Point by Point Play - Day 3
Tuesday 27th November - World Open Second Round
Shabana vs Boswell
Shabana serves in the first game. A long rally where the two feel each other’s game out is won by Shabana with a drop to the front right. 1-0. A great drop from Shabana wins him the next point. 2-0. The next rally is long and deliberate and ens in a let play. Shabana has Boswell under pressure in the next rally and beats him with a drop front left 3-0. Some contact and Boswell gets his first point. 1-3. Boswell then plays a great forehand volley down the right - too tight for the Egyptian. 2-3. Shabana then tins two simple shots - and Boswell leads 4-3. Another quick point for the Australian, but Shabana gets one back. 4-5 Shabana serving. Boswell tins an attempted cross-court volley and the game is tied 5-5. A sublime forehand volley to the front right corner from Boswell takes him back into the lead at 6-5. He then plays another drop to the front left to extend his lead to 2 points. In the next rally Boswell has Shabana scrambling, and the Egyptian is lucky to get a let. Another let play after a great rally with some fantastic recoveries from both players. The Australian then tins a shot and it is 6-7. A stroke to Boswell - 8-6. The volley game from both players is really top notch. Shabana plays a winning drive, and then Boswell crosses for a winner. 9-7 in Boswell’s favour. Shabana wins a stroke as the ball comes out of the front corner badly for Boswell. 8-9. Boswell then puts the Egyptian under a lot of pressure and twice in succession Shabana has to dig deep to recover, but eventually it is too much. 10-8 match ball. A drop front left seals it and Boswell takes the game 11-8.
In the second match Shabana takes a quick early lead with some quick points 4-0. Boswell then gets one back - 1-4 with the Australian serving. In the next rally Shabana tries to play the ball without a racquet as he is impeded - let. He then out-foxes Boswell with a winning line drive down the right. The next time he tries it Boswell is read and earns a stroke. 2-5. Shabana then tins a shot 3-5. The Egyptian then plays a masterful boast from the back of the court to move to 6-3. In the next rally Boswell thinks he has won it with a drop to the front left, but Shabana reaches it and drops a winner. 7-3 to the Egyptian. Boswell then tins a drop front right and Shabana is leading 8-3. Another ball out of the front corner goes against the Australian - a stroke against him and Shabana is really in control here at 9-3. Brief respite for Boswell as Shabana tins a shot, but then he drops from the back to move to 10-4 game ball. In the next rally Boswell is under pressure and lobs one out. Shabana takes the game 11-4. Shabana was much more controlled and made fewer errors in that game.
Game three sees Shabana start off in style - he is quickly 2-0 up with some great drops. Boswell then plays the ball out high down the right. The next rally sees Boswell in the perfect position to counter a boast in the front left corner but he tins the drop. 4-0 to Shabana. Another two balls played down by the Australian in quick succession and Shabana has a commanding 6-0 lead. Nothing is going right for Boswell as he loses the next two, then fails to make a drop from a round-the walls boast from Shabana. The Egyptian is now leading 9-0. The Australian finally wins a point but it seems a long way to come back, and Shabana wins the next to move to 10-1 game ball. Boswell does win another point but Shabana drives the next ball down the left out of the reach of the Australian to win the game 11-2.
We are now into game four. Boswell is not letting Shabana get away quickly this time, and is quickly 5-3 up. The rallies are over quickly - nothing too extended. Shabana misses a tight drop and The Australian is 6-3 up. Shabana counters with a winner down the right wall into the nick. 4-6, but Boswell wins a stroke to move to 7-4, then Shabana plays two balls down in a row. 9-4 Boswell. A fantastic drop from the back by the Egyptian moves him to 5-9. He then volleys a winne, but Boswell plays a winner off his serve. 10-6 game ball. Boswell then tins an attempted boast and it is 7-10. Shabana wins a stroke as Boswell plays a line drive left but Shabana is in position. 8-10. Another drop from the back - this time to the front left from Shabana and it is 9-10. Nail-biting stuff. But the Egyptian tins the next point and Boswell wins 11-9.
It is now two games apiece and Boswell is serving. A great rally has him moving the Egyptian around the court, but he tins a drop. Shabana serving 1-0. Several quick points again for the Egyptian before Boswell plays a great volley into the nick. 2-4. Shabana then tins a drop - 3-4 with the Australian serving. Boswell plays the ball down and it is 5-3 to the world number one. The match has now been underway an hour. Shabana wins the next and leads 6-3. The next rally sees Boswell make a great recovery shot from the front right, but Shabana gets his racquet to it and plays a winner. He then volleys an overhead winner into the nick. 8-3. The next rally sees Shabana under all sorts of pressure, he stumbles and recovers to win the point. 9-3. Boswell complains about the floor being slippery but the referee tells him he can’t raise that after the point has been won. The players then trade points and it is 10-4 match ball for Shabana. He puts away a drive to the back left to win 11-4.
Edwards asks Shabana how he is feeling - “it is not easy” - and his opponent - “a tough player - we have played since the juniors”.
Lincou vs Kemp
Englishman Kemp is one of two qualifiers left in the tournament. His opponent is ex World number one and one of the “three musketeers” - Thierry Lincou.
Game one begins with a great line winner drive down the right from Kemp. 1-0. Lincou tins the next point and it is 2-0 to the Englishman. He then plays the ball down. 1-2. Another tin shot from Lincou. 3-1. Kemp then plays the ball down. 2-3. Lots of early mistakes from both players. The next rally is a classic - great pressure from Lincou has Kemp scrambling. It ends with a let. Lincou is then denied a let, but gets two quick points. 4-4. Points are traded and it is 5-5. Lincou plays another shot down. 6-5 to Kemp. Lincou then fails to reach a drop front left as he slips. 7-5 to the qualifier. Lincou the completely mis foots Kemp with a boast. 6-7, then 7-7 as Kemp tins the ball. The Englishman then plays an unbeatable drop to the front right. 8-7. Lincou then plays a shot under duress (contact) for the point. 8-8. Hard, low hitting characterizes the next rally, but Lincou plays the ball down. 9-8, and then Kemp plays a great winner front right. 10-8 game ball to the Englishman. Lincou the wins a stroke. 9-10. Kemp is under a lot of pressure, then gets into a position of power and tins it. 10-10 tie-break. Then a stroke to Lincou. 11-10. Kemp then plays the ball down. Lincou wins 12-10.
The second game has Lincou serving. He tins a drop. 1-0. Another quick point for Kemp. 2-0. Kemp then plays the ball down twice in a row. 2-2. A great rally sees Kemp missing a drop front right. 3-2 to Lincou. Points are traded and it is 4-3. The Lincou drives one straight back at Kemp, who cannot react quick enough. 5-3. Kemp then plays a ball down and the Frenchman is leading 6-3. A great rally has Kemp playing recoveries from every corner, before Lincou is awarded a stroke. Then several quick points and Lincou is at 10-5 - too many mistakes from Kemp. Game ball. Another stroke to Lincou and he wins the game 11-5.
At the start of the third game Kemp plays two balls down to give Lincou a quick 2-0 lead.The Frenchman then plays a winning drop front left to move to 3-0, and then two more quick points to lead 5-0. A fantastic drop from Lincou down the right is too tight. 6-0. Another quick point and it is 7-0. A great rally sees some hard-hitting before a drive to the left corner from Kemp is too good. 1-7. Kemp then plays the next ball down. 8-1 to Lincou. Kemp then wins two quick points before being denied a let. 9-3 for the Frenchman. Lincou then slips trying to reach a cross-court to the left corner, and Kemp serves at 4-9. Lincou plays the ball down. 5-9. The Kemp does the same. 10-5 match ball for Lincou, who then plays a great passing ball to win the match 11-5.
Edwards ask Lincou - was winning the World Championship the highlight of his career? “Yes”. Then Edwards asks about the all French British Open final, where Lincou lost to Gregory Gaultier. “Greg deserves to be where he is at the moment”. But Lincou says that this tournament is different to the British Open. “This tournament proves that there are no easy games - especially when you see seeds go out.”
Palmer vs Barker
Edwards welcomes Peter Barker from England on court. Then Australian David Palmer comes out. Palmer is the defending World Champion. The two players have never played against each other before.
In the first game Palmer wins the first point with a drive down the right, then tins a drop front left. 1-1. A drive to the back right corner from Palmer is a winner. 2-1. Palmer wins a stroke on the next rally as Barker cannot clear a drop front left. 3-1. A volley from Barker in the next rally is too fast for Palmer who cannot react quickly enough. 2-3. A deceptive boast from Barker is a winner and the game moves to 3-3. Barker wins the next as Palmer plays it down - 4-3 for the Englishman. Palmer then plays the next ball down - he slips and complains about the court surface and asks for a broom. The referee says they will do that at the end of this first game. 5-3 left Barker serving. Palmer plays an unbeatable drop into the nick 4-5. In the next rally Barker plays a boast from the back right which Palmer does not even see. 6-4. Then a quick point moves the Englishman to 7-4. Palmer takes the next point and the game stands at 5-7. Barker plays the ball down - 6-7. Palmer seems to still have issues with the surface, and he tins the next shot. 8-6 to Barker. A superb winner from the Englishman and the game is 9-6 in his favour. But he slips in the next rally - Palmer serving 7-9. The court rats are getting a workout. Barker then tins an attempted cross-court from the front left. 8-9. Palmer then returns a boast with a boast - Barker is nowhere near it. 9-9. Palmer then loses a let call and Barker is serving for the game at 10-9. Barker tins a drive down the left. Tie-break 10-10. Another tinned shot from Barker and Palmer is serving for the game 11-10. He wins the game 12-10 on a stroke at the front left.
In the second game Palmer begins with a great drop front right. 1-0. He then can’t get to a drop from Barker in the same spot. 1-1. Two balls not up from both players. 2-2. A boast from Palmer is too good. 3-2. Barker plays the next serve down. 4-2 Palmer. Barker then struggles to reach a drive from Palmer in the next rally and is clearly unhappy - bounces his racquet off the floor. 5-2. Barker then plays a great cross-court deep into the nick back right. 3-5. In the next rally Barker has Palmer under pressure and capitalises - 4-5. Braker plays the ball down at the left on the next point - 6-4 to Palmer. The Australian is then denied a let as Barker drops front left. 5-6. Another ball down from Palmer and the game is tied 6-6. Barker is then put under tremendous pressure from Palmer and has to try and dig a ball out of the back right corner - without success. Palmer leading 7-6. A great winning drop from the Australian front left moves him to 8-6. Barker is annoyed as he tins the next ball. 9-6 to Palmer, who then tins in the next rally. 7-9. A great deceptive short cross-court from Palmer takes him to game ball 10-7, and then Barker tins the next ball and Palmer wins 11-7.
In the third game Barker starts off with a winning drop front right. 1-0, but he then plays the ball down in the next rally. 1-1. Palmer then snatches a great volley-drop to the front left from a Barker cross-court drive to lead 2-1. More pressure from Palmer results in two quick points as Barker gets stuck in the back right and slips several times. 4-1 to Palmer. A stroke to Barker takes him to 2-4. A boast-fest in the next rally ends with Palmer playing a drop into the nick front right. 5-2. Barker then plays the ball down and it is 6-2 Palmer. Palmer then picks off a drop and volleys down the left to move to 7-2. A quick point from Barker 3-7, then a decptive line drive from him has Palmer going for the cross-court. 4-7. Another great shot and Barker is at 5-7. The next rally sees Palmer drop front right - Barker asks for a let but it is not given - “the ball was too good” says the referee. Palmer leads 8-5 now. Another fine line-drive winner down the left from Barker. 6-8. Palmer is really working the drops now. Several let plays in a row, and more court rat action - now with towels on brooms. Palmer tins a shot and it is 7-8. Barker then executes a superb drop from the back to tie the game 8-8, but immediately tins the next shot. 9-8 Palmer. A quick point for Palmer and it is 10-8 match ball. Palmer then is in an ideal position to play a drop winner but tins it. 9-10. Palmer wins the match on a stroke 11-9.
After the win Palmer tells Edwards that Bermuda is almost a home tournament for him, and says that he can see Barker becoming a top 10 player.
El Hindi vs Gough
Gough serving. He wins the first point with a drop to the front right. El Hindi plays the next ball down. 2-0 to Gough. Another tinned shot from El Hindi. 3-0 to the Welshman. A great boast at the front left from Gough moves him to 4-0. A long rally sees Gough play a low cross-court winner from the right. 5-0. A long rally with great shots from both players ends when El Hindi wrong foots Gough with a boast. 1-5. The Egyptian then plays the ball down. 6-1. Gough then plays a great mini-boast at the front left which is just beyond El Hindi’s racquet. 7-4. The Egyptian plays two balls down in a row, and Gough has a 9-4 lead. El Hindi then cannot get to a drop. 10-4 game ball. Gough then falls in the back left corner but recovers to get to the front right corner and play a winning line drive. The Welshman wins the first game 11-4. He is looking much sharper than the Egyptian.
El Hindi starts off the second game focusing on the front left and wins the first point. 1-0. He then tins a drop to the front left. 1-1. A very long rally ends in a let call. Gough plays the ball down twice - he protests the fact. 3-1 to El Hindi. The Welshman then plays a terrific reaction volley to win the next point. 2-3. A tinned drop front left from Gough moves El Hindi to 4-2. A nick return of serve from Gough to the back right. He serves 3-4, then wins a stroke on the next rally. 4-4. A great mini-boast winner from Gough - 5-4. Then a down the line winner from the Welshman - he now leads 6-4. El Hindi wins the next point - Gough threatening to call a let which has already been denied. The Egyptian serves at 5-6. El Hindi wins the next point when Gough plays the ball high and out. 6-6. The Welshman then plays a fantastic winner down the right - a chopped drive. 7-6. The Egyptian wins a stroke on the next point and the game is tie 7-7. Gough then tins an attempted drop, and El Hindi leads 8-7. The Egyptian’s shots down the left are much tighter than in the first game. El Hindi plays the next shot into the nick. 9-7. Another disputed shot from Gough - he thinks his shot is up. 10-7. El Hindi wins the next point to take the game 11-7.
In the third game Gough starts off with a great boast winner. 1-0. The next rally sees the ball everywhere before Gough wins a stroke. 2-0. The next rally is a long one, and El Hindi tins a drop front right. 3-0 to Gough. A quick point for El Hindi 1-3. El Hindi is then denied a let. Gough leads 4-1. The Egyptian plays the ball down. 5-1. Gough scrambles massively in the next rally, and is forced to lob high - it goes out. 2-5. Gough plays a drop towards the front right wall down. 3-5. A service return winner from Gough takes him to 6-3. El Hindi then tins an attempted cross-court. The Welshman leads 7-3. A great drop from El Hindi in the front left - 4-7. A sweet backhand drop volley to the front left corner from Gough is a pure winner. 8-4. Gough is now playing very tight backhands. El Hindi tins two shots in a row. 10-4 game ball. Gough then overhead drop volleys a winner which El Hindi cannot reach. 11-4.
In the fourth game Gough starts off by winning a stroke. 1-0. He then is in a winning position on the next rally but tins a drop to the front right. 1-1. The players trade points and it is 2-2. El Hindi wins a stroke at the conclusion of the next long rally. 3-2. Gough is denied a let on the next play. 4-2 to El Hindi - lots of discussion now with the referee. Gough is under much pressure in the next rally but digs in to win a stroke. 3-4 with the Welshman serving. It is getting quite physical on court. El Hindi cannot retrieve a shot off the right wall and it is 4-4. Gough then wins a stroke and moves into a 5-4 lead. El Hindi loses a let decision. The Welshman leads 6-4. More discussion with the referee - this time from El Hindi. The Egyptian then wins a stroke. 5-6. A great winner from El Hindi and the game is tied at 6-6. More physical contact and discussion with the referee during three let plays. The crowd want the players to get on with it. The next play sees El Hindi keeping Gough under a lot of pressure, and he ends the rally with a great volley-drop winner. 7-6. Gough plays a great winner to the back left. 7-7. Gough now shouts at the referee after the next rally ends in a let: “You have to start giving strokes because he is not getting out of the way!” El Hindi then is denied a let call. He now opens the court door for a “discussion”. Gough then boasts a winner to go to 9-7. El Hindi plays the ball down after a row of shots down the left. 10-7 match ball for Gough. Lots of safe play during the next rally before Gough plays a winning low cross-court drive from right to left. He wins the game 11-7 and seals the match.
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