The CIMB Malaysian Open got underway today, with particular excitement in the women's draw with the world #1, Nicol David expected to meet world #2 Natalie Grinham, in the finals.

FAIRNESS?

In a rather surprising move, the organisers of the 2008 CIMB KL Open decided that all matches would be played at the side courts to be fair to all players.

With an amazing all glass court available here at the National Squash Centre, I find it an absolute waste that it is not being utilised. The reason of being fair to all players must also be a first, as I do not believe there is anywhere in the world where organisers will be able to accommodate al matches in the all glass court.

To add more to it, the whole National Squash Centre had recently undergone a major refurbishment. The all glass court has had its floor sanded and painted, whilst the films of all walls have also been changed. If indeed fairness is the way to go around here, the court should see no action over the Malaysian Open as well. What would it then be used for, one would question?

Attached photo of refurbished all glass court

LOCALS BOYS ADVANCE

Malaysian hopes Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee both advanced to the quarter final of the 2008 CIMB KL Open in contrasting styles. Shamsul Islam Khan, once a KL Open champion back in 2005, had Beng Hee on court for 44 minutes while Iskandar took just half the time against Egyptian qualifier TareK Momen. Beng Hee started well with some very patient play and took the first comfortably. As the match progressed, Khan’s deft touches in the front backhand corner began to trouble the Malaysian.

Top two seeds Stewart Boswell and Adrian Grant also advanced with little resistance from their local opponents. Stewart dropped just four points against wild card Asyraf Azan while Grant disposed off Nafzahizam Adnan. Jonathan Kemp, the lanky English, spent just fourteen minutes on court as he saw off Dylan Bennett.

Aamir Atlas Khan, the seventh seed won the battle of Pakistan when he saw off the stiff challenge of Farhan Mehboob. They both had the most delicate drops you’d find here in the tournament but they both know each other games just so well. It was Khan who came out victorious, the final point coming from a no let against Mehboob.

Omar Mosaad, one of the up and coming Egyptians, had qualifier Matthew Karwalski all over the court with his accurate shot making. Mansoor Zaman, meanwhile had a neck to neck battle with New Zealand’s Kashif Shuja. Both played together a lot in their junior days representing Pakistan, and Shuja today, I must say, played well above his ranking. Though it was Zaman who walked out the winner in the fifth 11-7, it was one that could go either way.

BAILEY AND DUNCALF FALL SHORT

It was a bad day at work for the English camp, as all their seeded players were beaten by lower ranked opponents. Former world champion Vanessa Atkinson scored the biggest upset of the day when she ousted Tania Bailey. Whilst the score of the match read 3-0, it certainly didn’t do justice to the many close rallies they both had. Asian Championship finalist Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong meanwhile, surprisingly took just 25 minutes to end the challenge of Jenny Duncalf. Alison Waters, the new British champion, completed the upset of all seeded English players when she ousted team mate Vicky Botwright to earn a shot against the elder Grinham tomorrow.

The Grinham sisters both advanced also to the quarters. Natalie, the second seed and playing as a Dutch for the first time, didn’t have much problems in beating Madeline Perry. Elder sister meanwhile, beat compatriot Kasey Brown 3-0.

Local darling Nicol David had little problems in moving onto the quarter final as she comfortable beat Sharon Wee. Wee gave it her best but just couldn’t keep up with the speed of David. Omneya Abdel Kawy, once David’s nemesis back in the junior days, was made to sweat by Australian qualifier Donna Urquhart in their match, dropping a game in the process.

CIMB KL OPEN RESULTS

WISPA 1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Sharon Wee (MAS) 9-2, 9-0, 9-5 (21m)
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-7, 3-9, 9-1, 7-9, 9-4 (69m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1 (24m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-1, 9-1, 8-10, 9-6 (39m)
[8] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 9-4, 9-4, 3-9, 9-0 (25m)
Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-4, 9-6, 9-5 (35m)
[Q] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-2, 9-5, 9-3 (25m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 (26m)

1st round:
[1] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-2, 11-0, 11-2 (15m)
[7] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-9, 11-9, 10-11 (0-2), 11-9 (44m)
[4] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) 11-8, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7 (44m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (27m)
[5] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-4, 11-2, 11-8 (14m)
[3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-7, 11-1, 11-6 (23m)
[8] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 10-11 (0-2), 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 (41m)
[2] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Nafzahizam Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (24m)

 

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