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Black Ball Squash Open: Day Two – Player Reaction
It’s day two of the Black Ball Squash Open as the seeds are introduced to the tournament, with play underway from 12:00 (GMT+2).
All eight matches are live on SQUASHTV, with Nada Abbas against Joelle King first up. You can keep up to date with the live scores here.
Order of Play
King Eases Into Quarter-Finals
No.4 seed Joelle King eased her way into the quarter-finals as she defeated Nada Abbas in straight games.
King, who’s been in great form this season, took the first 11-5 with a clinical display from the Kiwi.
Abbas, who defeated King in their last meeting on the PSA World Tour, fought back in the second where she had four game balls to tie the match.
However four unforced errors from the Egyptian took the game into a tiebreak, which King edged 13-11 to take a commanding two-game lead.
King then produced another controlled performance to seal her spot in the last eight, taking the third 11-6.
“Funnily enough, last time we played she (Abbas) actually beat me,” said King afterwards.
“She’s obviously been through a lot to be here today playing again, so I had to be really focused because playing someone who is young and hungry and has something to prove is very dangerous. To come away with a 3-0 win against someone like Nada is a really good result.
“It can be a lonely sport and I think any individual sportsperson would say the same thing. I’ve been on tour for a long time and I’ve acquired some friends along the way. Even if you have one person in the crowd on your side, especially when you’re playing someone at home, it can be a real game changer, so it was nice to have those guys supporting me today.
“I’m very happy with today. January wasn’t quite as successful for me as I would like and I had to go back and put some work in.”
Result
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 13-11, 11-6 (31m)
Makin Takes Out No.4 Seed To Book Last Eight Spot
World No.11 Joel Makin claimed his first victory over World No.4 Paul Coll in two and a half years to advance to the last eight, winning a bruising 90-minute battle 3-1.
The duo had met 12 times previously going into today’s second round clash at the Black Ball Squash Open, with Coll winning 10 of those encounters.
Makin, who last got the better of Coll at the CIB World Tour Finals in October 2020, came back from 5-2 down in the first to lead 10-8. Coll saved one game ball, but Makin sealed the game after 25 minutes following an error from Coll.
Both players engaged in some long rallies throughout the contest, as Coll drew level when he clinched the second 11-8.
New Zealander Coll started on the front foot in the third as he opened up a 4-1 lead but Makin, who came into this tournament with the Oxford Properties Canadian Men’s Open title under his belt, charged back to go 10-8 up.
Coll saved both game balls to send it to a tiebreak, but Makin was able to eventually regain his lead with a 13-11 victory as the match crossed past 74 minutes.
Nothing much separated the two in the fourth game as Makin crucially moved to 10-8 up after Coll made a costly unforced error to give the Welshman two match balls, which was converted at the first attempt to progress to the quarter-finals.
Post-match, Makin said: “I know I can beat these guys and I knew what I had to do, I had to expose that technique, pin him (Coll) back in the forehand side, keep peppering it and working it and I knew I was going to get those errors.
“If my body is right and I’m feeling good physically, I can beat any of these guys.
“I was wired for that today and I wanted that. The resilience was there and my squash is getting tighter, I’m working on it all the time. I’m not interested in settling for these early round exits, I want to be in the later stages.
“I knew I could do that and I’m happy to put that together.
“Seb had a good win yesterday against Abdulla. He’s getting very solid and he’s part of that French group that are coming through and they’re dangerous. Marwan has had probably one of the best seasons of his career, he’s been very impressive with his lines, his accuracy and his intensity.
“Either of those guys will be good, but if my squash is good I can beat any of them.”
Result
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 11-8 (90m)
Kennedy Sees Off Whitlock In Five
No.8 seed Gina Kennedy edged past Emily Whitlock to prevail in the second round in a match that went the distance.
Whitlock, who had lost the previous two match-ups against Kennedy, stormed into a 7-2 lead in the opening game as the Welshwoman capped a terrific performance with an 11-6 win.
Kennedy, who’s made a bright start to 2023 with two title triumphs, saw a comfortable lead evaporate as Whitlock pegged the score back to 7-7 in the second. Kennedy had two game balls which were both saved by Whitlock, but the Englishwoman took the second 12-10 to tie the match.
It was a blistering start for Kennedy in the third with a 9-2 advantage, but a strong surge of points from Whitlock got her to within a few points. However Kennedy was able to bring her opponent’s run to a halt by converting game ball at the fourth attempt.
But Whitlock provided the perfect riposte to losing the third as she charged into a 7-1 lead in the fourth, but the gap was closed up by Kennedy as she clawed her way back into the contest. However Whitlock was able to hold off Kennedy to win 11-8.
Kennedy managed to overcome the resilient Whitlock in the decider to book a quarter-final match against Joelle King, triumphing 11-6.
“First off I want to say well played to Emily because she made it very difficult for me out there,” said Kennedy.
“She was completely dominating the length and was dominating me around the middle. She unsettled me and that’s partly down to how she played, but it wasn’t good enough from me. My targets were all over the place.
“I’m happy to get through but I’m not happy with the performance. That’s not to take anything away from Emily because the played really well. There were a lot of momentum swings, so it was an interesting match.
“I think I ended up winning because I was clawing a few balls back and physically I felt good, but that’s now how I want to win a match.
“I’m really excited to play Joelle, she’s an incredible player and has had an incredible season winning in Singapore and New Zealand. She’s in great form and she’s a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to play. It’s going to be a really nice match and hopefully a very competitive match as well.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Result
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-2: 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 (64m)
ElShorbagy Downs Bonmalais
No.6 seed Marwan ElShorbagy produced a clinical performance to reach the last eight as he downed Sebastien Bonmalais in straight games.
ElShorbagy, playing Bonmalais for only the second time on the World Tour, made a blistering start to the opening game with an 8-4 lead. Despite Bonmalais clawing his way back to within a point, ElShorbagy sealed the first game 11-9.
The Egyptian impressed again in the second as he strengthened his grip on the match after an 11-6 triumph.
Bonmalais, who was defeated by ElShorbagy at the Hong Kong Open last year, looked to have found a foothold back in the contest when he took the lead in the third, but ElShorbagy pegged him back to draw level at six-all.
ElShorbagy was able to close out the match and earn a spot in the quarter-finals, running out victorious 11-7 to tee up a last eight clash with Joel Makin.
After the match, ElShorbagy said: “I feel very good, I’m very happy with the way that I played. I played very sharp today and I was taking the ball early – the front wall is fast so I had to be sharp from the beginning.
“I’m very happy with the way I played, Sebastien is a great player so I knew how tough it was going to be. He’s a player who’s improving and always learning and I could tell halfway through the match he was trying to change his tactics, it’s good to see and I hope he does well as he’s a nice guy too.
“I wouldn’t say it was a surprise (Joel Makin beating Paul Coll). If I had Joel in the first round it would have been 50/50, but more importantly it’s really good to see Joel playing well again.
“I know he was struggling at the beginning of the season with illness but I’m just really happy to see him playing well. Since ToC I could tell that he started to be fit again and it’s good to see.
“I like the way he plays, the way he’s so aggressive and how he never gives up. Last time we played was here (Black Ball) in the semi-finals. I’m looking forward to my day off.”
Result
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (44m)
Perry Overcomes Shahin To Reach Quarters
England’s Sarah-Jane Perry produced a professional performance to defeat Egypt’s Nadine Shahin in three games to reach the quarter finals of the Black Ball Squash Open 2023.
Perry came out strongly in the opening game, taking time away from Shahin and exposing the tecnique of the Egyptian with fast attacks into the front two corners. After white-washing the opener 11-3, Perry doubled her lead to place one foot in the last eight, winning 11-7.
A more competitive third game followed as the home crowd started to get behind their Egyptian player as she started to find more winners on the court. Shahin levelled the score at 8-8 but it was Perry who found another gear to step up and earn herself two match balls. Despite Shahin forcing a tiebreak, The Englishwoman always looked in control and closed out the game 13-11 to win in straight games.
“I’m really pleased to get it done in three,” said Perry.
“I was trying to get it out of my mind that every match I’ve played this calendar year has gone to five. I didn’t want to do that again, so I was so pumped to win that third at all. I feel like in training I’ve been playing some really good squash and I’ve been moving well and feeling good physically, but I’ve not shown that in my matches.
“Firstly I wanted to show my coach I can get out of the blocks and I’m not a sloth in the first game all the time, so I think he’ll be pleased with that first game in particular. I just wanted to play the squash that I enjoy playing again. There is something about Black Ball that brings back great memories for me, so it’s a really good place to try and spark myself up for the rest of the season.
“You’ve got to be really honest with yourself. I decided to reply to someone on Twitter who decided to troll me last night. Saying things are difficult is not an excuse, it’s being realistic and aware, and I think that’s really important.
“I’ve reflected a lot with my team over the last few months and I feel renewed and reinvigorated with a lot more clarity in mind going forward, so thanks to my team who have been there for me and have helped me reignite my passion and energy for the squash.
“The strength in depth in the women’s game is better than it’s ever been and it’s an absolute dog fight in every match. That’s why you haven’t seen many one-sided matches at all, especially in these 24-draw Gold events. There aren’t many places in the rankings between the players or the levels.
“If any of the top players drop their levels, there is a hoard of women behind them snapping at their heels and ready to take them on. You have to be sharp and ready and play close to your best to beat anyone.”
Result:
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 13-11 (31m)
Momen Ends Wildcard Azzam’s Run
World No.7 Tarek Momen ended the run of event wildcard Omar Azzam in emphatic style to seal his place in the quarter finals after needing just 27 minutes to defeat the 17-year-old.
Azzam defeated Swiss No.1 Nicolas Mueller in round one to set up the meeting with ‘The Viper’, a player over double Azzam’s age. The experience of Momen shone through however as he took control of the match from the outset and never let go.
Momen secured a 2-0 lead by moving the ball into the front corners with great accuracy and testing the movement of Azzam wherever he could. The Egyptian youngster looked to be feeling the effects of the previous day’s match as his resistance was fading in the third game, allowing Momen to clean up and take the final game 11-3 to move into yet another World Tour quarter final.
“It was a bit tricky because it was my first match and it’s always hard to get into it from the start,” said Momen.
“I thought I did well and I’d like to congratulate him on a good run. This is his first big event, he’s only 17, and to get a win against Nicky is incredible at his age, so he’s obviously done really well and I was prepared for a good one today. I think we’ve played once or twice before in practice a long time ago, I knew he could be dangerous and I needed to make use of my experience.
“I did that well today and I managed to focus in the first block of every game and get a big enough lead to stay confident in my shots. I’m happy to get a 3-0 win today, at 35 I wouldn’t want to extend my first matches too much and suffer the consequences later on, so I’m happy to get through.
“They’re [Asal and Dessouky] both very skilful players and very powerful. You can never expect or anticipate what’s going to happen on that court, I hope it goes a long time. I don’t really want to focus on what’s going to happen there, I just want to recover and try to pull off a game plan against whoever I’m going to play.
“I need to be a bit active, I’m going to cool down now, recover and then tomorrow I need to have a hit on the court whether it’s on the glass or side courts, I just need to move the body a little bit.
“Maybe I’ll watch some videos tomorrow.”
Result:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [WC] Omar Azzam (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (27m)
Gohar Blasts Her Way Into The Final Eight
World No.1 Nouran Gohar was in top form to defeat USA’s Sabrina Sobhy and make her way through to the quarter finals at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo.
Gohar found an excellent length at the back of the court early in the match and constantly pummelled the ball away from the reach of Sobhy. Gohar was bringing confidence into the encounter after a win in her last event at the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup where she beat Olivia Clyne in the final.
The confidence was clear to see as Gohar moved the ball around expertly and despite Sabrina Sobhy showcasing her excellent retrieval skills, she wasn’t able to put enough pressure onto the World No.1 who took the match 3-0, winning 11-4, 11-7, 11-6.
“I couldn’t take Sabrina lightly at all, she’s proven that she can beat anyone on her day,” said Gohar.
“That’s maybe why I was trying to win some fast points at the beginning to show her that I was ready for the fight and I’m glad with the way I managed the game today.
“For a lot of tournaments I’ve been coming back as the defending champion. I don’t really think about it, I’m just here to play every single match, I want to win every single point I play and I’m just focusing on the present and future, not the past.
“She [Perry] has won this event before, so it’s a court that she likes and feels comfortable on, but I’ll be ready for it. SJ is one of the most talented players on tour, but I’m pretty sure I’ll find a way to play well against her.
Result:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)
Dessouky Downs World No.1 Asal
In a repeat of the Canary Wharf Classic 2022 final, Fares Dessouky took on World No.1 Mostafa Asal to book a place in the quarter finals. In a surprisingly attritional start to the match, Dessouky established a two point lead at 7-5 by finding outright winners and being helped by Asal errors. Dessouky went about his business solidly and went through to 10-6, converting the game at the first time of asking.
Scrappiness started to creep in the second game at 7-5, with both players trying their best to hold their position in the middle and make the most of hitting into space. Asal was penalised with a stroke at 9-9 to give Dessouky the first game ball of the game and a chance to take a crucial 2-0 lead. Despite an outrageous cross court nick from the World No.1 to level the score, Dessouky responded again and after being given another stroke he close it out 13-11.
Asal was now becoming increasingly frustrated with the referee, it seemed, himself. The World No.1 was not hitting the crisp lines that squash fans are so used to and Dessouky was capitalising on heavy drops to move in and punish the top seed. So often, it’s Dessouky’s concentration that lets him down in matches, but that was not the case in tonight’s contest as he stormed through the gears to earn four match balls at 10-6 and despite Asal saving one of them, Dessouky closed the game out 11-7 to win in straight games and book his place in the last eight.
Asal’s defeat means that Peru’s Diego Elias – currently ranked at No.2 in the PSA Men’s World Rankings – will have the opportunity to become the sport’s first South American World No.1 if he can win the event.
“I’m very happy to win the match, every time I play Mostafa it’s very tough but today I played my best squash,” said Dessouky afterwards.
“He’s the World No.1, he’s so talented, but the last couple of times we played each other he was very dodgy in terms of his movements. Today was the first time we played a clean match since Canary Wharf. Every time after the match he talks badly about me but today I’m not going to do the same.
“He deserves everyone to respect him on court because he’s the World No.1, but it’s unacceptable that every time he talks about players in a bad way. Hopefully that will stop very soon.
“He has to take advantage of his body but it can harm the players on tour. At the end of the day it’s squash, it’s a very classy sport, so everyone needs to watch the players play a clean match in a clean environment. With the talking and everything going on, it’s not good for the sport, but I hope it goes well in then next couple of years.”
Result:
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (47m)
