Sept 19 Nash Cup
NASH CUP DAY 4: LADIES SEMIS + MENS QUARTERS
The day started at lunch time with the ladies semis having their own stage. On paper there were some juicy match ups with all 4 players having put in good quarter final performances. Hopes were high for a Canadian finalist and they had a 50-50 chance with one in each final…… but it was not to be as the top 2 seeds, Milou Van Der Heijden from The Netherlands and Maria Toorpakai Wazir from Pakistan spoiled the party with some clinical squash against Alex Norman and Nikki Todd respectively.
MILOU VAN DER HEIJDEN (NED) vs ALEANDRA NORMAN (CAN): 13-11; 11-8; 11-8 (29 mins)
I spoke to both players beforehand and got their thoughts
Milou: “I feel lucky to even be playing in the semis after being 10-5 down in the 5th to Julia yesterday! I know I have to play different to the way I played yesterday as Alex plays chess on court (which is nice to see). It’s going to be har. My aim is not to leave her too many loose balls to hurt me with.I am really looking forward to it. Bit nervous but feel I have been given a life line and really should be on the plane home! Having said that, the win last night has given me confidence which I hope I can take into today’s game”
Alex: “Feel I have been steady and played my game till now. I have never played Milou before but it should be a great game. I feel the pressure is on her! I am going to work my length, be patient and captitalise on the loose balls. Looking forward to it!”
Well it was a great game and there was very little in it. Both players kept to their game plans (Alex playing good length and punishing the loose balls; Milou keeping the pace high and taking it early). Alex got the early advantage to lead 6-2. Both were moving well and the rallies were good and well constructed. Milou then put together a string of 5 great points to move in front 7-6. A cross court winner from Alex made it 7-7 but she followed this up with an error to give the advantage back to Milou 8-7. Alex then played a perfect cross volley drop angle to bring it back to even stevens, 8-8. It was Miou’s turn to play a winner and an error – 9 all! A great rally followed where Milou worked Alex to all 4 corners of the court and finished the rally with a punishing backhand straight drive from the front which died. 10-9 game ball. Alex replied with a perfect deep cross court to make it 10 all and followed this up with a volley drop winner to have her first game ball at 11-10. A winning length from Milou brought it back to 11 all. An error from Alex and a winning drive from Milou gave her first blood 13-11.
The second and third games were both keenly contested and there was very little in it. They exchanged winners, errors and both retrieved some incredible shots but it was Milou who got the small advantage in each game , and she won 11-8, 11-8 and secure a place in the first ever WSA Nash Cup final.
I got both the players to interview each other after the match and this is what they had to say
Milou “Very happy to be in the final! I played well today, had good focu, and after yesterday my expectations were low so I felt less pressure on myself which seemed to help me! Looking forward to a good match tomorrow”
Alex “Disappointed to have lost. I felt I played well at the start of each game but was a little inconsistent. Milou played a great game and had some fantastic kill shots! Wish her lots of luck in the final tomorrow”.
MARIA TOORPAKAI WAZIR (PAK) vs NIKKI TODD (CAN): 11-4; 11-8; 11-6 (20 mins)
Waiting for a place in the final were second seed Maria Toorpakai Wazir from Pakistan, and Nikki Todd of Canada. I also spoke to both players before their game.
Maria: “I am really happy with the way I have played so far. I know I need to be focused and play to my strengths (good length and a high pace) and keep the errors down (that’s a winning game!!). Only played Nikki in practise so know she is a good player. She is for sure going into this match with confidence after 2 great matches under her belt. Can’t wait!
Nikki: “Really pumped to have got this far. Feel like I have played well so far. I know I am going to have to be at my best today – it’s going to be a pretty physical game. I plan to slow it down, using the lob and keep the rallies long and hard to make everything a movement shot and gain more space between her and the ball. Would be nice to hit a few nicks too! Excited”
Well one player certainly stuck to their game plan in the first game, and that was Maria. She kept the pace high and forced Nikki into a high number of unforced errors. There were some great rallies which saw both players retrieving some amazing shots but it was Maria who took the first game 11-4.
Nikki started the second game like a demon possessed and raced to a 7-2 lead with punishing length, perfect cross courts and great retrieving, which in turn led to Maria making her fair share of errors. But then Nikki proceeded to self implode in the error department and lost her length. Maria was all over this and took the game 11-8.
The third started off with both players taking a small lead and then the other coming back. Good rallies, high pace and some great winners played by both. At 6 all, it looked like Nikki had found her rhythm and was very much in this game, but then Maria went up a gear and went through in one hand to take the game 11-6, and the match 3-0 to book her place in the final.
Andrew Schnell, Canadian national player who lost to Shawn Delierre in yesterday’s main draw, interviewed Nikki Todd. This is what she had to say
Nikki “I played well but was struggling to find my length. In the first half of the second I was hitting great length and was holding the ball well, and that forced her into making some mistakes. I then started to force it too much and too soon, the game went away from me. I’m really happy with the tournament overall and made it further than I expected. I am just frustrated with my opponent as she was very physical and took her space significantly. Still I had a positive tournament and I look forwad to building on this result”
Eddie Charlton who is playing Shawn Delierre in tonight’s quarter final, interviewed Maria and decided to find out more about this interesting young girl from Pakistan
Pakistan has a large number of legends from squash but currently doesn’t have a male player inside the top 50, what do you put the decline down to?
“The countries situation doesn’t help, all the level of our sports have gone down. The situation is very intense and we can’t host any events there. The players can’t travel as its difficult to get visa’s. Players don’t visit Pakistan anymore as they are fearful going there, the political situation doesn’t help matters and all these factors have contributed to the decline.”
How much has your life changed since moving to Canada?
“I’m learning a lot both on and off court which is great. Im pain free I’ve been suffering from an injury and have worked closely with physics and doctors which has helped a lot. Ive travelled a lot before so the western culture wasn’t too much of a shock but being around the people more has been good. The people here really get on with living their life which is nice.”
What does a typical training day consist of for you?
“I get there around 9.30am depending on how I feel. Everyday my training is different, I do a variety of sessions (cardio, solo etc.). I hit with Jonathan 2/3 times a week which is great, his style suits me and I feel like I can try and do the same tricks as he does. I understand his style and we work very well together. Before coming here I wasn’t deceptive, that has been developed while working with Jonathan.”
JOE LEE (ENG) vs DECLAN JAMES (ENG): 11-5; 11-3; 11-7 (42 mins)
Neither had met in a PSA before but had for sure played back in England at national squads. The first game started with some very competitive rallies but Joe’s length was the better of the 2. Other than a back wall nick serve winner from Joe, Dec dictated the outcome of the first few points- 3 errors, 2 winners and it was 4-2 Joe. A great rally followed which Joe won with a forehand volley winner and followed this up with a volley drop from a boast! Joe kept the momentum till 7-3 then a rare error made it 7-4. An incredible rally followed where both players covered all 4 corners, which Dec won with a killing forehand drive. Joe turned the screw at this point and took the next 4 points to win the game 11-5. This game had absolutely everything possible.
The intensity remained high in the second. Winners and errors were exchanged to 2-2. Then a second error in a row from Joe (rare) made it 3-2 Dec. That was his last error and he ran straight through in one hand to win the game 11-3.
The third started like the other 2 games – intense and a high pace. Dec took an early 3-0 lead with 2 winners and an error from Joe. Joe then got on the score board with a boast from the back that caught Dec flat footed and won 2 of the next 3 points to make it 3-4. The next rally was probably the best of the game and Dec played his part in this with mind blowing retrieving – having got 3 almost impossible balls back in this rally, Joe played a BH volley that had just the right weight to die and deny Dec any chance of keeping the ball alive. Joe built a 7-4 lead only for Dec to get back to 6-7 but other than a winner, Joe ran out a deserved winner. Both players played their part in this amazing match.
SHAHIER RAZIK (CAN) vs MOHAMED ABOUELGHAR (EGY): 11-8; 2-11; 7-11; 11-6; 11-8 (59 mins)
I am going to give this one “match of the day” for 2 reasons – one, it was an amazing match and two, I didn’t think Shahier was able to win this one before the outset.
Mohamed is known for his shots, and boy, he has some! He was clearly feeling his way into the game in the first, but the experienced Shahier didn’t give him too much to play with and consequently there were a high number of errors from his younger opponent. First game Shahier 11-8.
We then experience the kind of magic we would expect to see from someone like Ramy! Outright winners (dead nicks from all areas of the court including 4 boasts from the back that just rolled out. Despite a valiant effort from Shahier, he had no answer to this and Mohamed won the game 11-2.
Mohamed started the 3rd with confidence and continued to play a number of “crowd pleasing” winners. He was taking the ball so early and putting it away with such ease and confidence. Was this just a storm that Shahier had to weather, or a tsunami? Shahier wasn’t doing much wrong to be fair, his opponent was doing everything right! At 9-3 Mohammed went for 3 cross court nicks (that had previously been rolling) and all 3 went into the tin. 6-9 Mohamed. A winner from shahier and it was 7-9 but Mohamed won the next 2 points to take the game 11-7.
The storm was still raging but Shahier was weathering it. They traded points to 5-5. The next rally was long and ended in a let. Mohamed then hit 3 tins in a row to give Shahier 8-5 and a man of his experience does not let a lead like this slip, and he didn’t, he went on to win the game 11-8 and take it to a 5th.
The waters were now calm and the young Egyptian was no longer the dominant force that he had been. Shahier took an early 2-0 lead and built on this with consistent steady squash. His opponent continued to go for the winners but hit more errors than winners and Shahier took the game and the match 11-8.
Fair play to Shahier. Most people were betting against him after he went 2-1 down. If I were stuck on a ship in stormy weather I would want shahier on my ship any day! Great effort and a great match.
BEN COLEMAN (ENG) vs JAN KOUKAL (CZE): 9-11; 11-8; 6-11; 11-6; 11-4 (87 mins)
Both had good wins last night so a great match was eagerly awaited by all. The beginning of the game was nip and tuck all the way to 6-6. Both were moving well, taking the ball in and working the back corners. Ben took an early 8-6 lead and then a little while later it was 9-9 at which point Ben hit 2 quick tins to give Jan the early advantage 11-9.
The second started in much the same fashion as the first with points being shared to 3-3. Ben again found the early advantage to lead 5-3 only to be pulled back to 5-5. Jan is one of the best “counter punchers” around. Ben is playing a different game to the one he played last night where he was patient and worked the openings, but Jan has a way of disrupting a players’ rhythm. Ben did not look comfortable out there tonight! Jan had a brutal game last night and the big question on everyone’s mind was has he got enough fuel in the tank to pull this one off. Ben held onto the advantage and closed out the game 11-8 to make it 1-1
Jan dominated the 3rd. there was a point early on when he looked laboured in retrieving a ball that one could have thought that he was tired. Only a bluff as he flew around the court and took the game 11-6 to lead 2-1
Ben was clearly on the back foot and needed to dig deep to stay in this match. He built a 3-1 lead, only for Jan to get it back to 3-3. 2 quick winners from Ben and its 5-3, then they share the next few points (albeit long and hard rallies). Ben goes from 7-5 to 9-5. Jan gets one back but Ben closes out the game 11-6.
Still hard to call this one, and confirmed as they play 4 gruelling rallies, sharing the points to make it 2-2. Ben then manages to put together 4 perfect points to go 6-2 up. The rallies continue to be tough up to 7-4 then Jan gets a no let followed by a conduct stroke for releasing his racket! 9-4. Jan looks dejected now and Ben takes the next 2 points and the match 11-4. Another great match.
SHAWN DELIERRE (CAN) vs EDDIE CHARLTON (ENG): 11-9; 11-6; 10-12; 11-1 (90 mins)
This match got on court just after 10pm! No one was complaining though as they were loving the squash!
Shawn came out like a lion who had not eaten for 3 days! He pounced on everything with such hunger that Eddie did not know what had hit him until he was 10-2 down. He then managed to steady it down and slowly but surely work his way back to 9-10. Shawn was looking like he had missed out on his kill and was getting frustrated but pulled out a winner to take it 11-9.
Shawn came out in the second in the same vain and built up an 10-3 lead. Eddie got it back to 6 before Shawn dispatched another winner to make it 2-0. Eddie looked like a deer in the headlights.
The third was a great game. Eddie finally worked out that he needed to keep the court more closed and be more patient. He knew that Shawn would get basically everything back so needed to work some openings and manoeuvre Shawn out of position. The rallies got longer, the number of lets increased, and Eddie stayed calm. Shawn built up a 4-1 and 5-2 lead only for Eddie to claw his way back to 5-5. Eddie won the next point and led for the first time in a game. Points were shared to 8-8. Eddie let 9-8 before 4 lets followed, and then a BH straight volley into the nick from Shawn made t 9-9. A lob out of court form Eddie gave Shawn a match point. Eddie responded with a perfect length to take it to a tie breaker. A not let for Shawn and a backhand drop into the nick from Eddie and he was back in the match.
Sadly for Eddie, compliments to Shawn, the 4th was one way traffic for Shawn and he ran away with it 11-1.
Great game, great night of squash, in fact, not forgetting the ladies earlier, a great DAY of squash!
Ladies final and men’s semis tomorrow, can’t wait!