“You cannot open up the court with Power because he will play a winner. And you cannot match him in pace. So in the second game, I had to slow the game down and play tighter,” Bianchetti said after the match, his first-ever meeting with Power.

The strategy worked and Bianchetti played well enough to hold two game points before Power managed to win the tie break 14-12. The world number one continued his domination in the third and despite some impassioned pleas from Bianchetti when the referee made decisions he thought unjust, Power kept that magic wrist working, cutting shots from all angles and playing a game that he has made uniquely his own.

“Nobody else plays like Power,” Bianchetti commented. “He does so much with very little wrist movement and you cannot read his shot.”