French Finalist Assured In Reunion by Howard Harding
June 24, 2011-A
semi-final meeting between title-holder Thierry Lincou and Julien Balbo
in the Squash Pro Internationaux de la Reunion will ensure a French
finalist in the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event in its
second year at Eventsport 61 in Saint Pierre on Reunion Island.
Reunion-born Lincou, the world No8 from Marseille, took four games to
fend off English qualifier Olivier Pett - dropping the third game to
the 22-year-old world No 113 before conceding just a single point in
the fourth to claim an 11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1 victory after 45 minutes.
"It was a good match for me tonight, with some good pace in the first
two games, good attacking game," explained the 35-year-old top seed to
www.sitesquash.com afterwards. "And overall, I was dictating the
rallies.
"But in the third, he played better at the back, his length got better,
and made me work very hard. I did let go of that game rather quickly.
But then, I regrouped and played a simpler game, more efficient too,
and didn't give away anything anymore!"
Balbo made his breakthrough in the previous round where he upset
fourth-seeded compatriot Mathieu Castagnet. The Grenoble-born world
No70 maintained his successful Reunion run by beating Danish qualifier
Rasmus Nielsen 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6.
"I was a bit stressed today," conceded the 32-year-old. "After the
first match won against Mathieu Castagnet, there was an opportunity
with a good draw and I'm glad to have seized it. The key match was
yesterday. I played well and hopefully I was not too tired.
"It will be a huge pleasure to play Titi here," Balbo added. "It will
be a challenge! It is good to play in front of full crowds."
After staging an impressive comeback to beat Marwan El Shorbagy in the
opening round, Malaysian Kamran Khan was not so fortunate against
Marwan's older brother when he went down 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 to Mohamed El
Shorbagy, the No2 seed.
"I'm happy to win in three," said Shorbagy senior. "Kamran surprised me
with how well he played in the first two games after having a hard
match against my brother this morning. It's my first tournament since
the KL in March, so I know I am not playing at my top game but I am
playing better every day and I hope I can play better tomorrow."
El Shorbagy, the world No9, will now face unseeded Hungarian Mark
Krajcsak. The 27-year-old beat from Budapest beat Yann Perrin 13-11,
11-8, 11-7 to end the brave run of the Frenchman who ousted Scotland's
No3 seed Alan Clyne.
"Mark is a very nice guy and very fair and it's my first time playing
him so hopefully it will be a good match for the crowd," added El
Shorbagy.
"I really like the place here it's my first time - the people are
really nice and the organisers are helping the players when they need
anything so I'm really happy to be here."
RESULTS: PSA International 25 Squash Pro Internationaux de la Reunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion Island