NASH Cup 2015 – Day 3 Recap
A long day and evening of matches with the feeling that this is where the tournaments really start! Lots of great match-ups with a packed club.
Henrik Mustonen beats Reiko Peter 13-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-3
Reporting: Tim Kotileti
There is very little Henrik cant retrieve, incredible pace of play with numerous extended rallies. It is a true testament to fitness needed at this level. Both players are playing so clever to force errors from the other as they cover the court so well. First 3 games are close but Reiko is toasted for the 4th.
Cyrielle Peltier beats Nikki Todd 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9
Reporting: Allie Mahler (12yrs old)
Both very athletic, great clothing. Both very good squash players. It’s going to be a very good and tough match. Nikki is shooting some tough and tricky shots. It’s really tough for Cyrielle to get the shots but if she keeps working hard she can beat Nikki. Nikki wins the 1st game. They are both fantastic at running and hitting the ball. Nikki and Cyrielle both keep hitting it out of bounds a lot. Nikki just took a beautiful shot of the right wall into the lower left corner. Cyrielle is catching up to Nikki at this point in the 3rd game. Cyrielle wins the 3rd. As well Cyrielle won the 2nd game. Nikki somehow wins the 4th. And the 5th is really close all the way with incredible rallies. Cyrielle wins. What a great game and and also congrats to Nikki.
Victoria Temple-Murray beats Hollie Naughton 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8
Reporting: Abbey Fayad (13yrs old)
Both very physical with incredibly strong legs! Long Rallies, Quite a lot of missed shots with mistakes. Lots and lots of lengths, some good winners but most points coming from errors.
Maria Toorpakai Wazir beats Danielle Letourneau 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6
Both players playing at a good pace and both hitting the ball really hard. I think both players would agree with too many unforced errors. Some amazing rallies both looking to twist and turn the other.
Eddie Charlton beats Jan vd Herrewegen 11-7, 17-15, 11-9
Reporting: Jay Francis
Long rallies, 90% to the back. EC controlling the pace of play but JvdH hanging in. When JvdH started to vary the pace he scores a few points on the run. 7-5 Jan, but strong play from EC takes him to 9-7 and takes the game on 2 winners. EC starts the 2nd strong and is too quick for Jan 4-0! Some good boasts from Jan brings him to 4-6. At 9-5 EC is smoothly in control, floating around the court. Jan ups the pace and is back to 8-9, he’s volleying crisper and with more intent…10-9 Jan. points go back and forth with Jan throwing in some great working boasts 12-11..every rally is now a monster..14-13 Jan..great hold front right from EC..15-14 EC..awesome windmill and flick sending EC the wrong way..15-15..couple of dodgy decisions against JvdH and its 17-15 for EC. At 5-3 in the 3rd Jan is looking a little tired..(comment from one of the PSA ladies, “Eddie’s leaps are worthy of the English figure skating team, including the tight uniforms!”)…….anyway it’s really close at 9-8 both players pushing hard and EC runs out 11-9 winner.
Kristian Frost Olesen beats Leandro Romiglio 12-10, 15-13, 14-12
Reporting: Ben (~14 yrs old)
KFO starts of strong with a great xcourt. It looks like a close game to me, with 2 amazingly skilled players. KFO has a further reach to use to his advantage,; but its not stopping LR from staying with him. They seem to be playing most of the shots to the back. I think the rallies are that good that they will never end! LR is playing great and stands out that he is quicker and more fleet of foot. KFO catches him out a lot with great deep shots. With the score at 7-5 they suddenly use the front corners and LR wins the point. They are running each other around and looks like its going to be a fun game, placing the ball and keep running no matter how tired they are. KFO takes the game in the tiebreak! KFO starts strongly and didn’t really realize it was possible, but he ups his game and picks up points by forcing LR into mistakes. But LR starts to hit great xcourts and the comeback starts. LR is on fire, and seems to me some bad decisions from the ref, making both players unhappy! But KFO takes the monster game and is 2-0 up. KFO is looking stronger at 6-4 in 3rd, the question is can lightening LR flash his way back into the match? He does we are at 10-10!!!! But KFO closes it out. What a 3-0!
Shawn Delierre beats Lyell Fuller 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6
Delierre lack of clearing is frustrating Lyell. But 2 solid players, both need to volley more and vary the pace. Delierre is just a bit too experienced and is reading Lyell well to take a pretty tough match.
Millie Tomlinson beats Giselle Delgado 11-3, 11-4, 11-6
Reporting: Jeff Tudhope
MT came out strong and powered her way to a commanding 1st game. GD looked slightly put off by the pace of play – which was incredibly high compared to what we have seen so far in the women’s draw! 2nd game MT reaches 4-1 and is fine form. Both ladies are cutting the ball of well. MT is at 10-4 and a GD mistake gives her the game. GD wa unable to handle the tight lengths, she was forced into loose balls which MT capitalised. Game 3, GD down early. MT questionably uses the philly serve but karma takes over and MT loses the pointJ). GD gains her first lead of a game 3-1. MT wins it back with an awesome volley boast. 3rd game is closer. GD making mistakes, costly as MT leads 8-4. GD gets the serve at 5-8 on a great f/hand smash..but MT is back at 9-5, then match ball of a tin for MT. great reverse boast by GD but MT closes it out 11-6…
Diego Elias beats Cameron Stafford 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
Reporting: Diego Franco
Not a great start from DE with some unforced errors. Some also from CS but he starts finding the nick. Not too many long rallies as both players favour a fast pace with attacking shots! CS is dominating the game! And he wins it 11-9!! Upset? (it must be noted that DE has his right ankle strapped and is making some strange movements of the ball!). 2nd game better start from DE. Great nick from CS. Again errors from DE, but its 5-3 for Diego and he’s starting to read Cameron. CS tries to comeback with great drops..but Diego is at 8-5 and carries through to win 11-5. 3rd game and CS leads 2-1 but DE responds to go 5-3. Its like an demo match with amazing kill shots from both players. 7-5 for DE, DE controls the game with a great mix of length and kills…11-6. 3 amazing drops to start the 4th 2-1 CS. But 2 errors give DE a 4-3 lead. DE at 6-4 but CS is staying in the game with some amazing kills..but DE closes out the game and match 11-5.
Declan James beats Nick Sachvie 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10
Reporting: Brad Hanebury
Match starts with several long rallies. James doing his best to be dominant on the T, but Nick is looking sexy despite playing through the qualies. At the business end of the game, Sachvie finds himself down several points due to errors, A loose shot at the front gives James 3 game balls. NS fights of 1, only to tin in the next..11-8 James. Here’s Joey and P.J. with the post game commentary…Joey: good game…P.J…I agree!!….Well that was a bit of a let down, back to the game. NS comes out looking like a man on a mission – but DJ as well! Which is really confusing to the audience. We prefer our plots to be one dimensional over here in Canada. Regardless, DJ’s mission was apparently of greater severity, as after the midgame he orchestrated a string of well executed rallies to win 11-7. Joey: good game…Chris:Well Joey, the fervent pace of the rallies was astronomically fantabulous!!!……Uhhhh okay..Well anyways, game 3 starts with both players opting for new missions. NS goes all in with a strong push that takes him to 7-3! James responds with a calm steadiness that takes him back to 8-8. NS responds to his response with a strong response, which James was unable to respond to! Response NS wins 12-10. Let’s hear what our mid-game commentators have to say….Joey: Good game…Looks like Joey is the only one left. Commentary is a tough biz!….Game 4 starts with James taking an early lead. NS ,looking dapper in his shirt change , awakens after 0-3 and rockets(not literally of course) to a 7-4 lead. Joining the arms race, James hops on his rocket, propelling him(clever, eh?) to a 10-9 match ball. Backing off the rocket analogies for a bit..NS ties it up at 10-10. James pulls away to 11-10 and after several great shots manages to close it out 12-10….CUBS win!!!!
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamini beats Dane Sharp 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6
Reporting: Maria Wazir
Both players are trying to keep the ball deep. AT trying to play low and hard while going volley xcourts. Dane is playing high above the service line whilst trying to slow it down a little. Great low xcourt by DS for a lovely point. Dane trying to stay in rhythm but what a great all 4 corner game by Abdulla. Abdulla wins the 1st with a great hold and flick to the back. Dane seems more in control with a 4-0 lead. Abdulla is a little slow and impatient. But he gains back the control of the T – forcing Dane into lots of unforced errors. Great deep game by Abdulla while going for his kills but Dane is constantly trying to irritate Abdulla with his lobs. Dan gets the result and wins the game with consistently the better focus of the 2 players. Abdulla is back with his hard hitting strategy to the back, backing it up with his volley holds to get Dane out of his comfort zone slow movement. Both seem pretty good in control of their game styles. Dane plays a nice straight drop to win a point. But in the next 2 points Abdulla pushes Dane to his physical limits. These 2 points break Dane and Abdulla wins the game. Seems like Abdulla is feeling lots of shin pains in his right leg…Abdulla starts volleying everything. Dane is lifting the ball, corner to corner keeping the ball out of Abdulla’s reach. Dane throws his racket after losing a tough rally. Dane is tiring but still trying hard to keep up with Abdulla’s fast pace..all in vain as Abdulla closes out the match.