Chifunda Withstands Test from Sadiq in Irvine:
Yehia Too Strong For Razzaq
June 5, 2004, By Ron Beck; SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004

Day of the Cross-Volley Nick

Patrick Chifunda was in a showmanship mode today in Irvine photo: © 2004 Debra Tessier

Today was a typical Southern California day, sunny and hot, and the sun bore down on the Sports Club/LA through their dome-shaped skylighted atrium. It made for a hot day on the court, accentuated by the closed-in glass design of the courts; and for the PSA players in today's quarterfinals, the cross-volley nick was one of the few ways to put the ball away. Lefika Ragontse got a few when he really needed them — but for him his lack of discipline let the match get away from him anyway. Patrick Chifunda got two when he really needed them, and Mohammad Sadiq got one, but Sadiq was making shots all over the court today.

Today's play show a few things. First, that Karim Yehia and Patrick Chifunda have a definite fitness edge over the rest of the field here. Second, Mohammad Sadiq and Razzaq have some superior talent and creativity, but need to get their fitness in order. Third, 19 year old A J Janzic from Calgary, has the confidence to play with these PSA pros and will be making some noise in the coming months.

RAZZAQ TOO MUCH FOR RAGONTSE
Abdul Razzaq quietly started things off in today's quarterfinals with Lefika Ragontse. Razzaq, who game is straightforward and clinical, contrasted with the emotional Ragontse. Ragontse started off in fine fashion, but after slipping on the floor after five points had been played, he seemed subdued and unable to regain his poise for some minutes.

Meanwhile, Razzaq lurked waiting to take advantage each time that Lefika's discipline escaped him, which was often. Lefika just couldn't bring himself to play a straight game. As he fed Razzaq a constant diet of boasts drops and other angle shots, Razzaq replied with accuracy, length and shots that hugged the walls. Lefika's frustration grew, and while he rallied to equal things in the third game at 10-10 he again couldn't maintain the conservative discipline needed at that point to claw his way back into the match. Ragontse now has to look forward to the trip tomorrow to Mexico to join the PSA Super-Satellite event there next week.

Mohammad Sadiq, whose stroke production is reminiscent of Mohibullah Khan (the elder), has much too smooth and quick a game for his quarterfinal opponent, Canadian Patrick Bedores. Bedores showed flashes of brilliance, including two emphatic volley-nicks. But his shots and strategies were too slow developing againt Sadiq, who shots are compact and quick and kept Bedores totally off balance. Bedores contructed on wonderful point at 5-13 in the third game, but when he had the point in his grasp, he dropped the ball straight to the tin. It was representative of the contest.

The most competitive game of the quarters was Chifunda and Janzic. Janzic, who was ready to retrieve and return everything that Chifunda was prepared to throw at him, really had Chifunda stretching and shaking his head with frequency. Afterwards, Chifunda remarked, " It was the court really — too hot in there and so every shot popped out giving Janzic his chances." Janzic liked his performance. "I thought I was really in there. A few points here and there and things might have gone differently."

SEMIS AN EXERCISE IN EXHAUSTION
The semi final contests matched two players who were expected to be there - Yehia and Chifunda - against two players who had an uphill road. Yehia and Razzaq present similar styles, and there wasn't that much difference between the two, except for Yehia's relentless pursuit of the ball, always in position, always completey ready, and Yehia's superior fitness. In game two, after many long rallies in the latter stages of the game, it came down to Razzaq's inability to chase down that one last passing shot after forty rallies at 13-13.

In the case of Sadiq and Chifunda, Sadiq's wonderful shot making and court control was giving Chifunda fits and Sadiq looked every bit Chifunda's equal, or perhaps a bit better, until he suddenly hit the wall after winning two points in game three.

Sadiq explained his difficulty after the match to SquashTalk: "I've been working on my fitness,and I really feel fit; it's just that all of a sudden there I had difficultly getting oxygen into my lungs... maybe something about the humidity. Also the court was favoring Chifunda — my game depends on the shotmaking, and all the shots were popping up on the hot court. But I'll be ready next time ... at the US Pro in Los Angeles."

Results: HiTec Orange County Open [draw/results]
Semi Finals:
Karim Yehia (EGY) [1] def Abdul Razzaq (PAK) [4] 15-9 15-13 15-11
Patrick Chifunda (RSA) [2] def Mohammad Sadiq (USA) 14-15 15-13 15-11 15-6

Quarter Finals:
Karim Yehia (EGY) [1] def Jon Perry (ENG) 15-13 15-13 15-5
Abdul Razzaq (PAK) [4] def Lefika Ragontse (BOT) 15-8 15-6 15-12
Mohammad Sadiq (USA) def Patrick Bedores (CAN) [3] 15-2 15-5 15-6
Patrick Chifunda (RSA) [2] def A J Janzic (CAN) 11-15 17-14 15-12 15-9

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