2007 Tournament of Champions Squash, New York

[1st: session 1][1st: session 2] [1st rnd-Day2] [2nd rnd-Aft] [2nd rnd-eve]
[Quarterfinals-1][Quarterfinals - 2] [Semis][Final] [DRAW & RESULTS]

IN THE BATTLE OF THE VETS, WHITE’S POWER WINS
The first match of the afternoon saw something like 35 years of professional experience on court as John White and Alex Gough faced off for a place in the quarters. Gough, ranked 23 in the world despite his age (37), is still a tough customer. John White (33) is still top ten material and can still hit the ball harder than anyone on the circuit. This power is an invaluable tool, one that he can call on whenever he is in trouble. There are two ways of hitting winners: the Egyptian way with the ball feathered into the nick or White’s way: thundering drives. It doesn’t matter where the ball is thundering to, sometimes into the dead nick, sometimes tight to the wall and other times down the middle of the court. The ball moves so fast, his opponents are in trouble.

It was a pleasure watching these two play; they have both been there and done that a thousand times. They know all the shots and all the tricks and they have an answer to everything. In the second game at 3-2 White slammed a forehand into the nick, bringing a wry smile from Gough. The next rally ended with Gough doing exactly the same thing bringing a big smile from both of them. The match was played in that sort of spirit and both players explored all the parts of the court. Although White is known as an attacker, Gough was not content to play step ‘n fetchit, he too was going for the winner at the right time.

However, White is back in the top ten after a bit of a lapse, and playing as well as ever and the difference in ranking would eventually tell and dictate the outcome. White led the first game from the outset and won 11-7. As each rally progressed we waited for the howitzer shot from White, like waiting for the other boot to fall, and while Gough got to most of them, eventually he would be three inches short. The point about White’s shooting is that he just doesn’t bang them anywhere; he is able to still keep a high degree of accuracy, which is why he still at the top at 33.

In the second Gough kept in touch to 7-7 but White hit some superb shots to win 11-8. Gough started the third well and built up an 8-4 lead but then found himself being outshot as White three outright winners, missed a forehand drop and finished the next three rallies with another smashing forehand stright nick, a backhand chop and then a tghundering passing shot to reach match ball 10-9. Gough cheekily hit the next service into the nick to force a tie break. The next rally was the longest of the match with both players showing their experience in not trying to win it too quickly. Finally Gough hit the ball out of court and White had another match ball. He made sure this time with a forehand winner to finish the 19 minute game and earn his place in the quarters, and a probably meeting with world number one Amr Shabana.

THE RAMY RAMPAGE CONTINUES

. As a squash match, this encounter left something to be desired. Yes, the shotmaking and the almost magical touch that the young Ashour can bring to bear is simply breathtaking to watch, but there should always be some sort of rhythm to keep the spectator engaged. There were many errors and too many physical clashes for this to happen. Unfortunately El Hindi tends to block his shots and appeals in situations hoping to get a stroke. At one point, when the referees gave Ashour a let, el Hindi asked why. The referee said succinctly “Because of the block,” Even El Hindi had to smile at that.

As the match progressed Ashour’s astounding touch coupled with his speed of mind and racket began to reap bigger dividends. His backhand cuts to the righ

t front corner (usually a nick) were cruel and unusual punishment. After he had won the second game in 13 minutes, el Hindi’s challenge began to crumble and Ashour took the next two game in seven minutes each. He now will face James Willstrop in the quarters and as I said in my preview it will be the match of the tournament and possibly of the year.

Afterwards I asked John White how you play someone like Ramy Ashour.
“You can’t,” he said shortly. “You’ve got to play his game but play it better than him. But then you can’t. If you play defensively he will beat you with shots and if you attack him, he is better at the front than anybody. I can’t remember a player with a touch as good as his. He can attack with his backhand when played in front where most players can only hit it to the back.”

WILLSTROP THROUGH IN 29 MINUTES
When Shahier Razik played in the 1996 World junior champs, he was marvelous touch player, with the softest racket in the world. After ten year, he has lost that and has turned into a marathon player, hitting most balls at the same speed and the same height with a monotonous regularity. It is not surprising that he and Joey Barrington played the longest match in recent years last year, one that went for 2hours and 20 minutes. This is the sort of opponent James Willstrop prays for because essentially they are setting the ball up for him to practise his winners.
There is very little else to say about this mismatch which Willstrop won in 29 minutes in straight games. Perhaps Shahier should go back to Cairo and spend some time with his former colleagues and friends hoping some of their shotmaking would rub off.

OLLI MUSCLES THROUGH
Lee Beachill fell victim to the that tough Finn Olli Tuominen in a 56 minute match that saw Beachill fail to use all his court craft and experience to counter the running game of Tuominen. Beachill won the first game but was inexorably drawn into Tuominen’s game, which essentially takes place in the back third of the court. This was almost the opposite of the Ashour/el Hindi game which is played mostly in the forecourt. Despite advice from Malcolm Willstrop, Beachill could not break the pattern set by Tuominen and if was obvious that the confidence that took him to world number one not so long ago is no longer there. Beachill on full song is one of the classier players in the game and a valuable part of the tour. I hope a finds a way to get his enthusiasm and determination back again.

SECOND ROUND (partial results)
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) vs [16] Hisham Ashour (EGY)
[6]John White (SCO) bt [6] Alex Gough (WAL) 11-7, 11-8,11-10(2-0) (50mins)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [9] Wael el Hindi (EGY) 6-11, 11-9,11-5, 11-2 (53mins)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [15] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-7, 11-3,11-5 (29mins)
[11] Borja Golan (SPA) vs [7] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
Liam Kenney (IRE) vs [3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) [10]
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [8] Lee Beachill (ENG) 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9. (56mins)
[2]David Palmer (AUS) vs [Q] Julian Illingworth (USA)

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