MARTIN BRONSTEIN in Richmond, Virginia     [THE DRAW/RESULTS]

ILLINGWORTH PLAYS OUT OF HIS SKIN

Breathtaking stuff. Wow! Jumping Jehosaphat! Who is this American kid who thinks he can play squash at the elite level? Julian Illingworth, that’s who. Illingworth is ranked 38 in the world, Hisham Ashour, big brother of Ramy, is ranked 21. So who would you put  your money on, the kid from Oregon, or the Egyptian? You would have lost because Illingworth played out of his skin, the best I have ever seen him play. This man is developing as a squash player in a way that suggests that he could be the first American player to attain top ten status. He is also proving, on the way, that you can go to university and still become a top pro squash player.

Julian Illingworth outplayed Hisham Ashour. (photo:©2008 Patricia Lyons)

 

The interesting aspect of his 3/1 victory over Ashour was his  front of court play, his unerring touch on drops and counter drops, an area of the court where you are normally foolish to take on the Egyptians. Illingworth’s self-belief and accuracy were beyond anything he had shown before and he caught Ashour napping many times with beautifully crafted counter-drops.

Illingworth won the first game in ten minutes and kept resolute in the second as the lead changed hands many times before Ashour got to game ball at  10-8. Nervelessly Illingworth hit two backhand drop winners to force a tie-break. The next few minutes  was cliff-hanging time as Illingworth got to game ball 11-10, only for Ashour to catch up with a dead nick winner. Then a superb cross court slam to length, left Ashour helpless and once more  Illingworth had game ball. But he tried a delicate backhand cross court drop and hit the tin. Now it was 12-12, and then 13-13 at which point the impetuous Ashour tried  a behind the back shot and hit the tin. 14-13 for Illingworth and this new American hero hit another sublime drop to take the 15 minute game and go two up.

Julian Illingworth recovered his form and confidence in the fourth. (photo:©2008 Patricia Lyons)

Game three was a sheer disaster for Illingworth. Both left and right back corners should be designated Bermuda Triangles: the ball does funny things. Three times Illingworth had the ball lined up and hit it along the floor, surprised by a strange bounce. (Other players have commented on this ). His concentration gone, the game was over  11-4 in Ashour’s favour in  four minutes and thirty seconds.  Had Illingworth blown his gas tank in the first two games?

It certainly looked like it as  Ashour took a quick 3-0 lead in the fourth, but Illingworth recovered his form and confidence and from 3-6 down he calmly played his way through to win 11-7 for a deserved victory. It was a mature and entertaining performance which he was unable to explain after the match. He had done no special training, he said, which augurs well for his future.

 (I spoke to Mohammed Abbas after the match and he said: “Illingworth played very well, but Hisham played the wrong game against him.” The fact was that Hisham played the way he normally plays and I don’t think he can change.)

Ramy Ashour moves on to the second round. (photo:©2008 Patricia Lyons)

He will now face Ramy Ashour in the second round which should be fun.

Illingworth’s victory was the final match of the day which for the most part  held little excitement except for  when young Saurav Ghosal from India, took the first two games from a sleepy Karim Darwish.  Darwish woke up long enough to win the next three  and admitted that he was “slow to start” which must be the understatement of  the year.

Apart from Illingworth, the only player who looked as though he meant business was Lee Beachill. For a man who had had a double hernia operation two months ago, he was in surprisingly good form and went about his business with fierce determination as he demolished the young Frenchman Yann Perrin in straight games in 27 minutes. He will face fellow Yorkshireman  James Willstrop in the second round.

QUOTE  OF THE DAY

Wael El Hindi got his commupance today after shouting at \ the referee “Wake up”. The referee was Mike Riley and he immediately  issued a conduct warning.  El Hindi said “I was just saying” to which Riley responded immediately: “I just heard.”

Players, take my advice don’t mess with Riley.

RESULTS ,FIRST ROUND , BOTTOM HALF OF DRAW

[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt  [Q] David Phillips (CAN) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (28mins)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [14] Hisham Ashour (EGY) 11-7,  11-10(5-3), 4-11,11-7 (51 mins)
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 6-11, 10-11(1-3),  11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (55mins)
[12] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [Q] Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-9. 11-10 (2-0)  43 mins
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt  [Q] Jethro Binns (WAL) 11-7,11-8,11-6. (30mins)
[9] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (27mins)
[8] Wael  El Hindi (EGY) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-7. 11-10(2-1), 11-3 (38 mins)
[13] Shahier Razik (CAN  bt   Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-2. 11-6, 11-10(2-0). (38mins)
[16] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt  [Q] Liam Kenny (IRE) 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11,11-10(3-1)
[7] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Wade Johnson (AUS) 11-8, 11-=9, 9-11, 11-7 (38mins)
[11] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Rafael Alarcon (BRA)11-8, 10-11(1-3) 8-11, 11-6,11-5 (56mins)
[3] David Palmer (AUS)  bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 (47mins) 
[10] Mohammed Abbas(EGY) bt  [Q] Julian Balbo (FRA) 11-7, 11-5 11-3 (37mins)
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (31mins)
[16] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt  Patrick  Chifunda (ZAM) 11-8,11-5.11-10(2-1) (40mins)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Yasser el Halaby (EGY) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (33mins)

 

 

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