Nash Cup 2018 Day 4 Recap
Nash Cup 2018 Day 4
Women Quarter’s & Men Semi’s
What an incredible night! A sellout crowd and nearly a hundred amateurs resulted in a very busy and energy filled club. Spectators were ready for some great squash, and they weren’t disappoints. At least half the matches will be talked about for years to come….
Women:
Emily Whitlock vs Olivia Fiechter 11-8,11-8,11-4(36mins)
Haley Mendez vs Milou vd Heijden 11-9,9-11,7-11,11-9,11-13(56mins)
Samantha Cornett vs Julianne Courtice 11-8,11-9,8-11,12-10(53mins)
Melissa Alves vs Nadine Shahin 9-11,11-8,6-11,6-11(34mins)
Men:
Vikram Malhotra vs. Alfredo Avila 11-6,7-11,11-7,7-11,7-11(57mins)
Mostafa Asal vs. Christopher Binnie 6-11,7-11,11-6,11-5(61mins)
Women:
Emily Whitlock vs Olivia Fiechter 11-8,11-8,11-4(36mins)
Game 1
Players getting used to each other, hitting length and looking for opportunities and weaknesses. No one taking control yet. Later in game Whitlock starting to take the T more and wins game 11-8.
Game 2
Whitlock came out strong controlling pace and T pulling to early 5-2 lead. Fiechter went from retrieval mode to cutting the ball off more which was successful for a while. But in the end Whitlock wins 11-8.
Game 3
Whitlock controlled game 3, pouncing in everything Fiechter tried to attack with. Wins 11-4. Lena Spettigue reporting
Haley Mendez vs Milou vd Heijden 11-9,9-11,7-11,11-9,11-13(56mins)
It was a tense match between the number 4 and 5 seed of the Nash Cup. Milou van der Heijden and Haley Mendez played some amazing squash going all the way to a tie-breaker in five games. The first game started with both girls hitting tight lengths and some great shots. Haley was just on top of Milou taking the game 11-9. Second game was the other way around. Still high quality squash, 11-9 to Milou. In the third she looked a bit more comfortable taking it 11-7. Haley regained herself in the fourth game, getting to 10-7 but Milou battled back to 9-10. It was not meant to be with Haley forcing a decider. The fifth game was tense with both girls trading points, Neither could more than a point or two ahead. Milou got the first match ball, Haley battled back, match ball Haley, then match ball Milou, a long and tense rally with an errant ball catching Hayley on the rebound. Point and match to Milou 13-11. Sanne Veldkamp reporting
Samantha Cornett vs Julianne Courtice 11-8,11-9,8-11,12-10(53mins)
This was a fantastic match, with 2 strong, athletic ladies going toe to toe! Every game went point for point up to 8-8! Sam’s strength across the T and from cutting the ball off was the only difference between these 2 great players. Their movement and cleanliness of play was an example to all watching. Sam needed the 4th and dug in deep to win the tiebreak and the packed house went wild for the Canadian victory!! JF
Melissa Alves vs Nadine Shahin 9-11,11-8,6-11,6-11(34mins)
Shahin is using a lot of boasts in the first 2 games, moving Melissa around constantly. Even though the games are tied at 1-1, all the work Melissa had to do starts to tell in the next 2 games! Melissa’s crazy week started to catch up with her, and Shahin just is too strong taking the last 2 games. They were hard work, but comfortable! We’ll see how Nadine does tomorrow but she looks good so far. JF
Men:
Vikram Malhotra vs Alfredo Avila 11-6,7-11,11-7,7-11,7-11(57mins)
Vikram started strong taking game one. Very fast paced second & third games with both competitors trading points up to 7- Avilla took the 2nd and Vikram the 3rd.
Avilla leads the fourth 6-2, early on in the game with explosive shots. He’s placing the ball tightly and out of Vikram’s range. Extending his lead to 11-7 to take the game. The match is tied 2-2!.
Vikram started the fifth with a few great rallies and shoots to take a 6-1 lead; but Avilla answered with amazing mental strength to tie it at 6-6! Surely Vikram will refocus and push through….nope amazing comeback from Avila as he accumulates 9 straight points and eventually take it 11-7!! This match was thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd from start to finish! Sahand reporting
Mostafa Asal vs Christopher Binnie 6-11,7-11,11-6,5-11(61mins)
What to say about this match!! Feisty is probably the right term! From the first moments it was clear that Chris was not going to take any antics from the world champion junior. The match was more about the atmosphere than the squash unfortunately! At times the quality of squash was breathtaking, but there were none stop discussions and collisions on court! Mostafa is going to be a top player, but has to learn to be a man on court before this will happen. Chris fought to a 2-0 game lead. Mostafa changed the pace of the game and managed to get the third. These are two large, strong and skilled players.
The match was at 9-5 in the 4th and ended with 2 conduct strokes against the young Egyptian! He walked off court, without asking, and never came back (earlier he was warned on a time violations between games!). When he finally did return to the court and was informed that the match was over he exploded! There was a shouting and poor behaviour towards the ref! But the match was done!! Over. No further discussion.
Chris will be happy to be in the final but not with the way the match was played. I hope young Mostafa will learn from this.
I have to add that at the time of writing, Mostafa very maturely came into the office and personally apologized to all the referees. We had a good chat and I have to say he was genuinely upset and realized he was in the wrong. Kids today!!! JF
Saturday’s Matches – All will be streamed.
5pm Amateur Open Final
6pm Annual Challenge Match
7pm Women’s Semi Final – Emily Whitlock vs. Milou vd Heijden
8pm Women’s Semi Final – Samantha Cornett vs. Nadine Shahin
9pm Men’s Final – Alfredo Avila vs. Christopher Binnie
