Delierre Downs Knight In Nash Cup Upset
by Howard Harding
24 September 2011 - Third seed Shawn Delierre carried unexpected domestic interest into the final of the Nash Cup in Canada after upsetting top seed Martin Knight in an 88-minute semi-final marathon in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at London Squash Racquets Club in London, Ontario.
The 29-year-old from Montreal had to be at the top of his game to grind out an 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 victory over higher-ranked New Zealander Knight.
"This match had everything and was a battle from start to finish," said event spokesman Dave Morrish. "Delierre is an extraordinary athlete and after taking the sting out of Knight he used his working boast to punishing effect.
"It was a great match which thrilled the crowd and at the end of the day squash was the winner."
Now in his 14th PSA World Tour final, the world No54 will face title-holder Jan Koukal, the second seed from the Czech Republic.
Koukal ended Andrew Wagih Shoukry's run, saving a match-ball against the unseeded Egyptian in the fourth game before going on to clinch a narrow 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 13-11 victory in 79 minutes.
"It was a very intense and aggressive match," said Koukal, who is celebrating his sixth Tour final of the year, and the 29th of his career. "I deserved the first and he definitely deserved the second. I felt I gifted him the third and had a bad start in the fourth but was lucky to hang in there and scrape it.
"The fifth was pretty close all the way and I eventually got a little lead," continued the 28-year-old world No48. "I didn't feel I played better than him today - I was just a little more patient with the big points.
"He has improved a lot in the past few months, especially his fitness. He impressed me."
DAVE MORRISH FILED THIS REPORT:
There was a feast of squash on offer in day 5 of the Nash Cup. 2 great
matches lasting over 150 minutes. Top seed Knight was downed by the only
remaining Canadian in the tournament, Delierre, whilst defending champion
Koukal had to save a match ball to keep his hopes alive for another title.
SHAWN DELIERRE (CANADA) beat MARTIN KNIGHT (NEW ZEALAND) 11-9; 11-7; 7-11;
11-6 (88 MINS)
This match had everything and was a battle from start to finish. I have to
admit that my money was on Knight as he looked the tighter and more solid
player over the past 2 days. But Delierre is deceptively good! He is an
extraordinary athlete and after taking the sting out of Knight he used his
workign boast to punishing effect. Knight mostly sent the ball back deep
and one could only wonder what if..... he countered the ball in short more
with a straight drop. It was a great match which thrilled the crowd and at
the end of the day squash was the winner.
Shwan Delierre:
" I wanted to impose my game, because in my previous matches I felt I was
just reacting and that was key, it was tight tonight throughout, but I was
able to capitalize on his errors.
He pushed my fitness, but I was able to stay focused. Martin is a solid
player and when he is on he is dangerous.
Martin Knight:
"He played very well tonight - he moved the ball around well, and for
someone who moves the ball around as much as he does, he didnt make
mistakes. The first 2 games were crucial and goign 2-0 down left me with
an uphill battle. I played a good 3rd but he got a good start in the 4th
and left me with too much to do. Too good tonight.
JAN KOUKAL (CZECH REPUBLIC beat ANDREW WAGIH (EGYPT) 11-9; 9-11; 7-11;
12-10; 13-11 (79 MINS)
This was a match between 2 evenly matched guys. They both tried to take
the game to the other from the word go. The rallies were aggressive and
the retrieving was breathtaking from both. Wagih had a match ball in the
4th but Koukal saved it and then found himslef behind again in the 5th but
his experience showed through and he built up a 7-3 and 10-7 lead........
but Wagih had other ideas and got back to 10 all. Koukal eventually won
13-11 and yet again the crowd were treated to some spectacular squash.
Jan Koukal:
"Very intense and aggressive match. The court was prety dead at the front
so you tended to be more aggressive taking it in short. I deserved the
first and he definitely deserved the 2nd. I felt I gifted him the 3rd. I
had a bad start in the 4th but was lucky to hang in there and scrape it.
The 5th was pretty close all the way and I eventually got a little lead. I
didnt feel I played better than him today, I was just a little more
patient with the big points. I felt I had the edge as he had had some
really tough matches leading into our game. He has improved alot in the
past few months, especially his fitness. He impressed me.
Andrew Wagih:
"So close yet so far! I felt he had an advantage over me as I had played
some really toug matches before him. I could feel his experience on te
critical points. I tried to be patient by mixing it up with long and short
but I made too many mistakes at impprtant times. I had a 4-0 lead in the
4th and if only I could have won a couple more points to lead 6-0 or 6-1,
it would have been difficult for him to come back. Good player. the crowd
have been amazing all week. they really appreciate squash and Ifelt like I
was in a platinum event rather than a $10k event! Lovely memories and I
will be back for sure.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Nash Cup, London, Ontario, Canada
Semi-finals:
[3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [1] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (88m)
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 13-11 (79m)
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