|
|
|
TODAY at the Saudi International 2007:
Steve Cubbins in Al-Khobar ... |
|
Saturday 27th,
Semi-Finals: |
|
SEMI-FINALS:
[1] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [3] David
Palmer (Aus)
13/11, 11/8, 11/4 (54m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [4]
Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
10/12, 11/2, 8/11, 11/2, 11/8 (68m)
All-Egyptian final at Sunset Beach
The Sunset Beach crowd went wild tonight, not once, but twice,
as their favourite Egyptians won through to the final of the
richest event in squash history.
They did it in contrasting styles, as defending champion Amr Shabana
beat
world champion David Palmer in straight games having saved game
balls in the first, while Ramy Ashour eventually got the better of
France's Gregory Gaultier in a five-game thriller that kept the
crowd on the edge of its seats as the momentum swung one way,
then the other, before finally resting in the world junior
champion's favour.
Daily News |
SAUDI BLOG
Photo Galleries |
|
 |
|
[1]
Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [3] David
Palmer (Aus)
13/11, 11/8, 11/4 (54m)
Shabana back in the final
For two and a half games it couldn't have been closer, as two
double World Champions went point for point as they strove to
reach the final. Yes, David Palmer took at 3/1 lead in the
first, but in a relatively cagey opening game the score went
3/3, 4/4, 5/5 ... all the way to 9/9 when the Australian earned
game ball with a deep volley. Shabana saved that with a tight
dropshot, but faced another as Palmer powered another volley
deep into the back.
 The
defending champion saved that too and went on to take the lead
after 23 minutes to Palmer's visible disappointment.
The second presented a similar tale, not a point to separate
them up to 7-all. Three consecutive returns of serve into the
nick and Shabana led 9-8, then he sent his opponent on courts
sprints to reach game ball and closed it out with a drop that
was just too tight.
Both were still playing measured squash, generally content to
wait for opportunities to present themselves rather than forcing
the issue, but from 4-all in the third Shabana made a break for
home, firing in a series of spectacular winners that left Palmer
dead and buried. The pick of the bunch was a deft crosscourt
flick to reach 9/4, quickly followed by a volley kill and a
wrong-footing boast to wrap up the 8-minute game.
 "It's
always a great performance to beat David, he's a big guy, very
strong and very hard to beat. There was nothing in it for the
first two games, I managed to save a couple of game balls in the
first which was very important.
"My shots were very crisp, I had a good hit this morning when I
felt good and it paid off tonight, my shots were working well.
When I got a couple of points ahead in the third I knew it was
time to push for a 3/0 win, and I had the confidence to go for
my shots and thank God they came off.
"It will be fun playing Ramy in the final, he's just like a kid,
out there having fun, it should be a good match …"
 |
"I should have won the first – you can't afford to waste game
ball opportunities against someone like him, you just can't do
that. I played good squash until then, and I don't think I did
too much wrong but at the end of the day I didn't win the
points.
"The second was close too, but toward the end he realized I was
struggling with my footing as the sweat was building up on the
floor and kept pushing me towards the front.
"I played well all week, but you can't let those opportunities
go, that probably cost me the match, but all credit to him he
took the big points well. He's looking pretty strong and he'll
be hard to beat …"
 |
 |
|
[2]
Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [4]
Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
10/12, 11/2, 8/11, 11/2, 11/8 (68m)
Ramy wins a thriller
The first game of the second semi-final bore a remarkable
resemblance to the opening game of the previous match -
scorewise, at least. Point-for-point to 8-all, one player edges
ahead to 10/8 only to be overtaken.
 That's
where the similarity ends though. None of that up-and-down the
wall business, we were treated to a feast of flicks, lobs,
drops, drives and boasts as two of the most talented racket
players on earth pitted their skills against each other. Fast
and furious, tense and exciting.
Gregory Gaultier took that first, then, as yesterday, succumbed
11/2 in the second as Ramy Ashour's shotmaking came to the fore.
The Frenchman was much more comfortable in the third, easing
ahead from the mid-point, moving easily and getting the crowd
worried as he reclaimed the lead.
Then he lost 11/2 again. To be fair, Greg contributed to his own
downfall in this one, early errors making it a lost cause -
although Ramy was good - and he conserved his energy for the
fifth.
It was some game that fifth, 15-minutes of talent and tension.
Ramy led 4/1, Greg recovered to 6-all, then 8-all. Greg lunged
after the ball into the back corner and was left sprawling as
Ramy put away an easy winner to lead 9/8, then Greg hit his
return of serve out to gift Ramy two match balls.
He only needed one. A tin on his second shot spelled the end for
Greg, and sparked the celebrations of the crowd.
One thing is sure - the crowd will be happy tomorrow with either
winner, but it would be a brave man who put a lot on it ...
 |
 "It
was a good game, I was just a little unlucky at the end. It's
very hot and humid on there, so you can't keep up the pace all
the time, you have to pace yourself and decide when to make the
effort.
"I'm happy with the way I played this week and I'll be focused
for the next tournaments …"
"I felt that we were both playing in patches, we were both up
and down. I had the lead 10/8 in the first and if I'd taken that
it would have helped my confidence, I would have stepped the
pace up. But I had to play safe for a while after that, get the
feel of my shots, then, when I could, I pushed as hard as I
could.
"I played perfect squash in parts, but he had a very clever game
plan and made it difficult for me. Hisham told me in between
games what he was doing, what was working on court and what
wasn't, he really helped me.
"When I was on top I knew I needed to push, push, and I'm so
happy to be in the final, so happy …"
 |
 |
|
|
