$50K Weymuller First Round Bottom Half Report
by Linda Elriani

October 20, 2017


















photos Jean Ervasti

Hi Everyone,

Tonight was the second half of the 1st round of the 2017 Carol Weymuller Main draw. The matches last night were amazing so everyone was very excited to see what tonight’s matches would bring! It was Egyptian domination yesterday with four amazing players from Egypt making their way to the quarter finals. Tonight there is only one match with an Egyptian player in it so there is guaranteed to be some diversity in the quarter finals on Saturday.


First on the Championship court was world #9 Annie Au from Hong Kong against qualifier Nele Gilis the Belgium #1 and world #26. They have only played once before in PSA, with Annie winning, but it was one and half years ago so I’m sure that Nele has improved a lot since then especially as she is still only 21 years old.

Annie had a great result at the US Open last week beating squash legend Nicole David for the first time in an epic five setter so she is clearly playing some of her best squash. Annie is also the only left handed player in the Weymuller and this can cause players problems tactically adjusting to this.

This was the longest and most competitive match of the evening. It was also the only match that went past three games, which is very different than yesterday’s first round from the top half of the draw.

The match started pretty well for Nele, her movement  is so fast and efficient and made it difficult for Annie to use her vicious drop shot. Annie soon found her grove and was very steady and precise and slowed the game down which gave Nele nothing to hit. Annie won the first 11/7. In the second Annie couldn’t do wrong and Nele lost her previous length and before we knew it Annie has won the game 11/3.

Nele is a fighter and came out in the third with a more definitive game plan and executed it very well. She put more pace on the ball, took the ball earlier and managed to rush Annie, who started to make several mistakes. Nele went through to take the third game as convincingly as Annie as taken the second 11/3.

The third was the best game of all with the points going evenly back and forth and the quality of the squash was awesome. Both players were covering the court well and taking the ball in accurately and precisely in the front. There were very few unforced errors from both players and it was Annie that just managed to out manoeuvre her opponent at the end of the game when she really needed to. Annie used a great disguised flick across the court and also hit an amazing cross court from her forehand to go through to take the fourth 11/8 and bring Nele’s fantastic run in the 2017 Weymuller to an end.

Anne came through 3-1 in 49 minutes 11/7, 11/3, 3/11, 11/8.

Annie said after the match "I’m very happy to get through the first round as yesterday there were two big upsets! Nele played very well and she picked up a lot of balls. After the third game, in my mind I thought that this could go to 5! I just sat down and said to myself to be calm. In the third game she played well but it was mostly about my mistakes. I just tried to be more patient in the fourth and wait for my opportunities. I have been in the US three weeks now so I think that I just need to relax and have a good rest and play a good match tomorrow.”


Second match on the championship court was between World # 10 Joelle King from New Zealand who was a finalist of the Weymuller back in 2015, against England’s Millie Tomlinson who is world #22. They have never played before so it’ll be a new experience for them both.

The match started well for Joelle. She was keeping the T and pushing Mille into the back patiently and purposefully. She soon went through to take the first game 11/7. The second followed in the same tone and even though Millie was trying her hardest to get some traction, Joelle was just too physically strong around the middle and used the four corners perfectly. Joelle took the second 11/5. Joelle took another great start in the third and was 7-2 up and credit to Millie, she kept fighting and trying to get Joelle behind her so she could use her great short game. Joelle seemed to lose her previous focus and Millie found her rhythm and before we knew it the score was even at 10/10. Just when the chips were down Joelle came up with the goods and with a backhand drop winner and stroke, Joelle took the third and final game 12/10. Joelle won 3-0 in 40 minutes 11/7, 11/5, 12/10.

Joelle said afterwards ”I thought I started pretty well. I felt I was playing my games and had a good start. Then she came back strong towards the end of the first. I relaxed a little and before I knew it, it was tight! I started getting a bit frustrated, but managed to win that one. The second was pretty good at the start but then Millie settled down and got a few good points. The third was similar, I was always up and then she got in front of me and all of a sudden it was 10-9 game ball. I guess from there I played the next few points solidly and finished it 12/10. I haven’t played Annie for a while, but we’ve been playing each other ever since juniors, we’re the same age. I guess, another battle!
 

Third match of the night was between Victoria Lust the world #15 from England and local squash pro and world #78 Emilia Soini, the wild card spot for the Weymuller main draw this year. Emilia is originally from Finland and now bases herself in Brooklyn NY. They also have not played before. It’s nice to have new challenges and play someone new as you can very often play someone many, many times like Raneem and Dipika for the last match of the evening.

Vicky was by far the higher ranked player on paper, but Emilia certainly did herself proud with her performance tonight. The bleachers were packed with local supporters and she really seemed to feed off their positive energy. Emilia kept her fighting spirit alive throughout the whole match and even when an older and more experienced Vicky got a lead, Emilia would try to force Vicky back in the court and use her skillful short game to pick up some extra points. Emilia managed use her crafty drop flick at the front to wrong foot Vicky but in the end Vicky’s was just that bit too tight, controlled and experienced and she came through to win in three in 26 minutes 11/4, 12/10, 11/7.

When I asked Vicky after the match how she felt she said "Pretty good! With the conditions, it’s just about trying to get your length and find your targets. Then it felt like an exhibition at times with the crowd! I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Not sure who I play yet but I’ve never played Raneem, not even in the juniors and we’re the same age! Last time I played Dipika I believe I won and it was about 8 years ago, I think. It’s exciting, it’s not often you get to play people you don’t play very much!”
 

The final match of the evening on the championship court was between Raneem  El Welily, the 2011 Weymuller Champion from Egypt, and  India’s Dipika Pallikal Karthik who is ranked #21 in the world. Raneem is in form at the moment reaching the US Open final last week only narrowly losing out to Nour El Tayeb 3-2 after having a 2-1 lead. Raneem and Dipika have played an amazing 12 times with their first match being played back in April 2007. Raneem has won every time, but some of the matches have been very closely contested so we’ll see if Dipika can get her first win against the world #3.

Raneem started out well and looked bouncy and alert. This match definitely had its fair share of amazing winner from both players in all three games, but it was Raneem that had the upper hand on the patience, movement and fitness. There were portions of the match when Dipika’s amazing racket skills shone through, but she couldn’t back it up, put in the patient play nor keep with Raneem’s relentless pressure and precise squash. After 26 minutes Raneem has won 3-0 11/8, 11/6, 11/7.

Raneem said after her match "I’m feeling alright. I was trying to set my attitude right, after the big tournament last week I have to reset my mentality. So happy with the way the match went. Hopefully I can carry the same attitude into the next match. I don’t think that I have ever played Vicky but I’m looking forward to it.”


It was another fantastic night of squash and we all look forward to the quarterfinals starting at 2.00pm tomorrow afternoon.

Before the quarter finals from 12pm-1pm we have our ‘Salming Junior Play A Pro’ where some of the PSA players kindly come and hit with our Casino juniors and get their free Salming hoodies.

After the completion of the quarter finals we will have a Weymuller@Dinner with a delicious sit down meal and drinks.

 
Please also follow the Carol Weymuller on instagram, facebook and twitter #CW2017

To follow the streaming live please go….http://ustre.am/1AkwJ

 
Thanks and see you again soon!


Summary of Friday's 1st round (split first round) results..

5.30pm  Anne Au beat Nele Gilis 3-1…11/7, 11/3, 3/11, 11/8.

6.15pm Joelle King beat Millie Tomlinson 3-0…11/7, 11/5, 12/10.

7.00pm Victoria Lust beat Emilia Soini (WC) 3-0…11/4, 12/10, 11/7.

7.45pm Raneem El Welily beat Dipika Pallikal Karthik 3-0…11/8, 11/6, 11/7.


Saturday's quarter final matches are....

2.00pm Nour El Sherbini VS Nour El Tayeb

2.45pm Salma Hany Ibrahim VS Mariam Metwally

3.30pm Annie Au VS Joelle King

4.15pm Victoria Lust VS Raneem El Welily