Jackman and Grainger to square off in semifinals
Ricketts bests White in Round of 16 showdown
© 2004 Colin McQuillan to Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.
November 3, 2004

Natalie Grainger kept on the offensive against Abdel Kawy and looks tough to beat, photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert

England’s Cassie Jackman has booked her place in Friday’s semi-finals of the Harris British Open Squash Championship with a 37 minute 10-8 9-3 9-2 win over Linda Elriani, the England No2. Before that, however, she will beat a fast retreat to London today to collect an MBE for services to the game.

On Friday the task in Nottingham’s Albert Hall could be a deal more daunting. She plays Natalie Grainger, the USA based former South African who earlier yesterday dismissed the youthful challenge of Omneya Abdel Kawy, Egypt’s world junior champion, 9-2 9-6 9-2 in 28 minutes, suggesting that two victories, in the Atlanta Masters and the US Open, coming back from an eight month lay-off for injuries and sickness were no flash in the pan.

Lighter and faster than for some years, the tall strong 27-year-old covered most of what the inventive young Egyptian leveled against her in the front court and delivered a powerful deep court attack that suggested Jackman will need to be in hard running mode to resist her.

Jackman started stiffly yesterday, just as she did against New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen in the previous round. While she won with some authority against Kitchen, however, her run from 4-8 down in the first game against Elriani was due more to the increasing error rate of her opponent. By the time Jackman was coasting home from 5-2 in the third game, even Elriani was castigating herself for a calamitous tactical performance.

Relieved Enterprise From Matthew

Nick Matthew stayed on top of Iskandar in Nottingham, photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert

Greater enterprise was displayed by the third ranked Englishman, Nick Matthew, the 24-year-old fourth seed, who reached his first British open quarter-final with a 44 minute 11-2, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) win over Malaysia’s Mohd Azlan Iskander that left him relieved rather than triumphant.

The young Malaysian started nervously, allowing Matthew through the nine minute opening game in just three hands, then contributed 10 errors to the 14 minute second in manner that convinced the young Englishman he might win just by rallying safely while his opponent threw in enough errors to give him the match.

“Then he suddenly started to play towards the end of the second game and into the third so that I realized I had to up my pace and attack to make sure he couldn’t do to me what he did to Mark. In the end I was happy to get off the court in three games with lots of energy in reserve for the quarters,” Matthew said.

Shabana eased past Canada's Ryding in Nottingham, photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert

Such energy might be necessary. His opponent in the last eight is the World Open Champion, Amr Shabana of Egypt, who did just enough today to ease past Canada’s Graham Ryding 9-11 11-6 11-9 11-5 in 52 minutes and looked only marginally more committed beating England’s Alister Walker over four games in the first round. But the Egyptian is notoriously moody. Against Ryding he needed just continuing competence but, from seeming disinterest and virtual disaster, he frequently conjures great victories with sustained attacking brilliance.

Shabana later declared that this British Open match marked the turning point on his mixed fortunes since winning the world title last December in Pakistan.
"I have had a tough time since becoming world champion," conceded the 25-year-old fifth seed from Cairo after his 9-11 11-6 11-9 11-5 triumph in 52 minutes. "Before it, people around me kept telling me it's time I won something, then afterwards there was this expectation that I would go on winning everything - and it really messed up my game.

"Instead of concentrating on my game on court, I spent my time thinking about things outside the court, like what others were thinking of me - I was completely stressed out for about six months.
"Then, about two months ago, I went completely the other way, and became far too relaxed on court.
"But tonight, it all seemed to fit into place - and for the first time since the win in Lahore I really felt that I was playing to my full potential. It would be great for my CV to win the British Open - and now I know I can do it," said Shabana.

White Out Of Quarters

John White and Anthony Ricketts, photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert

The other British interest in the bottom half of the draw was removed when Australia’s Anthony Ricketts took a fourth consecutive win over Scotland’s John White

11-7 6-11 11-7 6-11 11-9 in 70 minutes and England’s Adrian Grant lost the 44 minute last match of the day 11-6 11-6 11-9 to the second seeded Thierry Lincou of France.

Since reaching number one in the world rankings in March this year, Nottingham-based White has had a mixed run on the international circuit, but rediscovered his form last month to reach the final of the Super 8 Grand Prix in Manchester.
Twice behind in this marathon second round match against Ricketts, the Australian-born Scottish No1 fought back to forge a 5-1 lead in the fifth game decider. But Ricketts regained the initiative and, after two match balls, sealed the third to win 11-7 6-11 11-7 6-11 11-9.
"I just made too many errors," said a disconsolate White afterwards. "I was 4-0 up in the third, and 5-1 up in the fifth, both of which are huge leads under this new scoring system, and I let him back. I just lacked patience at those points and virtually beat myself."
Ricketts, a 25-year-old from Sydney, admitted that he feels that he is still a couple of months away from a complete recovery from his recent knee injury. "I'm still in that comeback phase," said Ricketts, who underwent two operations on his knee at the Australian Institute of Sport HQ in Canberra early in the year.
"Since making my comeback at the English Open in August, I haven't really had a good result; so this one tonight means a lot to me."

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

Full Day's Results:

Men's 2nd round:
[5] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [14] Graham Ryding (CAN) 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (52m)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-2, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) (42m)
[11] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [6] John White (SCO) 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9 (70m)
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [10] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (45m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 9-0, 9-6, 9-2 (28m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [5] Linda Elriani (ENG) 10-8, 9-3, 9-2 (37m)

White versus Willstrop at the 2004 English Open - Now on DvD