Shabana Beats Ricketts in Chicago Final
Jan 23, 2007
By Ron Beck, Squashtalk Independent News; © 2007 SquashTalk LLC

 [Windy City Main Draw]

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

Amr Shabana Uses Change of Pace, Change of Tactics to Defeat Anthony Ricketts

"To come here for the third year and finally play my best squash, it's a dream come true, I'm so excited to win this event." said Amr Shabana. (photo:© 2007 Debra Tessier)

In a thrilling display of top caliber squash, Amr Shabana, the world #1 defeated #5 seed Anthony Ricketts in the Windy City Open final tonight.

There wasn't much to separate these two fighters tonight, but it was Amr Shabana who consistently had the answers when he needed them, parrying each of Rickett's surges to collect the final in three straight games.

Recognizing Shabana's superlative play, Anthony Ricketts said, "Yes I was a bit worried there that we might be over in 20 minutes, but luckily I was able to extend things in the third. I would like to congratulate Amr for his strong play."

THREE ACT PLAYS
Each game today, really was a three part play. In the first act (of each of the three games) the two players attacked to the front, searching for the quick point or a sign of his opponent's weakness. Each was trying to force the other player to his backhand and into an error.

In contrast to the prior night's contest, where Rickett's attacks up front left Ramy Ashour somewhat stymied, his opponent today, Amr Shabana, knew exactly what to do off of Rickett's accelerated pace. Shabana constantly and fluidly took pace off of Rickett's balls, whether it was to hit a feather soft cross drop, a deceptively difficult lob, or a mid-speed drive. Shabana played off of Rickett's energy and pace, and forced Ricketts to provide more and more of the firepower as the match went forward.

By the middle of game one, Ricketts held a one point lead, and Shabana showed his tactical maturity. He invisibly switched to a waiting game, working the length and angles for an opening, to increase his percentages.

Then, having worked the score to 8-8, Shabana shifted gears again, going for the kill with several impossibly soft cross-drops off of Rickett's severe front shots. Ricketts was unable to answer those killers, dropping the first 11-8.

In the second, the pattern repeated, with Shabana taking some risks at the outset and this time racing to a 5-0 lead, but Ricketts getting back even after some further Shabana risks led to some missed opportunities on his part.

Again, Shabana switched to a steadier mode, probing Rickett's backhand deep and when possible searching for the chance to use his favorite shot, the soft slide drop to his (lefthanded) backhand.

By this point in the match, the intensity was high and there were very few rallies with less than 20 shots played.

This patient play brought Shabana to 9-7 in game two and he again went for the jugular.

Shabana's first attempt to close it out hit tin, giving Rickett's a chance at 8-9. But again Shabana was able to find the opportunity for two wonderfully played cross drops off of Rickett's short shots, somehow turning defence into deadly offense. And a Ricketts tin off of a Final Shabana drop ended the second with the identical 11-8 score.

THE CLIMATIC THIRD GAME

Each point became a fascinating battle, with the length and angles perfectly measured. (photo:© 2007 Debra Tessier)

The third looked like it was going to be a different script at first. Ricketts collected five very quick points off a combination of dead winners and Shabana tins — 5-0 shortly into the third.

At this point, the intensity level ratcheted up and both players played their best squash. Shabana became almost error free, and on both sides it was going to take an unusually good shot to win any point. It was clear that Amr was pulling out all the stops to close out the match in three.

Each point became a fascinating battle, with the length and angles perfectly measured, the contest switching from left side (Amr's forehand) to right (Anthony's forehand). Each player wanted to attack, but only in the face of an open shot. But few open shots were to be had. Two drop nicks from Shabana ended the first two of these points as Shabana began reeling in Ricketts, 2-5. More long battles each ended in Shabana's favor, with a wonderful soft backhand hesitation drop bringing the game even at 5-5.

The next point saw some wonderful retrieving with Ricketts making an improbable get of almost perfect length at his backhand back corner and then two great front court gets, with the point finally ending in a let.

From here on out each point was tactically interesting as the score moved, with increasing tension, to 7-7. At which point the next two well played points each ended in a tin on the part of Shabana. Was Shabana getting tired?

"No," said Shabana, "worried rather than tired. I was worried, wanting to close it out in three, and I made some mistakes."

Ricketts collected the next point on a drop Shabana couldn't retrieve and he stood at game ball, 10-7.

Now, the new three-referee scoring system has made the referees a difficult target to argue with for the players — but at this juncture Anthony Ricketts invented a way. On a ball shot across the middle, Shabana was awarded a stroke to bring the score to 8-10.

Ricketts yelled, "NO". Turning to each of the three referees in turn (pointing to each of them in turn with his racquet so there would be no doubt), yelling, "NO WAY ..... NO WAY ... NO WAY," to each of them in turn.

Shabana now had a reason to increase his effort, and the next point, which stretched both players several times, ended in a Rickett's backhand tin to bring the score to 9-10.

TO THE TIEBREAKER

The ensuing tiebreaker was tense, suspenseful, and the ulitmate that the PSA probably had in mind when they invented this tiebreaker scoring. (photo:© 2007 Debra Tessier)

The next point again ended in an unavoidable stroke for Shabana and the score was knotted at 10-10.

The ensuing tiebreaker was tense, suspenseful, and the ulitmate that the PSA probably had in mind when they invented this tiebreaker scoring. After 25 shots, a Shabana tin again gave Ricketts match ball. The next point had Shabana relentlessly attacking to the front on Ricketts forehand and the third time led to a Ricketts forced tin and another knot at 11-11.

Mirror image strokes brought the score to 12-12. More long battles, decided up front advanced the game to 13-13.

At this juncture, the noisemakers which had been issued to the crowd were in full force, the crowd was yelling out its preferences (evenly divided) and three more extremely tensely fought points ended in let.

The next point, featuring a dizzying barrange of front court attacks by both players ended in Shabana's favor, and the final point, with Shabana going again to his favorite slice backhand drop frequently, ended in a Ricketts hard corner tin. Game and match 15-13 (3-0) to Amr Shabana. And, as announcer Simon Parke succinctly said, "... Almost a classic..."

"To come here for the third year and finally play my best squash, it's a dream come true, I'm so excited to win this event." said Amr Shabana.

[Complete draw and results]

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

Finals:      [Windy City Main Draw]
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) def [5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 11-8, 11-8 11-10 (5-3)