Sabrina Sobhy Reaches Semis of Men's Hardball Event by Tefft Smith November 14, 2014
- The US Squash Hardball Singles season got off to a GREAT start at the
12th Annual Cardinal in D.C. this past weekend. There was a
significant new hardball entry -- Sabrina Sobhy -- the reigning US
Squash Women’s National Champion!!! So now, we hardballers can count
both the US Squash Men’s and Women’s National Champions as hardball
enthusiasts and promoters of hardball singles play, as both GREAT fun
and an enhancement to soft ball performance.
Sabrina rapidly and progressively evolved as a hardballer. She
defeated several hardball veterans before falling to her brother, 23
year old Omar Sobhy, the Pro at the Metropolitan Club, a highly ranked
6.0 softballer. This year’s opening hardball singles tournament
was played on the Met’s magnificent glass back walled, traditional
hardball court. Omar’s and Sabrina’s match came in the
semi-finals. Not surprisingly, it attracted quite a crowd!! 18
year old Sabrina was ultimately overpowered by Omar’s size and now
considerable hardball experience. His hard serves, reverse
corners and 3-walls overcame Sabrina’s consistently tight rails, deadly
drop shots and speedy court coverage. The 3-0 score did not
reflect the intensity of the sibling struggle. Omar had much on
the line, having lost closely in the 2013 Finals to Met Club Champion
Willie Gaynor, the only hardballer to get a game off Julian
Illingworth, when they played in the 2013 U.S. Hardball Championships,
which Julian ultimately won. Sabrina, like Julian, found playing
hardball to be “great fun” and “good preparation” for softball, citing
the faster pace, demanding even quicker racquet preparation and shot
making decisions, and the thrill of blasting winners.
In the other semi-final, Willie Gaynor prevailed in overtime in the 5th
over Bryce Harding, a longtime hardballer and recent 50+ National
Champion. Willie cracked out one of his many 3-wall nicks, after
miraculously returning Bryce’s near perfect length rail. The match was
a classic demonstration of what GREAT fun it is to play and watch
hardball singles squash!
The Finals were even better. Omar and Willie had many long
rallies, battling along both rails, with great length and impressive
retrieving. Omar’s deft drops and Willie’s 3 walls were retrieved
consistently, for extended points, ultimately won by one or the other,
with a clean winner. There were many rapid fire, up front volley
and drop exchanges, with crowd gasping gets. Omar won the first
game at 12, with Willie coming back in the 2nd, rolling out a series of
3 walls, to win also at 12. Omar won the 3rd in overtime 17-14,
coming from behind, and closed out the match at 12, with an impressive
array of rails to length and cross court winners off phenomenal up
front retrieving. A GREAT ending to a GREAT tournament.
Paul Chan defeated Tefft Smith 3-1 in the Consolation Finals.
Their match was played on the Metropolitan Club’s wide, softball court
with the Austral ball, demonstrating how all the shot making and other
thrills of hardball can be enjoyed on the more prevalent, wide
courts. Rick Taft of Cleveland won the Statesmen’s division over
Kurt Johnson. 3-0.
Here is the link for entries for the KIVA Classic Hardball Singles and
Doubles Tournament in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on December 6 - 8, a
wonderful event in a fabulous venue that annually attracts a large
group of players, from the U.S. and Canada.
http://www.ussquash.com/tournaments/ Attached is the entry for
the Howard Davis Tournament in Atlantic City on December 13- 15, played
with the Austral Ball on the wide, softball court. The tournament will
offer prize money for the Open Division and Greate Bay Squash Club Pro,
Greg Parks, a star on the Pro Doubles Tour has recruited a number of
players to come and experience hardball on the wide courts. The
Club has 2 Doubles courts, so there will be plenty of doubles play as
well.
