Carrus Nations Cup Final & 3/4 Play-Off: Player Reaction

The Carrus Nations Cup – the first tournament to be held in the new SquashFORWARD series – draws to a close today at the Trustpower Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand as the hosts take on England in the final.

Before that, we’ll have the 3/4 play-off between Europe and Canada.

The SquashFORWARD series is a series of new squash events intended to trial changes to the traditional competition and scoring formats used at official tournaments, including those on the PSA Tour.

For more information on the new scoring format used this week, go here.

We’ll have reports and reaction from those in action right here, while you can watch all the action live on SQUASHTV.

For updates and behind the scenes content, head over to our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels.

Order of Play

(All times are local GMT+13)

3/4 Play-Off

13:00: Canada v Europe

Hollie Naughton v Nele Gilis

David Baillargeon v Sebastien Bonmalais

Final

15:00: New Zealand v England

Joelle King v Sarah-Jane Perry

Paul Coll v Mohamed ElShorbagy

Canada v Europe

Gilis Fights Back To Defeat Naughton

Nele Gilis had to fight from being two games down against Canadian No.1 Hollie Naughton in the first part of the 3/4 playoff at the Carrus Nations Cup, eventually winning in a high-quality six games.

Gilis opted to go for a Powerplay at 5-5 in the first game, but the Canadian was able to repel that threat, before winning it 7-5. She then came out firing in the second game, dropping just a single point to double her advantage in the contest.

The Belgian, featuring for Team Europe this week, then scraped the third game 7-6, despite Naughton winning a Powerplay point earlier to make it tighter. The Canadian then opted for another Powerplay at 5-6 down in the fourth game, meaning both players had game ball. It was Gilis, though, who claimed the game 7-5 by winning the all-important point to level the match.

The World No.13 then flew out of the blocks in the fifth game, and would only drop three more points across the rest of the match. She took the fifth 7-2, before claiming victory after six games, with a Powerplay point to wrap up the victory with a 4-2 scoreline, and going Team Europe the advantage going into the men’s match.

“[On today’s performance] Yeah. I’m feeling good. I’m very happy to sneak that win. for Team Europe. I’m hoping that Seb can back me up now and, you know, get another win under the belt and get that third place,” Gilis said.

“[After playing late last night] It did really feel like I only played like 5 minutes ago. Like it was a late night. I didn’t eat until late and I didn’t sleep until late. There was still some adrenaline all night. It’s no excuse. Like, she came out firing and I wasn’t. So yeah, but just happy I dug in and found a way.

“Yeah, from 2-0 down she still needed two games, so I thought, okay, that’s still a long way to go actually. So I could, you know, fight my way back into this. Or else if it was best-of-five, two-love, that’s a tough ask to come back from.

“Honestly I just told him [Sebastien Bonmalais, European team-mate] to enjoy it out there and, you know, give it one more fight, it’s the last one. I don’t want to put any pressure on him.”

Result

Nele Gilis (EUR) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 4-2: 6-7, 1-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-2, 7-1 (42m)

Bonmalais Secures 3rd Place For Europe

A sublime performance from Frenchman Sebastien Bonmalais secured 3rd place for Team Europe at the Carrus Nations Cup, as he defeated Canadian David Baillargeon in straight games.

The World No.38 was in incredible form to kick the match off, dropping just four points across the first three games. He restricted all of Baillargeon’s opportunities to win rallies, and was quickly into a three-game lead.

The Canadian, ranked 31 places lower than Bonmalais, fought back strongly in the fourth game, and used a Powerplay to his advantage to stay in it. However, the Frenchman was able to seal the deal for Team Europe, winning in four games to clinch 3rd spot for Team Europe.

“Yeah I played very well today, I was feeling very comfortable on the court, finding everything. My shots, my length and yeah, happy to manage to win 4-0 today against a friend and roommate in David,” the Frenchman said.

“Yes, of course. I knew like if she [Nele Gilis, European team-mate] had lost the match, I would have to beat David maybe like this, but with the pressure on it. So yeah, of course it was brilliant that she won and she make a good comeback and I’m happy with the team.

“I started quickly and I know David likes to go fast and furious so I was just trying to chill, keep the lines and finding my shots. Don’t think about anything else. Yeah, I mean, I knew I had some advance. So once he used his double Powerplay, I was like, okay, I just need to manage everything and just keep it tight and not make a mistake at that point.”

Result

Sebastien Bonmalais (EUR) bt David Baillargeon (CAN) 4-0: 7-1, 7-1, 7-2, 7-5 (32m) 

New Zealand v England

King Downs Perry In Straight Games

World No.5 Joelle King gave New Zealand the perfect start to the Carrus Nations Cup final, defeating English No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games in front of her home crowd in Tauranga.

Perry started the stronger of the two, winning four of the first five points, but from there, King won six straight points to take the first game, and with that she wrestled back the momentum.

The Kiwi then took the second 7-2, and despite Perry using the Powerplay to her advantage late in the third game, it was the home favourite that extended her lead even further.

A Powerplay in the fourth game then gave her match ball at 6-5, but Perry was able to save one of those to make it a sudden death point at 6-6. King secured the victory with a backhand into the side-wall nick, causing Perry to collapse to the floor in disbelief. New Zealand take a 4-0 advantage into the men’s match.

“Yeah, I mean, the first three games, you know, I was down in the first, I managed to pull it back and win quite a few points in a row and finish it off quite well,” King said.

“And then it kind of just rolled on quite quickly from there but, as always, SJ doesn’t go down without a fight and she came back swinging in the fourth game. It was pretty neck and neck there and I’m very glad to get off in four.

“I was a little nervous to be honest. Like, I think being on home soil and playing my first ever big tournament here like that, it was going to happen. But luckily, you know, it was only once it got to four, sort of switched on, stiffened up a little bit and hit the ball a bit firmer and everything kind of opened up from there.

“I mean, a bit of relief obviously, no one wants to finish a match like that, but yeah, the way she started to play in that fourth, I was I was a little bit glad that it ended. And as you know, we’re both good friends on and off the court. We go on and we play with everything we’ve got. But once we come off, we’ll have a coffee later.

“It’s been unreal [playing in New Zealand]. You know, it’s probably something I didn’t think would ever happen before in my career. So when Squash New Zealand started talking about this Open, it was so exciting, you know? And it’s something

that’s been on my mind for a long time. So to be here, I had my parents and my grandma here for the first time ever watching me in my professional career. So pulling on that black fern, it means everything to me. So I’m a very proud Kiwi and very excited to be here again next week.”

Result

Joelle King (NZL) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 4-0: 7-4, 7-2, 7-5, 7-6 (37m)

ElShorbagy Secures Crown For England By Single Point

In his first tournament wearing the English colours, Mohamed ElShorbagy put in an epic performance to secure the Carrus Nations Cup title for England by just a single point.

The scores stood at 28-17 coming into the men’s match, with the Kiwis holding the advantage. ElShorbagy came out firing, though, and with both men taking a Powerplay at 5-5, it was the Englishman to claimed the first game 7-5.

Coll then had the chance to seal the crown at 6-5 up in the second game, but ElShorbagy saved both game balls to take it 7-6 to keep England alive. The third was then won 7-1 as ‘the Beast’ seemed enter another level of squash. 

He then led 6-1 in the fourth game, putting England into the lead for the first time in the contest. Coll saved three match balls, but eventually, ElShorbagy got over the line to secure a 4-0 victory in his match, and a 45-44 win for Team England to claim the Carrus Nations Cup crown.

“I’ve got Sarah-Jane Perry to thank,” said ElShorbagy afterwards.

“I’ve been asking her questions the whole week about how to deal with things. She has been leading the team this whole week and has done an incredible job with me. All of her advice during the game today has been unbelievable.

“It’s an honour to represent England beside her. She has been leading the way for so many years for England, and it’s such an honour to win with her.”

Perry said: “Even in my match I was thinking to myself that I had to win as many points as possible in the last couple of games.”

Result

Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Paul Coll (NZL) 4-0: 7-5, 7-6, 7-1, 7-4 (43m)