Sept 16 Nash Cup

NASH CUP DAY 1:

LADIES QUALIFYING FINALS + MENS 1ST ROUND QUALIFYING

Matches kicked off at 4pm with both men and women playing side by side.

Some great matches tonight! Albert Shoihet from the local Western University (best in Canada) pulled off the biggest upset of the evening by beating Canadian national player Matt Seridiak in a mammoth 5-set battle. It’s going to get harder as the week goes on. The crowd was well entertained with many great matches and lots of locals to support.

SOPHIE METHA (CAN) vs LAURA SAVAGE (CAN): 11-6; 11-6; 11-7 (21 mins)

Plays Milou Van Der Heijden (Ned)

15 year old Sophie was fresh from helping Canada to 5th place in the recent World Junior Championships in Poland, and you could see the hunger in her play. She was steady and explosive and forced Laura into a number of unforced errors. Laura did steady up in the 3rd and the errors were reciprocated but she won the big points and ran out a deserved winner.

Sophie: “This was my first WSA experience and it was amazing. I am very happy right now”

Laura: “Felt I played well, but she was too precise and I haven’t played at that pace and level for a long time. Wish her luck in the main draw”

ENORA VILLARD (FRA) vs HOLLY DELAVIGNE (CAN): 11-1; 6-11; 11-3; 11-5 (24 mins)

Plays Hollie Noughton (Can)

Both girls played a similar game of looking to take the ball early and use pace but Enora was that bit steadier and had more finesse at the front. To Holly’s credit, she cut down on her error rate in the second. Maybe nerves set in with Enora, being her first ever WSA event, as she played an unusual amount of unforced errors which saw Holly take the second. Enora steadied up in the 3rd and 4th to clinch the match. Great effort from both girls.

Enora: “it was an up and down game! She was super fit! I am happy to win and get to the main round of my first ever WSA”

Holly: “it was great to play someone from another country and I couldn’t have asked for a better venue to do so. She is a strong player and I hope she does well in the main draw”

MADDIE O’CONNOR (CAN) vs DEANNA HAMILTON (CAN): 11-4; 11-4; 11-0 (11 mins)

Plays Maria Toorpakai Wazir (Pak)

Maddie took control of this game right from the start and did not allow Deanna into the game. She hit a solid length and was pretty much error free throughout the match.

Maddie: “Deanna and I had some great rallies! It was an awesome experience playing in a WSA tournament!”
Deanna: “I felt like a dead cat! So much pressure playing an event like this. She was too good!”

ALYSSA METHA (CAN) vs ARDEN McKILLOP (CAN): 11-0; 11-4; 11-6 (16 mins)

Plays Alix Younger (Can)

Arden is a 13 year old Ontario provincial champion with a great future and Alyssa, part of the victorious Canadian team that came 5th in the worlds, gave her a demonstration of where she wants to get to! A good game, but Alyssa was in control throughout the match.

Alyssa: “Tough playing someone you know so well! She has a good future. I am of course happy to qualify!”

Arden: “I loved every minute of this. Hopefully I will get to play this event more often and get better each year”.

SCOTT ARNOLD (AUS) vs COLIN RAMASRA (TRI): 11-2; 11-7; 11-5 (25 mins)

Scott Arnold took control early jumping out to a 7-0 lead. He was working straight length and avoiding costly mistakes. Second & third game was much like the first, mostly length & volleying loose balls to stretch Ramasara around the court. Arnold showed his experience with a 11-2, 11-7,11-5 victory in 25 minutes.

Colin: “happy to be back in London (ex Western university), but playing the number one qualifying seed was tough”.

Scott: “relieved since it was my first win at the Nash Cup in five years!”

ALBERT SHOIHET (CAN) vs MATTHEW SERIDIAK (CAN): 9-11; 7-11; 13-11; 11-5; 11-9 (69 mins)

Match of the night! Albert had good leads in both the first and second but errors, coupled with steady play from Matt denied him both. He snuck the 3rd after being match point down and won a commanding 4th. The difference was playing a few extra balls to the back with hold rather than taking it in short at every opportunity which Albert is famously guilty for! The 5th was a see saw affair. Matt had leads of 5-2, 7-4 and 8-5 but it was Albert who clinched the match, and probably one of the best wins of his life, 11-9 in the 5th.

Albert: “It was a match that tested me in many ways… it required a lot of will at the end. Matt is a true class act on court”

Matt: “Wasn’t my day. Albert played really well. He stayed away from the tin and kept the ball away from the middle better than me. Disappointed, especially after having a match ball but wish him the best in the next round”.

TYLER HAMILTON (CAN) vs ALEX NOAKES (ENG): 11-8; 11-9; 11-6 (28 mins)

This was Alex’s first PSA event and he competed well. Tyler was just that bit steadier than his younger protégée and played the big points well. Good game.

Tyler: “Felt good tonight. Felt as though my experience showed through. Alex is a talented player and I thoroughly enjoyed the match”.

Alex: “Great experience. Tyler played better than me today and he deserved the win”.

LEWIS WALTERS (ENG) vs BRAD HANEBURY (CAN): 11-2; 11-4; 11-2 (21 mins)

Lewis controlled this game from start to finish. Brad competed but ended up going for shots which inevitably opened up the court. Very entertaining game – Lewis expressed himself well and showed how talented he is.
Lewis: “Pretty relaxed and calm. Felt good and went for a few shots early on that came on, so kept going for them. Enjoyable!”

Brad: “need to get a beer – it’s very important to stay hydrated!”

DAVID LETOURNEAU (CAN) vs ADRIAN OSTBYE (CAN): 11-5;11-9;11-5 (23 mins)

David was looking sharp from the beginning. Adrian came out playing a fast paced game and trying to move David around with cross courts. David played steady taking the ball early and hitting some incredible soft and deceptive mid court boasts. As the match went on David’s ball movement and control was too much for Adrian and he took the match 3-0.
David: “It was fun – nice to play Adrian as he was fair. Reminded me of when I was first starting out; he knows how to play, has the skills, just got a little tired”.

Adrian: “I still get nervous in big matches. Don’t know why. Dave played well and was the better player tonight”.

 

MIKE McCUE (CAN) vs ERIC DINGLE (CAN): 11-3; 11-2; 11-6 (26 mins)

Mike went out the blocks like Usain Bolt! Won the first 11-3 and the next 11-2. Mike raced to a 6-1 lead in the 3rd at which point Eric was playing catch up. Mike eventually closed out the 3rd 11-6.
Mike: “took a solid start, moved well and kept the error rate down. Very happy!”
Eric: “I didn’t really execute that well tonight and Mike didn’t make too many errors. He played really well”.
TOM PASHLEY (ENG) vs ADRIAN DUDZIKI (CAN): 11-4; 11-2; 11-8 (27 mins)
Tom’s length and ball control were the difference tonight. Adrian tried to force the pace from the outset but lacked accuracy and patience at times. Tom’s fluidity and technical ability were extremely impressive and tomorrow’s match is sure to be interesting!

Tom: “Funny, this time last year, I played Adrian at the same stage and lost 3-0. Very happy to win tonight and felt I played very well”.

Adrian: “Disappointed but credit to Tom; he did play well. Would love to turn the clocks back one year!”

DECLAN JAMES vs JAMES VAN STAVEREN (CAN): 11-9; 4-11; 11-4; 11-8 (34 mins)

Fantastic match between two players with very similar styles. The experience of Declan being on the circuit for the last four years showed in the big points. Both players moved well, hit superb length and used their opportunities when the court was open. This was a game played by two gentlemen and a real credit to squash.

Declan: “Tough first game which I managed to sneak. Bit too relaxed in the second and he pounced on me 11-4. Eddie (Charlton) told me to inject more pace, which I did, and it allowed me to take away the middle of the court from him, where he was dangerous. Got a good lead in the fourth but he came back well. Very skillful player and a pleasure to play”.

James: “Can’t complain! Great game! Pretty happy with the way that I played. I felt like we played a similar game, but he just played it better than me”.