Matthew Saves 3 Match Balls In Windy City Thriller, Sobhy Advances by Nathan Clarke photos squashpics.com
February 28, 2016
- Defending Champion Nick Matthew was forced to come from two-games
down and save three match balls in a 109 minute thriller to avoid a
shock exit at the hands of Spain’s Borja Golan during the second round
of the 2016 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and
Equitrust Life Insurance Company, PSA World Series tournament,
currently taking place at the University Club of Chicago.
Inside
the club’s stunning Cathedral Hall Matthew, who led the duo’s
head-to-head record 6-0 prior to their Chicago clash, found himself
unable to halt the charge of a red-hot Golan who produced arguably the
best squash of his career to take the first two games courtesy of some
wonderfully composed aggressive play that saw him outmuscle and
outmanoeuvre Matthew.
The 35-year-old three-time World
Champion showed just why he is known as ‘The Wolf’ however as he
mounted an incredible comeback taking the third and fourth games by the
narrowest of margins. The duo then traded points like a pendulum in a
nervy fifth game before Matthew saved three consecutive match balls,
grasping the match at the first opportunity to come through 10-12,
9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 14-12.
“I feel like a bit like I’ve won
the tournament right now,” said Matthew afterwards. “It is mad that
that was only a second round match.
“In the first two games,
especially the first game, it was the best I’ve ever seen him play - I
don’t think I played badly but I was 2-0 down.
“I won here
last year and the thought of losing second round was driving me on - I
just kept fighting and fighting - sometimes you just have to do
whatever you can to win. I went all the way to plan z today.”
Matthew
will now line up against Egyptian Tarek Momen in the last eight after
he downed World Junior Champion Diego Elias while Frenchman Mathieu
Castagnet put in a spell binding performance to secure hi last eight
berth at the expense of Daryl Selby.
After coming from 2-0
down to defeat Ali Farag in his first round encounter Castagnet came
through in more straightforward fashion today, defeating Selby 3-1 in a
match that also saw one of the greatest points in squash history.
Back
in the match after taking the third game Selby played all out attack
when an amazing turn of events at 7-5 in the fourth game saw Castagnet
dive full length in the front left corner to get an implausible
retrieval before he somehow managed to recovered to hit a forehand
straight winner to the amazement of the crowd.
“It’s not been an easy draw for me because Ali and Daryl are such good players,” said Castagnet.
“You have to be focused and fight in every rally and that’s exactly what I did today so I’m very happy.
“I
have no explanation about that shot in the fourth. I love this sport
and if I have to dive and push myself to play the shot, I will do
whatever I have to to win. That’s my personality and my commitment and
maybe that’s why I’m now a top ten player.”
Castagnet faces
World Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad in the last eight while in the
women’s draw defencing title holder Raneem El Welily secured her place
in the quarter-finals after a stuttering display against Hong Kong’s
Annie Au.
After totally annihilating her first round
opponent Coline Aumard for the loss of just seven points El Welily
slipped back in the inconsistent play that has dogged her recent
appearances on the PSA World Tour as she engaged in a all-out shootout
with Au in a match that rarely saw a rally last more than five shots
and where he superior shot selection eventually got her out of trouble.
“She played very well and probably the best she has played against me,” said El Welily.
“I
had to dig in and stay confident and focused as much as possible. It’s
too early to talk about the final or anything yet, I’m happy to be in
the quarters and I’m looking forward to the next match.”
El
Welily will face dangerous compatriot Nouran Gohar in the next round
where ether victor could face an in-form Amanda Sobhy, the American
number one who sent out a signal of internet to her championship rivals
as she negotiated a difficult looking encounter against former World
No.4 Joelle King in emphatic fashion, dismissing the New Zealander 3-0
after just 25-minutes.
“Joelle in a very good player and
so tough to beat - if you give her any opportunities she takes them,”
said Sobhy. “I knew I had to be on it from start to finish and stay
focused.
“She loves to hit the ball hard and so do I, so
it could have been a hardest hitter competition out there. But I made
sure that I mixed up the pace to take her out of her element and I’m
really happy to get off in three games.”
Results - Second Round (Bottom Half) Men's 2016 Windy City Open [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-1: 13-15, 11-1, 11-7, 11-1 (50m) [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-9 (70m) [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (48m) [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 3-2: 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 14-12 (109m)
Draw - Quarter-finals Men's 2016 Windy City Open [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [5] Simon Rösner (GER) Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [2] Nick Matthew (ENG)
Draw - Quarter-finals Women's 2016 Windy City Open [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [3] Nicol David (MAS) [4] Camille Serme (FRA) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) [8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
