Eight Qualifiers Progress
Posted by Tom Quinn on 24-Nov-2007Categories: News Comments: [add a comment]
Saturday saw the culmination of the qualifying for the Endurance World Open 2007. Four Englishmen made it through to the main draw, along with a Mexican, a Canadian, an American and an Egyptian.
The matches, played at the Devonshire club, provided a great spectacle for the audience. The first match up was Alister Walker playing Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Walker, who had a bye in the first round, looked fresh and proceeded to take the first game 11-5. In the second Rodriguez managed to grab the lead, but persistence from Walker allowed him to take the game 11-9. The third game was another close-run thing, but Walker pulled off some spectacular recovery shots to take the win. He now plays John White in the main draw.
Eric Galvez from Mexico was next on court, playing Aussie Ryan Cuskelly. Galvez had not struggled too much in his first round game and it showed. Even though Cuskelly managed to keep pace with the Mexican in all three games, Galvez had the skills to finish the match. The games were much closer than the 3-0 results suggest. Galvez moves on to face El Hindi.
Englishman Bradley Ball then continued his dominant form from the first round, dispatching Egyptian El Halaby 3-0 in little under half an hour, and will play Peter Barker in the main draw.
Next on court two was Canadian Shawn Delierre - playing Australian Scott Arnold. This was a nailbiting up and down match, which went to fives games and lasted an hour and twenty minutes. Arnold had already come through a tough match the day before against Liam Kenny. Delierre had had a 5-set match against Engelbrecht. Delierre took the first two, Arnold grabbed the next two, before the Canadian closed out. The final scores were 12/10, 11/5, 5/11, 7/11, 11/5 - Delierre will now play David Palmer on the glass court.
Julian Illingworth then proceeded to play a textbook 3-0 game against Egyptian Omar Elborolossy. The American played some fantastic length shots and finished 11/8, 11/5, 11/7. Thierry Lincou will be his opponent in the main draw.
The audience were then thrilled by another 5 set match. Jonathon Kemp of England played Kashif Shuja of New Zealand. Kemp started slowly and lost the first, but then rattled off two quick games to go 2-1 up. In the fourth Shuja played some fantastic squash to take it to 2-2, but he could not keep up the momentum, and Kemp closed out the match 3-2. The game scores were 7/11, 11/4, 11/2, 5/11, 11/4. Kemp moves on to play Ong Beng Hee.
Another thriller was then served up as Egyptian Omar Mosaad defeated Saurav Ghosal of India 11/5, 9/11, 9/11, 11/4, 11/6. Both players were in great form and playing some superb strokes. Mosaad now plays Olli Tuominen in the main draw.
The final qualifying match saw Daryl Selby of England beat Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz 3-0. The first two games were won convincingly - 11/4 and 11/7 - but Selby was taken to a tie-break in the third, which he clinched 13/11. In the draw for the main event, Selby then drew the number two seed Gregory Gaulthier.
A tough day for Bermuda
Posted by Tom Quinn on 23-Nov-2007Categories: News Comments: [add a comment]
Day one of qualifying for the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 was a tough one for the four local players representing Bermuda. All were beaten by their opponents at the Bermuda Squash Racquets (BSRA) venue, which means that Bermuda’s only representative will be James Stout, who has the wildcard entry to the main draw. That, of course, excludes David Palmer, Australian but part-time Bermuda resident and two-time winner of the World Open.
The four locals - Nick Kyme, Chase Toogood, Mel Caines and Patrick Foster - all played valiantly - backed up by a partisan crowd at the Devonshire club, but were ultimately dispatched by better opponents.
Two of the Bermuda representatives, Kyme and Foster, are previous Tour professionals, but the speed and accuracy of Miguel Angel Rodriguez and Julian Illingworth respectively was just too much for them.
The major upsets of the day went to Australia - Ryan Cuskelly and Scott Arnold both had good wins and progress to the second round of qualifying.
The action for day two of qualifying starts at 12 noon at the BSRA tomorrow. The 8 victors will earn the right to progress to themain draw of the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007, and have the chance to play on the spectacular glass court overlooking the beautiful South Shore of Bermuda.
Two-time World Champion Palmer feeling no Pressure
Posted by Tom Quinn on 23-Nov-2007Categories: News Comments: [add a comment]
In an interview with the Bermuda Sun today, David Palmer says that he is feeling no pressure in the run-up to the World Open. Palmer, twice-crowned World Champion, feels that his fellow players are the ones who have a point to prove.
Qualifying begins Today
Posted by Tom Quinn on 23-Nov-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
Today the qualifying rounds for the World Open begin at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association, 111 Middle Road, Devonshire. The qualifying draw will place at 10am at the Devonshire Club. Then, starting at midday, 16 matches will be played in the first round. Four local qualifiers will be hoping to make it through to the main draw.
Read more in Today at the World Open.
Court Build Complete
Posted by Tom Quinn on 22-Nov-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
The ASB glass court build is complete. Now the sponsor logos are being applied to the court and the stage and rest of venue is being prepared for the opening night.
Tickets can still be purchased - see the Tickets area of this site for more details.
