David v Massaro, Matthew v Willstrop for Commonwealth Gold by Howard Harding
July 27, 2014
- England's Nick Matthew and Malaysian Nicol David are on course to
become the first squash players ever to defend their Commonwealth Games
titles after both top seeds scored straight games triumphs in Sunday's
semi-finals of the Glasgow 2014 Games at Scotstoun Sports Campus.
A sell-out crowd -
well in excess of 2,000 - witnessed the action on the spectacular
all-glass showcourt as world No1 David despatched New Zealand's Joelle
King 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 and Matthew, the reigning world champion who is
ranked two in the world, overcame fellow countryman Peter Barker.
Later, second seed
James Willstrop prevailed in his semi-final against India's No4 seed
Saurav Ghosal to set up a repeat of the all-English men's final in
Delhi in 2010. And No2 seed Laura Massaro ensured English interest also
in the women's final when she overcame fourth-seeded compatriot Alison
Waters.
Matthew, who arrived
in Glasgow six weeks after undergoing emergency surgery on his knee,
delivered a commanding performance against Barker to beat the London
left-hander - and reverse the result of their previous meeting in May -
11-3, 13-11, 11-6 in 63 minutes.
"I couldn't have
wished for any more, to be honest," said the 34-year-old from
Sheffield. "A few weeks ago I would have signed a million pieces of
paper for that. I need to enjoy it and then really refocus ahead of the
final.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would feel as good as I do with the knee - but I can't get carried away.
"I feel as good as I ever have done - which is a credit to the people helping me.
"Pete made me work incredibly hard today.
"I was in a hospital bed five weeks ago - how can I be favourite?
"If it is James I play
in the final, then I hope it will be good for squash - and hopefully
lots of people will sit up and take notice."
Barker, the world No8
who stunned Matthew in straight games in last May's Premier League
Final, was clearly annoyed not to have tested the world champion more,
particularly in not converting a game-ball in the second.
"I wasn't good enough
and he was too good, he didn't let me play how I wanted to play," said
the 2010 bronze medallist. "I tested him as much as I could. But he is
the world champion.
"I attacked a little bit more in the second game, but it didn't go my way. I needed that second game really.
"A couple of decisions didn't go my way and sometimes things like that can cost you a game.
"Nick has been a
friend for many years and I probably wouldn't be here without his help
over the years - he has been a good guidance.
"All credit to him because he had surgery five weeks ago, yet he is playing at a level of quality like that.
"You obviously come
for a medal and I will have no problems picking myself back up. It is
an honour to have any medal at the Commonwealth Games and I will be
fired up for it."
Willstrop, like arch
Yorkshire rival Matthew, also reached the final without dropping a game
- and extended his unbeaten record over Ghosal, the Indian number one
who has now relocated to the Kolkata, the city of his birth, when he
beat his former Pontefract club-mate 11-8, 11-8, 11-5.
Near-to-tears in an
emotional reaction to reaching the final for the second time in a row,
Willstrop revealed that he had been near to pulling out of the Games on
the initial prognosis of an injury some six weeks ago. "To be honest,
I've been through a very difficult few weeks. There were a couple of
days when there was no way I was going to play this event," admitted
the 30-year-old from Harrogate.
A second scan later provided more encouraging news which led to a tentative resumption of his preparation.
"The fact that I've
got this far is a serious achievement," continued former world No1
Willstrop. "I'm very proud to be in the final.
"Nick (Matthew) and I have both been in a bit of a mess - he couldn't walk and I was unsure of my future.
"However, now I'm playing well and in good shape.
"There's no reason why I can't produce a performance to win tomorrow."
Ghosal, described by
Willstrop as 'my best friend on the Tour', was downhearted by the
outcome of the match. "I'm super sad that I've lost today. This match
was one I really wanted to win - I'm really sad that I couldn't do it.
"I've now got another important match to prepare for."
Nicol David produced a
clinical display to see off Kiwi King. "I really played well today -
but Joelle was really on form. When you see her on that form, you
really have to break it up. I had to really fight hard.
"It's such a great crowd - I just want to get back on that court for the final. I can't wait!
"Winning the gold would be the highlight of the year for me - you wait for four years to get this moment."
King, a gold and
silver medallist in the doubles in Delhi, said: "That was horrible.
Nicol really didn't give me much opportunity.
"I'm really
disappointed. All week, I've prided myself on not making too many
errors - but I guess when you're playing someone like Nicol, who
retrieves so well and comes back at you, it puts that pressure on.
"I am disappointed that it was in three. Nicol is beatable - but you've got to play your best squash to beat her.
"I've got to come out tomorrow and fight for bronze."
In the second women's
semi, world champion Massaro survived a tense battle with Waters to
down her England team-mate 11-5, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8 in 65 minutes.
"I feel great," said
the world No2 from Preston, now assured of a first singles medal. "That
was a feisty encounter - we've not played for a while. We're both
athletes at the top of our game and it was a match for a gold medal -
everybody wants to win it.
"She was getting frustrated. I wasn't happy getting pushed and I knew she wasn't happy."
When asked how she
approached the third game after going down in the second, Massaro said:
"Camps (David Campion) told me I was getting too emotional in the
second game: 'Go on and calm down for the next' he said.
"For the majority of the match I was happy with the way I played - I didn't feel it was physically hard.
"I don't think there
will be pressure on either of us tomorrow. Nicol knows I'm capable of
beating her - we both know the score!"
Waters was succinct in
her appraisal of the match: "I tried my best but she was the better
player on the day," said the 30-year-old Londoner.
RESULTS: Commonwealth Games Squash, Glasgow, Scotland
Men's semi-finals: [1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-3, 13-11, 11-6 (63m) [2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [4] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (49m)
Women's semi-finals: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Joelle King (NZL) 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (39m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-5, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8 (65m)
