[PSA Draw/Results ]             [WISPA Draw/Results ]        

Squash At the Plaza Mall, Hong Kong

Amr Shabana Stretched for the win . (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)

Ramy Ashour, the former World Jr Champion, stunned world #2 David Palmer in the semi final of the Cathay Packific Swiis Privilege Hong Kong open here in the final match Saturday night.

Ashour, who had already beat world #3 and former world #1 Thierry Lincou earlier in the event, has emerged from an unseeded position (and 12th in the world) to meet fellow Egyptian Amr Shabana in a sure-to-be exciting all-Egyptian final.

Play moved to the Plaza Hollywood today, a highly popular shopping mall in the residential suburb of Diamond Hill. Earlier in the day also saw the opening of the brand new ASB all glass court (generously donated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust) in a high profile ceremony that had ministers, politicians, Miss Hong Kong 2006 winner Aimee Chan and runner up Janet Show, and a highly popular Peter Nicol (who is by the way an icon here) attend. Nicol also opened play on the court with Hong Kong’s Minister of Health, Welfare and Food, Dr.York Chow.

Both the top seeds and world number ones were tested and pushed to the limit but both scrapped through to the final of the Cathay Pacific – Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Squash Open 2006. Amr Shabana will play “young and dangerous” Ramy Ashour, while Nicol David will face Tania Bailey in a repeat of the Malaysian Open final.

The Semis and finals in Hong Kong move to a spectacular venue. (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)

The Egyptian Dream Continues

Amr Shabana Stretched for the win . (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)

A dream final between the two Egyptians is confirmed when world number one Amr Chabana overcame a gritty James Willstrop and wonderboy continues his run, edging world champion David Palmer on the all glass court.

James Willstrop and Amr Shabana had the honour of being the first professional players on this brand new court. Both players, currently back to form, displayed squash at its highest level for the crowd. Willstrop drew first blood after a 16-minute first game. After trading leads early in the second game, Shabana never allowed that to happen having drew level at 7-7 to draw level. The third was a close affair again but it was Willstrop that looked good to walk out the victor after he sneaked in the third 11-9. but Shabana bounced back convincingly to bring the match to a decider, having led from start to end in this game. The fifth was by far the most exciting one and there was never more than two points separating the pair. Both gave everything they had and there was nothing particularly evident that separates the pair. Shabana clinched it after 76 minutes and Willstrop was left devastated. As Shabana rejoiced, the Englishman buried his head into his arms at the back of court. Willstrop later confirmed, “I’m very, very disappointed” and credited HK Squash for an amazing event organised.

In the last match of the evening, David Palmer couldn’t stop an all-Egyptian final when he was put out of the double world junior champion. Starting off in similar fashion where he played conservatively, Ashour was drawn into rallies with the world champion. Slowly, Palmer started to break away, but never more than two points until he reached game ball at 10-7, which he duly converted. The next game saw a much more aggressive Ashour who began to attack the ball more, though the attempts into the nick were a lot less than previous days. Playing an experienced player like Palmer, that was the smart thing to do. Ashour was in the front, leading 5-2 before Palmer used his experience to draw level at six a piece. The Egyptian raced to a 10-6 lead next and dropped another two points before drawing level. The third saw some unbelievably long rallies, which also saw a lot of sweat on the court, making it very slippery and both players had slipped a times. Later after the match, Palmer said that was something that affected him mentally, as he was thinking about it each time he went to the front. Ashour edged home in the fourth as well with the same 11-8 score and in the fifth, he dominated the match, and after that, Palmer. He was ecstatic about his win, and he simply couldn’t hide it. The crowd loved it!

"I can't express my feelings, I'm so happy.  He's a great payer and to beat him is fantastic," Ashour told the press fterwards.  "I had a feeling I could do well in this tournament – not winning it or even getting to the final – but to do that is just unbelievable.

"Now I have to play my hero, friend and mentor, Amr Shabana," added Ashour on the eve of his maiden Super Series final.

Bailey looks good

Tania Bailey, yet another world junior champion (in addition to Nicol David and Ramy Ashour), continued her fine run when she beat compatriot Vicky Botwright convincingly in straight games. Though the end score was 9-1, it was by no means a clear indicator, as the lanky Botwright had nine serves. The next game was probably the most crucial of the three. Bailey had taken an early 4-0 lead, only for Botwright to come back and lead 7-5. But she couldn’t follow that up as Bailey sneaked home 9-7 to take a 2-0 lead. It was once again point for point in the third, and it was also Bailey who walked out victorious. The former world number four books her final date with Nicol David in a repeat of the Malaysian Open final a few months ago, a match that went the distance.

The win is the latest affirmation that Bailey has finally overcome the long period of injury and illness which disrupted her career since achieving her career-high world No3 ranking in March 2003.  “I have reached a Gold standard final before but this is the first time I have ever reached the final of a Platinum standard event,” Bailey told Colin McQuillan.

“Perhaps, more importantly, I cannot remember the last time I had to play five matches back-to-back in a tournament and I am coming up for each one in good shape."

David scraped through

Peter Nicol, Squash Ambassador, with Miss Hong Kong (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)

Nicol David had looked invincible all week and recent months. She had been in devastating form, wiping out all her opponents. Rachael Grinham, whom she defeated en route to her first world title here in Hong Kong last year, meanwhile, struggled through her last few matches. Many did not give the Australian much chance, but she proved them wrong tonight. The match started off with plenty of exchange of serves, 13 to be precise, until 3-2 to Grinham. She then raced off to a five consecutive points to reach game ball and needed only one more hand of serve to clinch it. David bettered Grinham’s run of five points earlier a notch, when she took six at 2-4 down to reach game ball and later draw level. That had the crowd cheering, as being Asian, David has a huge fan base here in Hong Kong. The next two games were shared, before David raced through the fifth, finishing off in seven minutes for her second consecutive Hong Kong final. She gets a crack at her maiden Hong Kong Squash Open title tomorrow, but so does Bailey.

Peter Nicol, Squash Ambassador, with Miss Hong Kong (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)

It was the pair's sixth WISPA meeting this year, but marked David's 21st successive match win on the Tour.  Victory in the Hong Kong final would gave the 23-year-old from Penang her fifth successive WISPA title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS:        Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Open Squash Championships, Hong Kong

Men's Semis:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-6 11-9 (76m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] David Palmer (AUS) 7-11 11-8 11-8 11-3 (55m)

Women's Semias:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt   [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 2-9 9-6 6-9 9-5 9-1 (67m)
[7] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-1 9-7 9-7

Peter Nicol, Squash Ambassador, with Miss Hong Kong (photo:©2006 Alex Wan)