2023 NASH Cup – Semi Finals
It was another full crowd, and some amazing squash at London Squash. For the first time in history a Canadian will compete in both NASH Cup finals as Hollie Naughton and David Baillargeon move through.
Canadian’s have won each draw in the past, but it’s been a while. Shawn Delierre won in 2011 and Danielle Letourneau won in 2016.
Hollie Naughton (2014) and David Phillips (2008) are the only other Canadians who have made to the final match.
A big thank you once again to our officials who have the most thankless job of the tournament – David Fishburn; Dave Howard and Bob Mansbridge. It’s been a great week
Tomorrow we will celebrate 15 years of the NASH Cup and then the finals will begin at 6:30 and 8pm.
Friday Matches (Semi Finals)
5:00 Hollie Naughton (CAD; 19) bt Laura Tovar (COL; 88) 3-0 – 11-4;13-11;11-7 (30m)
6:00 Faraz Khan (USA; 53) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP; 58) 3-0 – 11-5;11-6;11-9 (40m)
7:00 Salma Eltayeb (EGY; 50) bt Marina Stefanoni (USA; 59) 3-0 – 13-11;11-8;11-9 (30m)
8:00 David Baillargeon (CAN; 51) bt Curtis Malik (ENG; 56) 3-2 – 11-6;7-11;11-6;8-11;11-8 (64m)
Court 2 5:00 Hollie Naughton (CAD; 19) v Laura Tovar (COL; 88)
it’s Friday night and the beers are flowing first match of the night at Nash cup. Women’s semifinal Holly Naughton Canadian number one world number 19 versus Colombian, Laura Tavor world number 88.
Game one has Holly moving Laura all over the court front,back,side to side controlling the match. Laura coming off a big win last night beating a higher ranked player in a long hard fought battle is looking like little she needs to find your legs and settle her nerves. Holly isn’t going to let settle in and pushes through the game quickly 11 -3.
Game 2 looks like Laura has found her weapons from last night in her bag and it’s taken control of the tee and jumps out to an early 4-1 lead. Holly down 6-1 now shifts tactics and is lobbing the ball deep into the corners. this is causing Laura to take the ball from deep in the back corners coughing up the ball a little bit wider than she was before, and Holly‘s taking advantage of it, attacking the ball with some beautiful midcourt boasts. Holly fights back ties up the game 10-10. Holly is really pushing the lob deep and taking the ball short when the opening is there and finishes the come back 13-11 to go 2-0.
Game 3- started. This game has both players attacking the ball trading .4 point tying at 4-4. Laura, starting to look a little tired and Holly is sensing this pushing her opponent deep then short controlling the rallies. Holly takes the match 3-0 and the Canadian crowd is pumped ! Laura had a great tournament and this writer enjoyed watching her performance and determination!
RD
Court 2 6:00 Bernat Jaume (ESP; 58) v Faraz Khan (USA; 53)
To say the men’s draw is open to anyone might be an understatement. The remaining 4 players are ranked within 5 spaces globally and having watched them the past 2 nights guessing who will win is almost impossible. It’s going to come down to whose game is “on”.
Faraz Khan returns for the first time since 2017 and Bernat Jaume is on hist first time to London Squash. Dave Howard is the official for this game. He and David Fishburn are trading off the matches tonight and have done a great job on the week. IT’s not easy being a PSA official. Games are called at a level that is foreign to most squash players as the expectations of what is playable or not are at a different level.
Game one starts with a series of straight drives and then it goes all cross courts. We proceed to drops and Bernat catches tin. 1-0 Khan. The second rally is huge but ends the same way this time with Faraz catching tin. 1-1. These rallies are huge. Khan gets a slim 3-2 lead when one finally gets under Bernat’s swing. One just under the racquet and one just out of court and Khan has a 5-2 lead. Khan’s gam seems to be to be error free. Bernat catches one against the wall though and it somehow makes the front showing where the patient game can fail. A lot of tin to end rallies. No complaints form the fans, but these guys need to hit perfection to win. Bernat is a gentlemen on court and calls a lift on himself. Khan up 9-5. One out of court and then a power cross court from Khan and its 11-5.
Many of our victors have lost their opening game. They come in with a new game plan that silences their opponents strength. Game two Bernat is looking to draw Faraz into the play tight. His speed is amazing and he needs to open up more of the court. That means more contact. It doesn’t work at the beginning as he goes down 3-0. When he wins the point it’s stunning and perfect. A beautiful boast brings him back to 3-4. Faraz has some great low drives that earn him a lead to 6-3. The NASH Cup has hosted many players ranked in the 50s but having so many together highlights just how much the fitness and skill have improved over the past 15 years. While there is no clear rally controller Faraz is coming out with more of the wins as he is able to get to seemingly impossible shots. 8-4. A rally that has to be seen to be believed ends with a perfect drop from Bernat and it’s 9-6 Khan. Khan takes game 2 11-9
If it’s just not working you need to change something. Bernat returns in a fresh shirt; Faraz in the same yellow. Game three starts for Khan but then he can’t get it out of the corner and we are 1-1. Bernat is frustrated with as Khan seems to be getting more of the bounces. Last night half the matches went to 5….this could be the second one tonight to end in 3. A perfect drop down the wall and Khan goes up 4-2. The athleticism is incredible. A long rally with a perfect drop from Bernat tightens things up, but then a push shot that hits tin and it’s 5-3. This game may come down to the number of errors. Their play really is equal in the rallies. They also play exactly the way this game should be played…..going for the ball. Neither is trying to draw strokes. Fun to watch. Points are earned. 7-4. Bernat retrieves two kill shots from Faraz and then is able to send it hard cross court to move to 7-8. The emotional release from each player when a point is won is intense. 9-7 Khan. Khan gets what was a clean stroke but hated but Bernat. He couldn’t see that Khan was waiting for the drop he made….and it was perfect…but still a stroke. Two tins from Khan as the shots are just too tight and it’s 9-10. Khan wins. A brilliant showing by both.
JN
Court 2 7:00 Salma Eltayeb (EGY; 50) v Marina Stefanoni (USA; 59)
Match reporter stingray esquire Hanebury reporting for duty once again.
Here we are now for our third match of the night with Stefenoni versus Eltayeb. The question will be is Marina feeling any of that match from last night. She had to work very hard, and looked exhausted but pulled through to win.
The first game starts with Marina and Eltayeb trading points. Neither player is able to pull away more than a few points. But every rally is intense and hard fought.
Eventually Eltayeb gets a two-point lead 9-7 but then marina wins the next two points to tie it up Gretzky style. Eltayeb makes a poor mistake on the return of serve to go down game ball in the first.
Eltayeb wins the next point to make it 10-10. But then on the following return of serve Marina goes for a reverse boast and quickly regrets it to lose the point. Eltayeb eventually wins the game on a serve that hits the back court for a nick and rolls out. Aka a London licious.
Eltayeb starts the second game with a 3-1 lead. Marina responds with a few good points but it’s not enough to close the gap. Marina starts to pull closer but Eltayeb doesn’t waver. She keeps the court closed down and takes it in short with confidence.
She keeps the pressure up and Marina doesn’t seem able to get a lead.
Eltayeb wins the second game to go up 2-0.
Marina takes an early lead in the third game to 4-3, but that doesn’t last long as Eltayeb ties it up 4-4. A few rallies later and Marina retrieves a fantastic length and follows up, only for Eltayeb to respond with a front right winner.
Marina and Eltayeb exchange points all the way until 9-9 and then Eltayeb runs away with it at the end to win 11-9 and the match 3-0.
Despite the game score, the match was much closer than it would show. The crowds definitely wanted another game and local court sweeper Gary Sullivan wanted at least two more games as he hasn’t had to sweep the court even once tonight.
That’s a wrap for stingray tonight. If you crave more of this commentary… well you probably have poor taste.
Court 2 8:00 David Baillargeon (CAN; 51) v Curtis Malik (ENG; 56)
This is an action packed QF! Canada’s #1 vs up and coming British talent, the floor is ready for some…ball hitting. Apparently, you can hit the ball 30 times or more per rally, who knew, I just saw it with my own eyes. They went back and forth like an Alliyah song until Malik pushed to 5-3. Then stroke to DB followed by serve return nick by CM and we are back to 6-4. A focused run brings us to 10-5 before a quick tin, followed by another quick one for DB to push the Canadian up 1-0!
2nd game Malik comes out STRONG to a fast 4-0 lead. The rallies are close but just affected slightly more by Malik. DB pushes back twice but Malik continues the sizzle to ???? it 6-2 before David unfortunately whiffs on the forehand Side. The quality is high; the momentum swings and Curtis pushes back before 2 untimely tins bring it to 7-all. 2 great rallies produce 2 unfortunate tins that bring Malik back to 9-7 who persists for 2 more points to seal it 11-7
The 3rd again starts back and forth with some contentious calls before the Canadian sinks in for some quick points at 3-2, fired off in a row. Malik answers briefly before DB pushes again, but Malik hits 5-6 thanks to some strong crosses touch, but David runs it to 8-5 with good lengths! The trend continues and we reach 10-6 before David seals the deal to the cheers of the crowd.
Game 4 starts with some tit for tat play. Some front to back, some hunt and attack, and the players trade points until Malik pushes to a 5-3 lead. A dive leaves a puddle on the floor and shows us GAAAARYS dance skills. His feet possessed by magic as he cleans the floor and play resumes. Malik 6-4 and crowd fully entertained! Malik pushes strong but tins twice and calls one down (like a gentlemen) at 8-10, but then leaves one out there himself for the game. We are going to cinco!!!
Game 5, get live! This is what we come for! A back and forth battle alongside cold…beverages! Speaking of back and forth we are witnessing a custody battle of great proportions leading to a 3-3 stalemate before DB crosses a nick into Curtis nether region, 6-3 after a contested let. Malik angers and asks before slotting 2 in the nick himself and we are back to stasis before DB shoves a volley into the midcourt nick. David pushes back to 9-7 and we have a verrrry close match on our hands! A couple calls back and forth end in a winner form DB to make it 8-10, but a great hold traps Malik behind the player and David closes it out 11-8!
This really was a win-win for the crowd, 2 favourites duking it out for a chance at gold!
Saturday Finals
Court 2 6:30 Hollie Naughton (CAD; 19) v Salma Eltayeb (EGY; 50)
Court 2 8:00 Faraz Khan (USA; 53) v David Baillargeon (CAN; 51)
