PSA Windy City Open Round of 16 Report
by William James and Jim Wellington
January 31, 2012 - A cold Thursday night in the Windy City did not deter a full house of squash fans from the first round of the tournament at the University Club of Chicago. Congratulations to the MetroSquash WCO organizers and supporters for thirty two years of great squash.
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) def. Fred Reid (CAN) 11/2, 11/4, 11/2 (20 min.)
Wild Card Fred Reid put in a strong performance, but Coppinger's recent form proved to be too much for the young Canadian.
Cesar Salazar (MEX) def. Charles Sharpes (ENG) 11/4, 1/11, 15/13, 11/5 (59 min.)
After 89 minutes last night, Sharpes was a little slow out of the gate. Salazar was not in the mood to take it easy, playing consistently, retrieving everything, and using the whole court. The swing in game two is difficult to explain because Sharpes couldn't have warmed up that much. Depending on who you ask, it was a rest game, a blip, or a bad start. The real battle was game three - close play, tough referee calls, dives, and Salazar really putting work into the legs of Sharpes. Salazar went up 10-6 but didn't take in until his seventh game ball. Game four saw the ball go cold and Sharpes loose energy and concentration, while Salazar remained strong.
Alan Clyne (SCO) def. Lea Au (HKG) 11/2, 14/12, 11/9 (42 min.)
Game one went in a flash, with many errors and Au not reacting well to the pace, but Au meant business in game two. Clyne had to work hard and save three game ball to take it. Game three was close and tightly contested, but Clyne was just a little better when it mattered most.
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) def. Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11/9, 11/4, 11/6 (37 min.)
Qualifier Matthew Karwalski was nearly flawless in stopping the tough Egyptian. Aziz seemed out of sorts as his shots and strategy weren't coming off, but all credit goes to Karwalski for applying basic pressure, taking the ball early, winning points on volleys, drops and boasts, using every inch of the court and rising to the occasion.
Max Lee (HKG) def. Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11/9, 6/11, 11/7, 12/10 (72 min.)
The play was fast paced and powerful, with quick exchanges, but an early slip/fall seemed to put Grayson off his stride letting Lee take the first game. A see-saw ensued, each player expending so much energy to win a game that he went down in the next. In the fourth, Grayson felt a bit hard done bye some referee calls, but fought back to 10 all. But all credit goes to Max Lee for being fit, tough, and playing well in the crucial moments.
Andrew Shoukry (EGY) def. Shahier Razik (CAN) 11/8, 7/11, 11/6, 11/5 (74 min.)
Razik didn't apply enough pressure in game one, responding more than initiating, but somewhere in game two he gained confidence. This led Shoukry to force his shots more as fatigue crept in. Razik's patience and persistence were paying now and he took the game. But the Egyptian had more fight left in him. In the end twenty one year old Shoukry had too much speed, strength and skill to be beaten tonight.
Borja Golan (ESP) def. Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11/5, 11/3, 13/11 (52 min.)
Golan used boasts relentlessly to test his opponent's movement early on. The rallies were unpredictable, but Golan came out on top in the majority. The third got much closer, Golan looking worried, and the game turned into another let-fest with both players opening the door so many times to complain to the referee that the fans wanted to lock the players in the court. If any of you "back-the-bidders" are wondering why squash can't get into the Olympics, this is it.
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) def. Martin Knight (NZL) 11/7, 11/6, 11/5 (38 min.)
Fathi was fast, powerful, and inventive which relegated Knight to a reactionary role. Knight fought well for a while, but the Egyptian ultimately forced him to make errors that cost him the match tonight.
by William James and Jim Wellington
January 31, 2012 - A cold Thursday night in the Windy City did not deter a full house of squash fans from the first round of the tournament at the University Club of Chicago. Congratulations to the MetroSquash WCO organizers and supporters for thirty two years of great squash.
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) def. Fred Reid (CAN) 11/2, 11/4, 11/2 (20 min.)
Wild Card Fred Reid put in a strong performance, but Coppinger's recent form proved to be too much for the young Canadian.
Cesar Salazar (MEX) def. Charles Sharpes (ENG) 11/4, 1/11, 15/13, 11/5 (59 min.)
After 89 minutes last night, Sharpes was a little slow out of the gate. Salazar was not in the mood to take it easy, playing consistently, retrieving everything, and using the whole court. The swing in game two is difficult to explain because Sharpes couldn't have warmed up that much. Depending on who you ask, it was a rest game, a blip, or a bad start. The real battle was game three - close play, tough referee calls, dives, and Salazar really putting work into the legs of Sharpes. Salazar went up 10-6 but didn't take in until his seventh game ball. Game four saw the ball go cold and Sharpes loose energy and concentration, while Salazar remained strong.
Alan Clyne (SCO) def. Lea Au (HKG) 11/2, 14/12, 11/9 (42 min.)
Game one went in a flash, with many errors and Au not reacting well to the pace, but Au meant business in game two. Clyne had to work hard and save three game ball to take it. Game three was close and tightly contested, but Clyne was just a little better when it mattered most.
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) def. Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11/9, 11/4, 11/6 (37 min.)
Qualifier Matthew Karwalski was nearly flawless in stopping the tough Egyptian. Aziz seemed out of sorts as his shots and strategy weren't coming off, but all credit goes to Karwalski for applying basic pressure, taking the ball early, winning points on volleys, drops and boasts, using every inch of the court and rising to the occasion.
Max Lee (HKG) def. Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11/9, 6/11, 11/7, 12/10 (72 min.)
The play was fast paced and powerful, with quick exchanges, but an early slip/fall seemed to put Grayson off his stride letting Lee take the first game. A see-saw ensued, each player expending so much energy to win a game that he went down in the next. In the fourth, Grayson felt a bit hard done bye some referee calls, but fought back to 10 all. But all credit goes to Max Lee for being fit, tough, and playing well in the crucial moments.
Andrew Shoukry (EGY) def. Shahier Razik (CAN) 11/8, 7/11, 11/6, 11/5 (74 min.)
Razik didn't apply enough pressure in game one, responding more than initiating, but somewhere in game two he gained confidence. This led Shoukry to force his shots more as fatigue crept in. Razik's patience and persistence were paying now and he took the game. But the Egyptian had more fight left in him. In the end twenty one year old Shoukry had too much speed, strength and skill to be beaten tonight.
Borja Golan (ESP) def. Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11/5, 11/3, 13/11 (52 min.)
Golan used boasts relentlessly to test his opponent's movement early on. The rallies were unpredictable, but Golan came out on top in the majority. The third got much closer, Golan looking worried, and the game turned into another let-fest with both players opening the door so many times to complain to the referee that the fans wanted to lock the players in the court. If any of you "back-the-bidders" are wondering why squash can't get into the Olympics, this is it.
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) def. Martin Knight (NZL) 11/7, 11/6, 11/5 (38 min.)
Fathi was fast, powerful, and inventive which relegated Knight to a reactionary role. Knight fought well for a while, but the Egyptian ultimately forced him to make errors that cost him the match tonight.
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