[Main Draw - PSA]     [Main Draw - WISPA]

Sharon Wee beat back a challenge from Samantha Teran. Photo © 2006 Tavis Moonan

In sleepy Williamstown, the crowd was awakened rapidly on Friday's semifinal night with some fast pace gripping matches and three big upset. When the dust had settled and the galleries emptied, L J Anjema, Shahier Razik, and Dianne Desira all were headed home, while Joshna Chinappa has scored her best yet win on her young WISPA campaign.

The Friday night semifinal between Australian Cameron Pilley and Canadian Shahier Razik opened at a fast pace.

In contrast to Shahier, who looked at ease, even relaxed, Cameron appeared driven, quickly moving Shahier to the front of the court. With Cameron up 6-4, both players settled into a rhythm. The points developed into much longer rallies, and when Cameron took a large and audible relaxing breath mid-rally at 8-8, you could almost feel him lift his level of play. He won the game 11-8, finishing on a cross-court volley nick to the front-right corner­the perfect choice delivered by a perfect swing.

Hisham succeeded in the crunch. Photo © 2006 Tavis Moonan

With hard fought rallies that drew gasps from the crowd, the second game picked up
where the first left off as Cameron and Shahier stretched and scraped, retrieving balls that
seemed buried in the corners. Shahier’s antics, including two creative hand-gestures, also drew a few gasps and laughs from the crowd. Cameron appeared content to let his flash come from his nick-seeking cross-courts. Although, after a driving volley that left Shahier plastered to the back-wall, Cameron asked the referee, “you should have given me three points for that, no?”

Winning the second game 11-6, Cameron used the momentum from his two game lead
in the third. He hunted the nick with deadly precision, also showing patience by slowing the game down in the middle. In the third, Cameron clearly dictated the pace and style of play.

Cameron could stop the rally at will, as Shahier seemed unable to counter Cameron’s kill-shots. At 6-6, Cameron, ranked 24th in the world pulled ahead of the 22nd player and did not look back, winning the third 11-7, and advancing to the finals.

Joshna Chinappa Scores the Biggest Upset

In an exciting four-game match, Joshna Chinappa defeated Australian Dianne Desira in the semifinals of the women's draw of the 2006 Berkshire Squash Open. Using a combination of deceptive drop shots and great depth, Chinappa easily took the first game by a score of 9-1. Desira started out with a defensive mindset, and was unable to reach Chinappa's effective cross-court drops.

Chinappa opened up the second game in much the same way as the first and built up an 8-0 advantage. However, Desira calmed down, stepped forward, and took advantage of some costly errors by Chinappa. Longer rallies favored Desira's hard-hitting style, and she managed to work her way back to a second-game tiebreaker. However, Desira momentarily lost focus and two untimely shots into the tin gave Chinappa the second game.

Chinappa looked poised to take the third game and the match, but Desira appeared determined to mount a comeback. Desira opened the game with a 6-0 advantage, and did not look back on her way to winning the third game by a score of 9-2. Things were looking a little less optimistic for Chinappa as Desira began to anticipate Chinappa's previously effective cross-court drop shots.

LJ Took a two games to one lead but faded. Photo © 2006 Tavis Moonan

The atmosphere was tense as both players arrived on court for the deciding fourth game. Chinappa opened the game with four straight points, but Desira did not give up. In a similar fashion to game two, Desira came back and forced the game into a tie-breaker. It was an exciting finish as both players battled hard, but Chinappa emerged victorious after Desira again placed two shots into the tin.

Hisham Ashour Shocks L J Anjema

In the second men's semifinal, Hisham Ashour barely edged Laurens Jan Anjema to advance to the men's final of Berkshire Squash Open. Ashour's creativity in the front court finally proved to be too much for Anjema's tenacious, consistent play. Anjema made few errors, but Ashour's persistent cross-court nicks frustrated Anjema and provided Ashour with the edge he needed to take this long five-game match.

Ashour's incredible deception did not phase Anjema in the first game, and Anjema was able to cruise through the first by a score of 11-4. Anjema's wrist-flick, half-volley forehand kept Ashour in the back court for the majority of the game, and forced Ashour to make some errors that eventually gave Anjema the game.

In the second game, Ashour jumped out to an early 7-2 lead due to some tight drop shots, but a few incredible efforts and cross-court nicks brought the hard-working Anjema back into the game. However, some long rallies and fast-paced play eventually caught up with Anjema, and Ashour was able to take the game by a score of 11-8.

Anjema's hard work frustrated Ashour in the third, and Anjema easily took the game. It was a different story in the fourth, however, as Ashour easily took the game from Anjema by the score of 11-6. Although both competitors fought through some long rallies characterized by cross-court volley battles, Ashour's deft drop shots eventually provided him with the necessary advantage to take the game.

In the end, Ashour's creativity and deception proved to be too much for the tired Anjema. Ashour made fewer mistakes in the fifth, and came through with some winning drop shots to the corners. He took the fifth in convincing fashion by the score of 11-5, and advanced to the final to play Australian Cameron Pilley.

WEE STOPS TERAN

Sharon Wee of Malaysia played Samantha Teran of Mexico in the Berkshire Open Women’s semifinal. With powerful movements and a touch that seemed to come alive as the match progressed, Sharon came on the offensive early and often against Samantha, stretching her to all four corners of the court. As Sharon upped the intensity of the first game with her volleys, Samantha tried to counter with a mixture of high-arcing lobs and penetrating lengths, but ultimately, it was not enough as Sharon won 9-3.

Sharon began the second game with the same precise ball placement that won her the first. In what developed into a highly contested game, Samantha must have felt like she was running a marathon on court. Would her tremendous court-speed be enough to overcome Sharon’s calculating shots? Both players volleyed more in this game, further intensifying the pace, forcing more bumps and let calls. But Sharon’s consistent attacks, especially from the volley, won her the game 9-4.

In the face of a few close calls against her, Samantha kept her composure and focus after going down 0-3 in the third. She battled back to go up 5-3, and for a moment, it seemed as if the match’s momentum had turned.

Sharon survived this scare by returning to her volleys. Under this pressure, Samantha tried to end the rallies quickly but quickly found the tin, losing the third 6-9, and the match.

2006 Bershire Open. Semifinal Round. RESULTS:

PSA SEMIFINAL ROUND:

[6] Hisham Ashour(EGY) def [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NL) 4-11 11-8 2-11 11-6 11-5
[3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) def [3] Shahir Razik  11-8 11-6 11-7

WISPA SEMIFINAL ROUND:
[1] Sharon Wee MAS) def [4] Samantha Teran (MEX) 9-3 9-4 9-6
def  [3] Runa Reta (CAN) 9-6 9-1 9-2 37 min
 [8] Joshna Chinappa (IND) def  [5] Dianne Desira (AUS) 9-1 10-8 2-9 10-8