We’re in New York’s stunning Grand Central
Terminal for day five of the prestigious J.P. Morgan Tournament of
Champions as men’s quarter-final action gets under way, while the
women’s event reaches the second round stage.
World No.1 Gregory Gaultier and 37-year-old veteran Nick Matthew lock horns in what will be their 36th meeting on the
PSA World Tour.
Gaultier requires a win to ensure that he will retain his World No.1
spot in next month’s rankings against the threat of the vanquished
Mohamed ElShorbagy, while Matthew will look to progress to the last four
as he appears at this tournament for the final time, with the
Englishman set to retire at the end of this season.
The other men’s match today will see best friends Simon Rösner and
Nicolas Mueller go head-to-head after the duo caused huge upsets against
defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad and World Championship runner-up
Marwan ElShorbagy, respectively, in round two.
US star Amanda Sobhy will have the crowd behind her in the women’s
event as she takes on U.S. Open Champion Nour El Tayeb in a difficult
second round encounter, while fellow American Oliva Blatchford clashes
with last year’s semi-finalist Sarah-Jane Perry.
World No.1 Nour El Sherbini is also in action as she takes on
qualifier Mariam Metwally, while compatriot Raneem El Welily will look
to shake off an ankle injury as she plays Tesni Evans.
2014 champion Nicol David and Joelle King will go up against each
other in what looks set to be an intriguing clash and the winner of
their meeting will play either title holder Camille Serme or Australia’s
Donna Urquhart in the last eight.
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Here's the Order of Play
(All times are local
GMT-5)
Gohar Dispatches 2015 Runner-Up Waters in Three
Nouran Gohar (right) v Alison Waters (left)
Egyptian
World No.5 Nouran Gohar booked her place in the last eight of this
year’s J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions after the 20-year-old
disposed of 2015 runner-up Alison Waters in straight games.
Gohar had a narrow lead on the pair’s head-to-head record, winning
their last three meetings after Waters had prevailed in the first two
matches they had played together.
The two-time World Junior Champions trademark ferocity was in full
flow as she powered the ball round court to put Waters under a great
deal of pressure and she pulled away after a scrappy start to the first
game to take the lead.
A strong start from Gohar then laid the foundations for a victory in
game two, despite her squandering two game balls and then fighting back
from game ball down herself after a resurgence from Waters.
Waters stayed in the majority of the rallies in the third as she
played some fine shots at the front of the court to put some points in
the board, but Gohar wasn’t to be denied as she closed out the victory
in three games to ensure that she will take on the winner of Laura
Massaro and Victoria Lust’s match later today.
“I’m happy that I managed to win in three,” said Gohar.
“The second game was very tough and we had a very tough match in
Manchester [last month at the World Championships] where she won the
second game and it was a 50 minute match, so I was really tired after
it.
“We like to play a very fast-paced game, so it’s really tough
physically to play against her. Mentally, she’s really experienced so it
was was really hard to deal with the situation today.”
Result
[5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [10] Alison Waters (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 13-11, 11-7 (40m)
Perry Overturns Four Match Balls to Defeat Blatchford
Sarah-Jane Perry celebrates her win over Olivia Blatchford (left)
England’s
World No.8 Sarah-Jane Perry came back from two games down and
overturned four match balls to prevail in an enthralling match against
United States No.1 Olivia Blatchford.
An all-out assault from Blatchford saw the World No.13 hit a superb
array of winners to go two games up and, after conceding the third game
to a resurgent Perry, the New York-born 24-year-old held match balls on
four separate occasions to put herself on the cusp of a maiden World
Series quarter-final.
She just couldn’t finish off Perry though as the woman from England
showcased her tenacity in a battling display and after fighting back on
each match ball to go game ball up, she converted and came out on top in
the fifth game against a tiring Blatchford to dash the hopes of the New
York crowd.
“Any time you come back from 2-0 down you’ve got to be pleased with
your persistence and effort level if nothing else,” said Perry.
“Especially here, playing someone of Olivia’s calibre in front of her
home crowd. I wouldn’t say it was the best squash I’ve ever played but I
just kept fighting and every match ball I just told myself to focus and
to play another point.
“She hit an awful lot of winners on the volley against me and that’s
something I’ll go away and have a think about because she loves the
volley and she was on the volley an awful lot today. Right now I’m just
happy to scrape through.”
Blatchford, playing the day before her 25th birthday, was on fire in
the opening stages and Perry just couldn’t live with the American as she
hit winner after winner and scurried around the court to pick up
anything Perry threw at her.
Perry settled in the third as she finally began to hit her targets
with more regularity, while the pace of Blatchford’s hitting slowed,
which played into Perry’s hands as she took it 11-9, before her
never-say-die attitude saw her level the scores after Blatchford failed
to capitalise on her match balls in game four.
Blatchford then required an injury break before the decider got under
way and it was clear that her movement was affected, with the US player
grimacing at times during the game as Perry closed it out to escape
elimination.
Result
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [13] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-2: 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 15-13, 11-7 (66m)
El Sherbini Troubled by Metwally
Nour El Sherbini (left) v Mariam Metwally (right)
World
No.1 Nour El Sherbini didn’t have it all her own way against Egyptian
qualifier Mariam Metwally but ultimately came through to claim a 3-1
victory.
Metwally, the World No.22, caused an upset in round one against
India’s World No.14 Joshna Chinappa and acquitted herself well against
El Sherbini as she rattled the 2016 Tournament of Champions winner.
El Sherbini prevailed in a comfortable opening game for the loss of
just five points, but the momentum quickly shifted in the second as
Metwally, sporting a lot of strapping on her leg, connected with her
attacking shots well to unsettle her compatriot and she soon brought
parity to proceedings with an 11-8 triumph.
The third game was a scrappier affair as both players gave strokes
away, while errors from El Sherbini saw her hand a number of points to
Metwally.
The two-time World Champion managed to do just enough to restore her
lead courtesy of a tie-break victory and she held her nerve despite
severe resistance from Metwally in the fourth to complete an 11-5, 7-11,
12-10, 13-11 in 41 minutes.
“Mariam is a very tricky and skilful player and when she has the ball
she can hit it from anywhere in the court,” said El Sherbini.
“We’ve been at the same club for 10 years and on the same club team,
so we’ve grown up together. We’re the same age, it’s difficult to play
against each other and we know each other’s games.”
“It’s really hard to play against her and I just wanted to find my
game more. The important thing today was that I won, so I will regroup
and try to focus on the next round.”
Result
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 7-11, 12-10, 13-11 (41m)
Massaro Fights Back Against Lust
Two-time
runner-up Laura Massaro made it back-to-back 3-2 victories at this
year’s Tournament of Champions after following up an opening round win
over fellow Englishwoman Fiona Moverley with victory over another
compatriot, Victoria Lust.
As was the case in her match with Moverley, Massaro struggled to play
her best squash and was put under the cosh by Lust, who played some
sublime squash in the first and third games to take a 2-1 lead against
an opponent she had lost to in all four of their previous meetings.
Massaro struggled to pick up Lust’s shots at the front of the court
in the opening three games but changed her approach as she began to lift
the ball more on the front wall, giving her more time to set herself
and moving Lust away from the ’T’.
Massaro then began to dominate the match as Lust failed to match the
intensity of her performance earlier on in the match and the Lancastrian
pressed home her advantage to take the next two games without reply,
earning an 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 victory, which means she will
take on Egypt’s Nouran Gohar for a place in the semi-finals.
“I’ve had two opponents who have played really well on the day and
are also making movements up the rankings as well,” said Massaro.
“I haven’t been at my best for these first two matches, maybe I’m
just getting my way into the tournament. Like the first round, today I
just kept on fighting and kept on trying to find a way.
“I feel like I’m finding more of a rhythm, it’s been a bit longer for
me since the last tournament with not playing Saudi [PSA Women’s
Masters], so I just feel like I’m finding my way a little bit.
“It’s really amazing to play on this court, so I can’t complain about
spending quite a lot of time on it so far. I’m still in the tournament
and I get another chance to go again tomorrow.”
Result
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Victoria Lust (ENG) 3-2: 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 (52m)
Serme Battles Back to Beat Urquhart
Defending
champion Camille Serme recovered from a 2-1 deficit to come through a
difficult clash with Australia’s Donna Urquhart in what was the third
women’s match out of five today to go the distance.
Serme became the first Frenchwoman ever to win the Tournament of
Champions last year as she beat England’s Laura Massaro in the final,
but the number three seed was on the brink of an early elimination after
conceding a one-game advantage to some superb squash from Urquhart.
The World No.16 outplayed Serme for large parts of the second and
third games, building on a 4-0 lead to take the second before hitting
seven winners in a fantastic display of attacking squash in the third.
Urquhart looked to be surging to a win in four games when she took a
4-1 lead in the fourth, but Serme’s resilience saw the 28-year-old
slowly reel the Australian in and she took 10 of the next 12 points to
send the match to a dramatic fifth.
Urquhart got herself back in front at 8-5 as the match neared its
climax, but Serme fought back once more to hold two match balls, with an
error from Urquhart then deciding the match.
“When you are losing, you start thinking about not playing again and
being out of the tournament, so that’s when you fight even more,” said
Serme.
“You think that you have nothing left to loose and that’s when you
relax a bit. At the end I got a lucky bounce and I just fought as hard
as I could.
“It’s great to see myself in Grand Central on a big poster, but I try
not to look at it everyday and try to focus on each match. I knew today
could be tricky, Donna is in really good form and I feel sorry for her
because we are really good friends and she put on a great match.
“She made me struggle a lot and I’m happy to be through.”
Result
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-2: 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 (53m)
David Prevails In Four Game Battle With King
Nicol
David avenged her first career defeat to New Zealand's Joelle King at
the China Open in August by coming out on top in a high quality four
game encounter in the second round of the 2018 Tournament of Champions.
The match began with neither player hitting their full stride, but
matching each other evenly all the way. It was David who got the first
scent of a lead to go up 10-9 with game ball in hand before a gut
wrenching boast from King saw David at full stretch aiming to retrieve
the ball, which King was certain was down. An inconclusive look from the
video referee saw the appeal go against King and the opening game go
the way of David.
But to the Kiwi's credit, rather than letting the dubious end to the
opening game play on her mind, she came out in the second and took took
complete control, playing with more positivity and aggression to take
time away from David and nullify the Malaysian's speed and court
coverage.
Twisting and turning David at every opportunity the New Zealander put
together a passage of play that included some of the most wonderfully
crafted exchanges of the week, leading to 10 winners and an 11-2 game
scoreline, but momentum swung back in the favour of David in the third
as she settled into a better rhythm and took the centre of the court
away from King.
With the intensity of the rallies increasing, David was able to put
more and more work into the legs of the World No.9 and was rewarded when
errors began to creep into King's game. And while she was able to keep
within touching distance of David, ultimately the tank ran dry and it
was David who booked a place in the last eight to play the defending
champion Camille Serme.
“I really am glad to win today,” said David.
“Each game was very close. I knew from the last time we played, when I
lost to her in China, that she keeps fighting and never gives up. I had
to make sure that I stayed really solid and kept mentally strong. I'm
happy that I kept it all together and came through with the 3-1 win.
“I still train really hard and try to get better and better all the
time. I'm very pleased with the performance I put in today and it's
great to be in the quarters and to be up against the defending champion
Camille. There's nothing to lose so I'm just going to go out there and
enjoy it.”
Result:
[6] Nicol David (MAS) bt [9] Joelle King (NZL) 3-1: 11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 11-9 (53m)
Rösner Halts Mueller’s Run
Germany's
Simon Rösner put an end to the giant-killing run of his best friend
Nicolas Mueller to knock the Swiss number one out of the Tournament of
Champions at the quarter-final stage.
Mueller put in a masterclass performance to record a huge win over
former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad and reach the last eight inside
Grand Central Terminal for the first time in his career, but he failed
to replicate those levels against a hungry Rösner, who was himself
gunning to secure a first semi-final berth and put to an end four years
of consecutive quarter-final heartache.
The pair, who train together in Paderborn, Germany, delighted the
crowd as they pushed each other into all four corners – putting together
rally after rally of entertaining all-court squash that was
interspersed with delicate and deftly struck winners of all kinds.
Rösner
took the first two games by controlling the centre of the court, with
Mueller searching for a way to get in front. In the third 28-year-old
Mueller managed to find an opening and held firm to come through a
thrilling tie-break to extend the match into a fourth but the exertion
began to tell as he tired through the mid stages of the fourth, allowing
Rösner to gain the ascendency and see out the match and secure just his
second ever World Series semi-final appearance.
“Nicki and I train together a lot and being such close friends made it really edgy out there,” said Rösner.
“We both know what we need to do when we go out there but at the same
time we know each other's games so well that it becomes very hard to
finish off the rallies. I know when he's going to go straight and he
knows when I'm going to play certain shots, so I'm just relieved to get
through it.
“I am a little disappointed I couldn't close it out in three, but I'm happy that I got it back in the fourth.
“I had been waiting for a big quarter-final win for a long time and
managed to get one in Qatar to reach my first World Series semi-finals.
To be in a second semi of the season here in New York – for the first
time in this great venue – is very special.”
Result:
Simon Rösner (GER) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 13-15, 11-6 (59m)
El Welily Overcomes Evans In Five
World
Champion Raneem El Welily scraped through to the quarterfinals of the
women's ToC with victory over Welsh-woman Tesni Evans in a five-game
thriller inside Grand Central Terminal that saw both players receive a
standing ovation from the crowd after almost 60 minutes of super squash.
El Welily suffered nasty looking ankle roll during her first round
win over Jenny Duncalf and was clearly still feeling the effects of that
injury during the early exchanges, moving with a hesitation in her step
while Evans grasped at the opportunity to profit and take a comfortable
opening game lead.
The Egyptian though managed to find her footing in the second, moving
with greater ease and finding the sort of fluid shot making that stands
her out as the most dangerous player on the women's Tour – levelling
the match in the process.
Throughout the third the duo both eased up through the gears,
combining to create a period of spell binding play that was packed full
of shot making artistry. It was El Welily to stood firm to take what
appeared to be a commanding 2-1 game lead but Evans again responded in
kind, finding some of her very best attacking play to take the fourth
and set up a grand stand finish.
And the fifth continued to set the standard for entertaining squash
as they traded points through as series of thrilling exchanges that went
all the way to a decisive tie-break finish, when Evans's resistance
eventually broke down and El Welily breathed a huge sigh of relief on
making in through to the last eight.
“Tesni played fantastic today and I think I was a little flat at the beginning,” said El Welily.
“It was mentally hard for me today. It felt like I was playing a
final, which it isn't, but at least I get to live for another day in
this tournament. It definitely wasn't easy at the beginning with my
ankle – I just tried to adjust to it.
“The physios put in a lot of work and really helped me to recover for
today and I'll need to do a lot of work again to be ready for the match
tomorrow.”
Result:
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [15] Tesni Evans (WAL) 3-2: 8-11, 11-3, 15-13, 7-11, 12-10 (67m)
Gaultier Downs Matthew In Titanic Grand Central Clash
A
titanic 90-minute, four-game encounter that will go down as one of the
greatest matches ever seen at the Tournament of Champions saw World No.1
Gregory Gaultier defeat long time rival Nick Matthew to secure a place
in the semi-finals of the 2018 iteration of the tournament and inflict
defat upon the Englishman in what was his last ever appearance under the
chandeliers inside Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.
A nervy start from Gaultier, who needed to win to maintain his
position as World No.1 in the February rankings, in the opening game
allowed Matthew to open up an early 5-0 lead but any illusions that
things would be straight forward for the 37-year-old were quickly
dispelled as 35-year-old Gaultier gradually settled into the match,
exerting pressure on Matthew and asking questions of his defensive
abilities.
Probing back and forth, the pair engaged in rally after rally of
physically and mentally testing squash that saw them move the ball, and
each other, into all four corners of the court in a sumptuous display of
purism. The opener alone extended beyond the 30 minute mark with
neither man willing to give an inch in what was the 36th meeting between
the two on the PSA World Tour.
It was Matthew who struck first blood courtesy of a 14-12 first game
tie-break but the advantage was short lived as Gaultier came back strong
in the second, opening up a commanding lead which allowed him to
nullify the early scoreboard deficit.
With the pair continuing to set the standard to which all other
matches this season will aspire to, momentum swung back in Matthew's
favour through the mid stages of the third. A series of errors from the
racket of Gaultier looked to have rattled the Frenchman and he looked to
be living up to his reputation for self-combustion as he began
muttering to himself in between points and carrying a defeatist slump in
the shoulders.
But, contrary to the Gaultier of old, 'The General' managed to
recover his composure and came back string, saving game ball and forcing
the third into a tie-break where, against the run of play, he managed
to sneak the game from under the nose of Matthew and get ahead for the
first time.
And that's where he stayed as, with the match edging towards the
90-minute mark, Matthew began to tire towards the end of the fourth,
allowing Gaultier to finalise the win that takes him through to play
Germany's Simon Rösner for a place in the title-decider – with Gaultier
hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish here twelve months
ago.
“We've been playing each other for 20 years, since we were kids, and he definitely made it tough today,” said Gaultier.
“He was dominating the centre of the court with his accuracy and made
it very hard for me, it was hurting me on there. I just tried to dig in
and retrieve as much as I could to keep the rallied going and try and
make him work as hard as possible on there.
“We both gave everything. Of course we are rivals but we are friends
as well and have a huge respect for each other. Playing here in this
atmosphere is amazing and we both emptied the tank – hopefully I can
recover well for my next round match now.”
After the match Matthew said: “It's such a special venue here – and
Greg is a very special opponent. We fight and hurt each other on the
court – but we are friends away from the court. Today he just came out
on top even though I think it was the best I have played all season,
which shows there's more to come from me over the next few months.”
Result:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Nick Matthew (ENG) 3-1: 12-14, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 (92m)
El Tayeb Eliminates Sobhy
Hopes
of home success were squashed in the final match of the day as Amanda
Sobhy’s return from injury came to an end at the hands of Nour El Tayeb,
the Egyptian who herself returned from long term injury last season.
El Tayeb, winner of the U.S. Open in October, was just too strong and
too accurate for Sobhy. The America though can take heart from coming
through two competitive matches unscathed as she looks to regain her
match fitness and ability in the race to make up for lost ground over
the past ten months.
“It feels great to be at the quarter-finals,” said El Tayeb afterwards.
“And it’s great for us all to have Amanda back. Her personality has been missed on and off court.”
Result:
[8] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [12] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (24m)
