2004 SSA Global Windy City Squash Open > First Round Search Squashtalk
  2004 WINDY CITY


SQUASHTALK TODAY

 

Round One Recap
©2004 by Aidan Harrison
April 1, 2004
Renan Lavigne's mixture of pace and delicate drops helped him control the game. (photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
In the opening match of the SSA Global Windy City Open, Simon Parke and Renan Lavigne took stage on the all glass court in the Cathedral Hall at the University Club, Chicago. A spectacular setting with stained glass windows and the view of Lake Michigan, the sponsors, patrons and members were treated with a fantastic game of attrition. Lavigne’s mixture of pace and delicate drops helped him control the game from a 9-13 deficit in the first to take the opener 15-13 in one hand.

The second game went back and forth, but with some tight length and devastating crosscourts, Lavigne won the second 15-12. Parke, the warrior of the PSA tour hailing from Nottingham, England came back in devastating form to win the third game easily 15-4. The calm, collected Frenchman was at the peak of his game in the latter stages of the fourth and showed his control finishing off the match 15-11.

Mark Chaloner came charging out and took the first two games. (photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
Once again, two more Europeans matched up in the second pro match. Finnish Olli Touminen taking on the president of the professional tour Mark Chaloner from England. Chaloner raced off to a two game lead and was leading 7-2 in the third before the fighting Finn raised his offensive play and clinically pulled back the game 15-9. Touminen’s confidence grew and he finished the match 15-9,15-12.

After three and half hours of play, the last match on the lunchtime session featured in-form and no.3 seed for the event, England’s, Nick Matthew. His opponent, a strong and determined Rodney Durbach from South Africa gave a gritty performance but went down in a feisty five game contest 9-15, 15-8, 15-9, 11-15, 10-15.

Ben Garner (front) put on a brave battle but was out played by the Canadian Graham Ryding. (photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
Session two started with a couple of future stars of the England World Class performance team. Jonothan Kemp and Ben Garner are in their early stages of the world tour and have been making steady progress in the last year. First on court was Kemp who was educated with a fine display of Egyptian squash. Omar Elborolossy punished his flamboyant English opponent easily 15-4, 15-13, 15-6. Garner put on a brave battle but was out played by the Canadian Graham Ryding who was making his first visit to the Windy City open in over six years losing 15-6, 15-11, 15-8.

Defending Champion Paul Price stepped on court against qualifier Gavin Jones determined to show to the crowd why he was a former top 5 in the world player. After a 1-6 and 7-12 start in the first game he played exceptional length winning 15-13. Price continued to be in excellent form using his mid court forehand kill whenever he had it as an option. After taking the second 15-9 , he cruised to a victory 15- 8.

A Chicago favorite and a valuable entertainer for the world circuit, Gregory Gaultier charmed the crowd with his acrobatic movement, deft touches, and creative wrist. At 14-14 in the first, Gaultier showed his drop shot skills in the front forehand over his opponent Scot Martin Heath, winning the game 17-14. At veteran of the tour , now based in Toronto , Heath pulled back the second 15-11 to tie the game score at one-all. The Frenchman was not to be out classed and picked up the tempo of the third and final game winning 15-9, 15-9.

Karim Darwish, a former World junior champion was the last player to enter the the Cathedral Hall squash arena. His competitor for the night was an opponent who had beaten him on the last encounter, Alex Gough. The Egyptian was fantastic and crushed the ball into all four corners of the court taking out the Welshman 15-9, 15-12, 15-11.

Tomorrow at four 4pm will feature some great match-ups including last year's final Gaultier versus Price.

Paul Price (front) after a slow start picked up the pace and took out qualifier Gavin Jones. (photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)

 



RESULTS: SSA Global Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA (complete draw)

1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 15-9, 15-12, 15-11
[5] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [Q] Ben Garner (ENG) 15-6, 15-11, 15-8
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Rodney Durbach (RSA) 15-9, 8-15, 9-15, 15-11, 15-10
[8] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 9-15, 9-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-12
[7] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [Q] Simon Parke (ENG) 15-13, 15-12, 4-15, 15-11
[4] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [Q] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 15-4, 15-13, 15-6
[6] Paul Price (AUS) bt [Q] Gavin Jones (WAL) 15-13, 15-9, 15-8
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Martin Heath (SCO) 17-14, 11-15, 15-9, 15-9