2007 Windy City Open

[1st rnd -Day1] [1st rnd -Day1] [2nd rnd] [Quarter-Finals] [Semis] [Final]

Shabana Prevails over Willstrop. Ricketts charges ahead

Amr Shabana, perhaps with some memories intact of his semi-final loss to Jonathon Power in the 2006 edition of this event, recovered quickly from a one game deficit to James Willstrop, gaining control and momentum as the match progressed and leaving no doubt to the fans as to why he has retained the world #1 spot for the past 10 months.

The match of the afternoon, and perhaps of the tournament, however was the second match on court. The always entertaining and always exceedingly dangerous John White, who played himself into top form in the first two rounds of this event, was ready and waiting for hot-handed Gregory Gaultier in this afternoons quarterfinal matchup.

Gaultier's intense and creative play brought him the first game by an eleven to nine score. (If fact, Whitey has lost the first game now in each round of this event) But White came to life in the second game, quickly showing the crowd and his colleagues why he at one point held the #1 ranking in the world and has always been a feared opponent of any player in any round of any event.

White caused Gaultier increasing fits with his mixture of power, pressure and touch, and in fact Gaultier, who started (as is his custom) to turn his attention to the referee (a much more challenging task with the 3 referee system, but Gaultier was up to it), White calm in the face of a Gallic storm further whipped up Gaultier's emotions.

But Gautier took charge in the fourth and fifth - taking the fourth game 11-6 and building a 9-4 lead in the fifth that quickly advanced to a 10-6 match ball opportunity.

But John White isn't accustomed to giving in at any point, and he staged a miraculous and steady comeback, drawing even at 10-10 in the fifth and then gaining match ball at 11-10. It was Gautier's turn for a mini comeback, evening things at 11-11.

But John White doesn't squander opportunities like these, and he brought the win home, stealing the game and match from Gaultier 13-11. White now advances to meet Amr Shabana in Monday night's semi final.

The afternoon's third match had Egypt's phenom Ramy Ashour faced off against long-time world #1 Thierry Lincou. Despite Lincou's poise and experience, this match never really seemed in doubt. Ashour from the start seemed to hold the initiative, the edge and the lead. Though Lincou mounted a brave challenge in game three, most in the audience knew it was too little too late. Lincou's charge failed to dent Ashour's confidence, and Ashour charged into the semis, against ...

PHYSICAL SQUASH ON DISPLAY

And in the final match of the day ... the score lied. This match was much closer and much more closely contested than the final score indicates. The score says that Ricketts rolled over David Palmer. The eyewitness view says that these two wonderful competitors from Australia fought it out tooth and nail, each one giving everything on every point, players hurtling to the floor (Ricketts) and into the corner (Palmer) all in pursuit of the ball

At the end of the day, it was Ricketts standing tall (despite a scare with his groin partway through.) His lightness on his feet and slightly higher energy level proved the difference as he got past Palmer in three and got his meeting with Ashour tomorrow evening.

[Complete draw and results]

RESULTS: Infor Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA

Quarterfinals: [Windy City Main Draw]
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) def [7] James Willstrop (ENG) def [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG) 10-11 (1-3 11-9 11-9 11-7
[8] John White (SCO) def [4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 9-11 11-7 11-9 6-11 11-10(3-1)
[6] Ramy Ashour (EGY) def [3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-8 11-7 11-10(2-0)
[5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) def [2] David Palmer (AUS) 11-7 11-7 11-5