Matthew wins North American Open 2010

#2 Nick Matthew def. #1 Ramy Ashour 11-9 16-14 5-4 ret. (48m)



Nick Matthew fought back from 9-7 in the 1st game and 7-4 in the 2nd game to break the heart of current No.1 and defending North American Open Champion Ramy Ashour.
Ashour seemed to be playing the kind of freeflowing squash that is his trademark, though Matthew kept pegging him back, using his straight volley drop to force Ashour to reach uncomfortably into the front corners.
It wasn't obvious that Ashour was injured, though maybe because he doesn't play traditional physical, length-based squash. He attacks into the front corners, especially crosscourt, and his wins are predicated upon when he can force the loose shot and how far forward he can get to reduce the risk of playing a winning shot.
The second game was make-or-break for Ashour; win it and he might have gone on to dominate the match. This wasn't to be - Matthew wouldn't let his opponent break free, forcing Ashour deeper and deeper in the court, eventually getting the error.
Matthew's steely resolve and physicality means that he is incredibly hard to break down when he is in a rythym, and also hard to dominate in more random conditions due to his insistence on making his opponent play one more shot to finish the rally.
Matthew's 2-0 lead proved to be unassailable. Ashour tried for a few points in the 3rd game, though it was a half-hearted effort. He knew he couldn't summon the effort required to come back and win, especially while carrying a niggling injury.
Matthew fully deserved his victory. He labored through a couple of average matches during the tournament, finding his volley drops and short game in the semi-finals and finals. The interest now lies in a potential rivalry for the top spot on PSA. This win pushes Matthew closer to that goal, one which he is yet to achieve.
Congratulations to Matthew for his deserved victory and also to Gus Cook and his team for building one of the showcase North American events on the PSA World Tour.

Ashour defeats "older brother" Shabana

North American Open 2010

Friday February 26th

Semi Finals

#1 Ramy Ashour def. #3 Amr Shabana 12-14 13-11 7-11 11-7 11-8 (76m)

The current World Champion and former No.1 playing the former World Champion & current No.1; it couldn't be a better billing, and it sure lived up to expectations.

Amr Shabana started the match in control, playing crisp length and carving in deadly volley drops at will. Ashour's astonishing speed allows him to retrieve and win the scrappy rallies, which is all that he had at the beginning of the match. The nucleus of Ashour's armoury, the backhand crosscourt volley drop, wasn't firing as well is it has been all week. Shabana took a lead in the first three games, though Ashour pegged it back each time, firing in some incredible power forehand crosscourt nicks.

Shabana looked to have it sewn up after he breezed through the third game, though let Ashour back in the 4th. It wasn't until the 5th game that both players played at their full potential. Amazing 5 shot rallies ending in a nick, emulating grasscourt tennis, was the order of the day. It was Ashour that received the momentum at the end of the game, though it could so easily have been a different outcome.

Put it down to the energy and confidence of youth. And perhaps the most prodigious squash talent the world has ever seen.

#2 Nick Matthew def. #6 James Willstrop 11-8 11-9 12-10 (62m)

Willstrop never really looked comfortable for the whole of the match. He did take a lead in the first two games, though he was half the player of yesterday. Matthew was hitting a more precise length and bringing the ball short enough on the volley drop to make Willstrop lunge, intercepting the next ball to end the rally at the back of the court.

It was a pattern that was repeated through the match. Willstrop briefly looked in control in the 3rd game, though Matthew levelled the score and from then on it slid away. In what started as an even rivalry, Matthew has won the last 5 matches against Willstrop before tonight. Considering how different a player Willstrop was tonight compared to last night where he destroyed Gaultier, there is a feeling of a slight psychological block, or at the very least a clash of playing styles.

Matthew's movement, especially his recoil recovery from every shot, gives his so much time to anticipate the next shot. This is the element in his game that could lead him to the title tomorrow.

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.