Thierry Lincou To Meet Surprise Finalist Tom Richards For $35K Montreal Open Title
by Runa Reta
March 22, 2012 - Air conditioning was turned on to the maximum to try and slow down the court and it shortened the matches. The front wall being quite receptive to short shots, the court became bigger and rallies more intense. In the end, the crowd was treated to a very high level of the game we love.
Tom Richards (ENG) beats Hisham Ashour (EGY) 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12
The first semi-final of the match started off at a blistering pace, with the Egyptian hitting a behind-the-back drop, followed by a cross-court dead roller, as a preview of what was to come (for anyone unfamiliar with his game). Ashour was hitting the ball with more sting than his calm English opponent, but a string of unforced errors kept it close in the first game. At 8-8, Ashour had a bit of a brain fart, as he went for another behind-the-back shot, which ended up in the bottom of the tin – a most inopportune time to go for such a fanciful shot. A tight point by Richards and another error by Ashour (his fifth of the game) allowed the Englishman to draw first blood. The pace didn`t let up in the second, as both players continued to crack the ball with incredible velocity, the well-conditioned Richards looking more comfortable at this pace of the two, and Ashour continuing to bestow gifts upon Richards with unforced errors. At 8-5 down, Ashour remembered who he was, and played 3 rallies full of angles, holds and cut shots that were just too good. At 8-all Ashour smacked Richards in the face with the racquet which prompted a huge gasp from the crowd. How did the hardcore Englishman respond in the next rally? With a lovely fading cross-court drop that got everyone`s appreciation, including Ashour. The two traded points from 9-all onwards, but two errors from the Egyptian at the front of the court (looking a tad sluggish moving forward) gave the Englishman the second game 12-10. In the third, the Egyptian showed that he was clearly not at his best, looking fatigued and continuing to hit an unholy number of unforced errors. All credit to Richards who executed his game plan with great calm and composure... take the ball early, keep the ball moving, don`t give my opponent a chance to set up, and be patient. This effective strategy allowed Richards to get up 8-5, and it looked like he would take it in 3 games, but Ashour again came up with some flashes of brilliance, levelling at 9-all and showing that he wasn`t ready to be sent home just yet. Some gutsy, sprawling efforts by both occurred in extra points, but an uncommon error from the Englishman cost him at 10-all, and Ashour hit a winning drop to take the third. Richards changed shirts in the fourth, and now dressed in all red, was perhaps subconsciously yelling out ``DANGER!`` as he came out flying, taking a 4-0 lead, then a 7-2 lead, attacking with ferocity and hitting some perfect dying length. At 9-5 down, Ashour – who had fallen behind in every game up til now – must have said to himself the Arabic equivalent of ``screw this, I`m going for it!!!`` and began an all-out attack. He hit some gutsy shots, including a sweet deceptive boast at 9-10, which ended in a yell and a deathly stare at his opponent. The points that followed were probably the most exciting of the tournament, with both hitting at the fastest pace of the match, each desperately trying to take the game and scrambling around the court in their efforts. Both decided it was now or never, and hit with a good measure of risk, but it was the insanely steady Richards who was able to hit some clincher drops and hold on, as Ashour ended the match with a volley drop error, to which Richards finally proved he had a pulse with a big pump fist and yell, knowing all too well that he had just earned himself a massive scalp.
So the reigning champion is deposed, and the Englishman Tom Richards is in impressive form heading into tomorrow`s final.
Thierry Lincou (FRA) beats Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 13-11, 11-6
The second semi-final started off much more calmly than the first… the Frenchmen not feeling any need to get all hot and bothered early on. The two exchanged long rallies, feeling each other out and playing a fairly classical style. Once again, Mathieu Castagnet, in his basketball shorts - looking like he could easily be mistaken for someone working out in the gym behind which the centre court is erected - impressed with his quick court coverage and nice shot variety. But Lincou was a touch better, getting Castagnet to work a bit harder around the court, and forcing errors that allowed him to take the first game, 11-9. Castagnet tried to force the issue at the beginning of the second, quickening the pace and taking the straight drop in whenever he could. Unlike the previous match, there was a good amount of interference between the two players, and despite the player refs doing a fine job this whole week, there seemed an inordinate amount of calls that seemed to displease both players at the same time! The two remained close until 7-all, when Castagnet ripped a cross-court kill that got him fist-pumping, followed by a backhand drop winner that got Lincou doing the same (clearly, no love lost on the court between the countrymen). The poor ref was tested a bit more with some very difficult calls, as the two tangled up front, and Castagnet pleaded: ``how can I play ze ball?`` The points from 10-all onwards were among the longest of the match, with Castagnet trying to play through the interference and consequently hitting out at 11-all (to which he said with frustration: ``je suis trop gentil!``). Another error at 12-11 gave Lincou the game, and Castagnet launched his racquet disgustedly on court... and then again off the court. At 2-0 in games, you could feel the psychological advantage on Lincou`s side. But Castagnet continued to motor around the court, sticking close to Lincou until a backhand drop by Lincou at 5-all that was too good even for the speedy youngster. At 6-5, another punishing rally had Castagnet diving to hit a backwall shot, and then throwing his racquet across the court jokingly to get Lincou`s straight drop. From this point on, Lincou pulled away to 9-5, and sensing the end of the line, Castagnet asked the crowd: ``est-ce que je peux avoir des encouragements?`` Lincou could smell victory and closed out the game 11-6, winning the match in 3 close games.
The experienced veteran Thierry Lincou moves efficiently into the finals, and will surely have a lot left in the tank to battle for the title.
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