Canary Wharf Classic Day Two: Player Reaction

The 2023 GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic continues today in London, with four matches being played at the East Wintergarden in the best-of-three format.

Play gets underway at 18:00 (GMT) and we’ll have reports and reaction from all eight matches here.

You can watch the action live on SQUASHTV, with former World Champion Tarek Momen up against England’s Patrick Rooney in the opening match. You can also keep up to date with the live scores here.

GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic Day Two: Order Of Play

Momen Downs Rooney In Pulsating Clash

World No.7 Tarek Momen continued his good form to get the better of England’s Patrick Rooney, coming through a first-game tie-break before winning in straight games.

The Egyptian made it all the way to the final of the Black Ball Squash Open last week in Cairo, but Rooney was on his game in the opening exchanges, with some pace and power testing the former World Champion.

It went deep into a tie-break, with a tin from the Englishman gifting Momen the game 15-13. He then continued that momentum into the second game, cruising to an 11-6 scoreline to book his spot in the last eight of the competition.

“No, I thought it was a very, very good match. And I know, yes, he had the support, but the crowd here is quite fair and they appreciate a good shot. So I didn’t feel like I was being rooted against or anything, It was a very good match,” Momen said.

“He played really well in both games and he pushed me to the limits, really, especially in that first game. I knew it was important. I wanted to close it out. He was just, he was not going away. Maybe I made a few errors, but I also hit some good winners and good length. So yeah, maybe at the beginning it was hard to adapt, but I didn’t start badly.

“I mean, I didn’t expect it because I just hit one of my lowest points right before that tournament [Black Ball Open]. I was just mentally in a very bad place because I was struggling physically and I just couldn’t see that I was improving.

“Then, that match where I saved eight match balls [against Dessouky] you know, that changed everything for me from a confidence point of view at least. I took that momentum and I just tried to build on it and thankfully I had a very good week and now I kind of feel like I’m in a much better place. I’m trying to get back to where I was. I feel good, trying to sort out a few issues, but overall I’m very happy with how I’m standing right now, and I just hope I can keep building on that.”

Result:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Patrick Rooney (ENG) 2-0: 15-13, 11-6 (29m)

Makin Overcomes World No.2 Elias

Peru’s Diego Elias had the opportunity to become World No.1 this week in London, but an incredible performance from Welshwoman Joel Makin put pay to that, as he got the better of the Peruvian in straight games.

Makin had made the semi-finals of the Black Ball Squash Open with some wonderful performances last week, only losing out to Tarek Momen in the last four after the fatigue kicked in.

With the best-of-three format this week in Canary Wharf, Makin came out the blocks flying, winning seven of the first eight points. After winning the opening game 11-5, the second started slowly, but the Welshman was able to fight through, delighting the crowd at East Wintergarden to record a superb victory.

“If my squash is sharp and I’m taking the ball early and initiating that kind of pace, I can beat these guys. That’s the third top five player in the last couple of days, backing it up after last week because that’s not easy to do,” the Welshman said.

“That was something I had in my head. I didn’t want to be… there’s quite a few players who can get a couple of wins and then not be able to sustain that through the period. So that was a big thing, that doesn’t matter where my body is or… what kind of position you’re in, you come off a flight, you need to be able to adjust and still get some big wins here this week.

“My length’s been way better for the last couple of days. So that’s giving me flip ups. I have to be direct. If I’m playing Diego [Elias] in a best of three, you’re not going to be able to pop the ball into space. You have to risk hitting more tins, last night I played in a way that I closed the court down and nullified him [Auguste Dussourd] just to sort of… in my mind, guarantee a result against a lower ranked player.

“That’s the brand of squash I want to play. That’s not a brand of squash I’ve played before or at this level, initiating attacks playing a better pace than the world’s best players. So yeah, I’m in a good place. I want to keep this going. I want to win these events.”

Result:
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [3] Diego Elias (PER) 2-0: 11-5, 11-7 (31m)

Asal Beats Crouin In Straight Games

After seeing one of the challengers for his World No.1 spot be knocked out of the tournament, Mostafa Asal was in fine form to get the better of French No.1 Victor Crouin to move into the last eight.

Asal, who lost in his opening match at the Black Ball Squash Open, showed why he is at the summit of the world rankings in this contest. Perhaps fired up as he was playing Crouin, with the pair having had a back-and-forth in recent articles on SquashMad.com. 

The opening stages of the contest were tense, with the two level at 4-4. From there, though, Asal dropped just one more point, as he used his physicality to get the better of the Frenchman in the first game. He then took the opening nine points in the second to take an unassailable lead, before going on to book his place in the quarter finals with a straight games victory.

“[When you play with me if you are saying negative things] it’s not good for you. If we are friends and we are having a good relationship, it’s better for you! [If you are saying negative things], I get in an angry mood and I want to, to go on court and give them 3-0/2-0,” Asal said.

“Today, actually, I was 9-0. I wanted actually to give it [to bagel him]. Why not? If you are an opponent, we should have a respect out of court. What happened at ToC was not good because, like, after the first game, I’m done, you know, and I shake hands or he [Victor Crouin] didn’t even come and say “Mostafa”… “How are you feeling?”

“I left the match after the first game, this was a bit, annoying and then… social media stuff and all that stuff he did it wasn’t a good thing from him. I’m 21 years old, but I want to say to all the juniors, you can be in this sport, you can be World No.1 you can fight for it!

“You will have so many tough times, tough mental times. Everyone will fight with you and not all will be happy with you about you reaching World No.1 and you are 21 years old whilst other players are retiring.”

Result:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Victor Crouin (FRA) 2-0: 11-5, 11-3 (24m)

Masotti Knocks Out ElShorbagy

France’s Baptiste Masotti is into the last eight of the GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic after beating World No.6 Marwan ElShorbagy, fighting back from behind to win in three games.

It was the first match to go the distance this week in London, but it didn’t look like it would do so after ElShorbagy claimed the opening game 11-3 in just seven minutes. 

However, from that point on, the Frenchman was the man in control. Masotti fought back to level the match, winning it 11-6, before then taking the lead early in the third. The World No.6 tried to come back, but a quick run of points at the end of the decider gave the Frenchman the victory.

“I succeeded on holding my nerves, focused on the game plan. The first game was very hard for me because he step on my foot, even in the warmup, I saw that he was focused,” Masotti said.

“He was hitting the ball hard. So in the first game, I was surprised. I just got back to my game plan and I just held my nerves during the match. I’m very glad Especially in the best of 3 format you need to… it’s like a highway… you need to stay on your line. It can be crucial at the end. So you need to, to be strong during each point. 

“I’m happy to, to step on court with him [Mostafa Asal]. Even after everything that has happened around him. He is World No.1 so I’m happy to to play against him and let’s see how it goes. I’m starving! So let’s see.”

Result:
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 2-1: 3-11, 11-6, 11-5 (31m)