Willstrop keeps winning streak alive

North American Open

Thursday 25th February

Quarter Finals

#3 Amr Shabana def. #23 Olli Tuominen 11-3 11-7 11-8 (32m)

Reigning World Champion Amr Shabana produced a clinical display of precision squash to end the run of Olli Tuominen. During the first two games Shabana made his opponent run & turn, always in control and eventually finished the ball with a deadly dropshot or flick crosscourt. It wasn't until 8-8 in the 3rd game that Tuominen looked to handle the short swing, precision & deception of the Egyptian. From Tuominen's serve at 8-8, Shabana slotted a dead crosscourt nick, received a mistake from the Finn on the next point and ran out the next point to end the hopes of Tuominen and move onto the semi-finals.








#6 James Willstrop def. #5 Gregory Gaultier 11-6 12-10 11-3 (53m)

This was billed as the potential match of the tournament. Gaultier reached No.1 in the world only a few months earlier, while Willstrop won the last Super Series event in New York.
Both players started out at a furious pace, with Willstrop managing to hit a slightly better length, allowing him to dominate the middle of the court. Gaultier didn't manage to move his opponent long and short, and any time he did move his opponent into the front court, Willstrop would lunge and produce a deft dropshot or a neutralizing lob. Gaultier never really controlled any point in the match, though he is a great fighter. Through sheer will he managed to win a few scrappy points towards the end of the 2nd game to force a tie-break.
It was an "if-only" scenario - win the 2nd, Willstrop might tire, Gautier might find his way into the match. It wasn't to be. Willstrop kept to his plan, kept dominating the T, stretching for volleys and killing the ball straight & short when he had half a chance. He snuck through the 2nd game 12-10 and at that point Gaultier looked as though he knew his fate. Gaultier stuck to his natural game of fast paced hitting & counter-attack in the 3rd game, though it was ineffective, Willstrop closing out the last few points in a couple of minutes.










#1 Ramy Ashour def. #9 Thierry Lincou 8-11 12-10 11-9 11-8 (49m)

Lincou produced a fantastic display of fighting squash against the touch and speed of Ashour. Like the match between Gaultier & Willstrop, the match hinged upon the 2nd game. Lincou played tight squash and dominated Ashour in the 1st game and up to mid-way throught the 2nd game. Ashour likes to step forward and carve in crosscourt dropshots with alarming regularity, though Lincou wasn't giving him any obvious opportunities. Lincou was keeping the ball out of the middle and counter dropping Ashour straight & tight. At 10-8 to Ashour in the 2nd game, Ashour hit two crosscourt volley drops into the tin, an unusual occurance. Normally relaxed and strolling around the court as if it were a practice match, Ashour looked tense and rattled. He regained composure and Lincou started to tire. Two more crosscourt dropshots and this time they went in - game to Ashour 12-10.
The 3rd and 4th games were tight, though Ashour always had his nose in front and always looked like the winner. He produced some spectacular shotmaking and retrieving to carve out an impressive 3-1 victory.














#2 Nick Matthew def. #10 Adrian Grant 11-9 5-11 11-4 11-7 (67m)

Two friends playing far from home, this was played like a practice match on the backcourt of Pontefract Squash Club. Neither player dominated the match, and with no particular tactical plan from either player, the winner was most likely going to be the player with better movement and the most confidence. Matthew is great at winning the scrappy rallies and is certainly focused and confident. To win when not playing well is a skill, and it was this one that carried him through to the semi-finals yet again.