Artemis Edinburgh Men: Sean Stops Joel But Whippy Won't Be Denied
by Steve Cubbins
January 28, 2012 - If we have a repeat finalist in the women's event it's a different story in the men's, after Sean Le Roux put out top seed Joel Hinds in straight games, but Andy Whipp made sure the ESC crowd will see a familiar face tomorrow as he ended Kashif Shuja's first BSPA adventure, also in straight games.
Le Roux, seeded 3/4, took on Hinds in a fast-paced, hard-hitting encounter which went to 7-all in the first, then 7-all in the second, with the South African taking the final few points of both to lead 11/7, 11/7.
The third was tight too, but from 4-all Le Roux established that all-important cushion of a couple of points, then extended it to 10/6 with Hinds struggling to keep with the consistent pace that his opponent was applying.
That finished 11/7 too, and after 49 minutes Sean was into the final.
"I knew that Joel maybe wasn't 100% and that if I could keep the pace high it would be to my advantage," shared Sean afterwards. "It felt like a bit of a hack at times but he was struggling with it and I knew it was what I needed to do.
"It's good to finish in three, even though we played two games today they weren't too long so it's just like a training day really. I'm looking forward to the final, I've been in a couple but haven't won one yet ..."
Whipp, of course, has been in more BSPA finals than anyone, and has won more than his fair share, but never the Artemis.
He's usually a slow-ish starter, but after going 0-3 down in the first, he joined in with the slower, more accurate, more varied pattern of play that Shuja was imposing, but was able to inject more pace when needed and went 10/4 ahead before taking the lead 11/5.
At 5/3 in the second Andy needed to ask the crowd if anyone had a pair of size 8 1/2 or 9 shoes as he'd just split his second of the day! At 7/3 down Kashif seemed to realise that that plan wasn't working, played much more length and started to reap the rewards, getting back to 8-all.
Working very hard, Andy managed to fend off the challenge, doubling his lead 11/9 with a lovely volley into the nick.
The third was just as close, and just as much hard work, Andy ahead but Kashif closing to 9/8 on a stroke. A drop that just clipped the tin gave Andy matchball, and a drive deep into the corner gave him the match 11/9 and another chance at the only current BSPA title he hasn't won (I need to check that fact, but it sounds right!)
"It's unlike me to have a good start, well only going 3-0 down is good for me," admitted Andy. "I'm quite good at getting through the early rounds without too much bother and then I play better against better players and that's what it felt like tonight.
"He made a few more errors than me, just clipping the tin with a lot of those soft dropshots of his, but I started doing that as well in the third.
"I was pleased to win that though, I gave a little fistpump at the end (you can just spot it) and I never do that, but after a tough game at lunchtime I was pleased to play well and beat a good player."
Before the final though he'll be going on a little shopping trip (to the club shop, hopefully): "I thought I was being quite professional bringing two pairs of shoes, but I'll have to buy some new ones anyway!"
Men's Quarters:
[3/4] Shaun Le Roux (Rsa) bt [5/8] Eddie Charlton (Eng) 11/6, 4/11, 11/4, 11/7 (54m)
[1] Joel Hinds (Eng) bt [5/8] Simon Parke (Eng) 11/5, 14/12, 11/6 (42m)
[2] Andy Whipp (Eng) bt Greg Lobban (Sco) 7/11, 11/5, 11/5, 11/8 (43m)
[3/4] Kashif Shuja (Nzl) bt Paul Rawden (Eng) 11/9, 11/4, 11/4 (25m)
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