#simon rosner

[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egy) 2-0 [6] Simon Rösner (Ger)  11-9, 11-4 (25m)

First game was a big effort from the “already out” Simon, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8! Simon had at heart to do well tonight, he got very frustatred every time he couldn’t do what he wanted with the ball. Two errors end the opener, first one from Mohamed, from 10/8 game ball, 9/10, and the last one from Simon, 11/9 Bagy, in 16m. Simon was a bit overwhelmed in the second, had he won the first game, he probably would have given it a big push, but on that one, he went down 4/0, 6/2, 7/3. Three errors in a row, and it’s a quick finish for Mohamed, 11/4 in 8m.

Simon (On Twitter)

Bye season 2018/2019. You’ve been great but didn’t finish the way you started. My conclusion: 2 finals (US Open & Qatar Classic), 2 semis (Hong Kong and World Champs) at Majors and reaching World #3... .Gotta be happy with that. Big shout out to everyone supporting me throughout the season no matter win or lose. You guys are the best 🙌👏😊

Mohamed 

It’s good to keep the momentum going. Having the rest day let me go full power today and I can regroup for the semis now. Each player had a rest day throughout the event and if I had to choose before the event then I definitely would have chosen the one after the group stages.

There is always room for improvement, even if I think I have been getting better every day. I feel like the players didn’t play their best on the first day because we are all trying to get used to the conditions. It is different conditions, very hot and humid and it completely changes the dynamic and from the second day we have all stepped up a level. I think we’ve all played better and it has set the stage for some great semi-finals.

The other group is pretty confusing, you have got Gawad who has won two matches but still isn’t through with Abouelghar winning 2-0 today and it has made the whole group confusing, but I’m just going to enjoy watching them on my rest day tomorrow.

[7] Diego Elias (Per) 2-1 [6] Simon Rosner (Ger) 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (57m)

Up to today, it was 2/0 for Simon, each time 3/0... Tough, tough match in tough conditions, both players asking for court cleaning – court was very humid… At 5/4 in the 3rd, both went of court while the court was being wiped, one to dry his hands, the other one to change his shirt… THAT humid.

First game was 13m, with Diego letting it go at 9/5 for Simon, two quick errors, regrouping for the second. Close second up, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, then a good dominance from Diego, 7/4, 8/5. Simon got very close, 8/9 but it’s the Peruvian that levels it at 1/1, 11/8 in 16m.

Third is brutal, 25m of truly gruelling hard work from both, nothing between them from 1/1 to 8/8. Simon, who made a few errors up to then (4), makes a crucial last tin at 9/8 for Diego, giving him his first match ball, 10/8. If Simon saves that one by a super drive glued to the wall, a great backhand crosscourt for Diego, and it’s all over….

Simon (on twitter) Quite a disappointing start to this years World Tour Finals campaign. Lost out in a 60 Minute battle against D.Elias 1:2. Time to make the best out of it tomorrow in the last group match against M.El Shorbagy. 

Diego

“It’s really tough playing in these conditions. After my match yesterday against ElShorbagy I didn’t think I was going to recover, especially after that last game. My body felt good today and I think I played well today, it was a really tough battle with Simon.

This is my first tournament playing best of three, so I think I like it because usually I get a bit tired towards the end of matches.

I think I’m enjoying my squash here. The conditions are really tough, but coming from summer in Peru – I’ve been training in similar conditions, so I like it here and the tournament is great.

[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) 2-1 [6] Simon Rösner (GER) 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 (44m)

“I came into this tournament with no expectations,” said Tarek at the end. Basically, he took a big nice break from Squash during Ramadan, and it turned out fine for him… A bit of a strange match that one still. First game, Simon imperial, and Tarek far too many errors, 5 I counted, while Simon made only 1. A long opener – the score doesn’t tell the story, 11/6 in 16m. Second Tarek takes control from the start, 8/2 11/3 in 9m.

The third is very close, intense squash, both of them playing good squash, but Simon looks in control, 4/2. An error creeps in, giving a bit of oxygen to the Egyptian, 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7.

From that point on, it was like if Simon tried to close it too quickly, making far too many errors – 4  in 5 points, and it’s 11/8 for Tarek in again a very long game, 16m…

Simon (on twitter) Lost out in three tonight. 1 match down, two more to go in the group stage. Up next against Diego Elias tomorrow evening. Fingers crossed

Tarek It always really tough against Simon. If you see the head-to-head it is really close and tight. 

I actually came into this tournament with no expectations. I took some time off to sort a minor injury and I’m in good shape now. With practice, Ramadan and all the players were at the British Open so I had no players to train with, so I didn’t have much match practice. Coming here I knew I could play well, but at the same time I could have my phases and I was really afraid this might happen but the way I handled it just proved to me that there is an improvement for me this season.“It’s not something we’re used to, we usually play indoors and it is air conditioned – it’s nothing like this. But I had my share in El Gouna against Ali and I think I had to kick out at least 200 roaches and moths, so I have experience in that department and today I just dealt with it. The more you play in these conditions the more you get used to it. The crowd has been amazing, it is only the first day and the crowd is packed. I’m really appreciative of the people who show support and come every day.

[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 3-2 [3] Simon Rosner (Ger)  11-8, 11-6, 14-16, 10-12, 11-9 (89m)

What an incredible match. Two fair players, playing every shot, no blocking, no cinema, no drama queen, just incredible pure talent, flair, only to be tainted by a decision at the right end…

Two first games, Karim – new trend – nowadays, he wins the first two games – was flying over the court, untouchable really, 8/8 11/8 in 15m for the first game, 9/5 11/6 in 9m for the second. If the German looked a bit slower than Gawad, it all changed in the next three. Speed, the four corners, reflexes, volleying, hitting hard, delicate winners, the whole panel. 8/5 8/8 for Simon, 9/9, game ball 10/9, 11/10, 12/11… Then Karim’s turn, match balls 13/12, 14/13, but it’s finally Simon getting a stroke at the back of a ridiculous rally, then a lovely winner at the front, 16/14 in 17m.

The fourth was as nail bitting, 6/2 up for Simon, Karim clawing back, 6/6, 8/8, 9/9. This time, it’s the Egyptian that’s got the first blood, 10/9 third match ball, but two errors turn tables on the Egyptian and it’s 12/10 for Simon 16m. 7 errors from Karim, 2 winners, 4 strokes… 5 winners for Simon, 4 errors…

The fifth… Karim has got his nose in front for the whole game, 4/2, 8/5, 10/6 match ball (4th!). Nerves creeping in, Simon giving it the push of his life, playing at his best level, matching Karim’s incredible pace and panache, change of angles… one match ball saved, two, three… 

10/9, Karim is looking drained and really nervous, goes for a deep drive on the forehand side, Simon goes for it, it’s a simple let. “No let”. WHAAAAATTTT???? Simon is livid, we are stunned. “There is a line to the back” goes the ref “you don’t have a review”… 

I looked at the video replay. Couldn’t see a line me. But what do I know.

Simon (on twitter) Frustrating how the match ended today. A bit speechless to be honest. But what a match, what a fight. Proud to have been part of this amazing match even when going down in 5. Thank you all for cheering me on, really helped me push through even when being Matchball down a few times

Karim

He made me work really hard. He really fought for every point and for the match. I can’t even remember how many match balls I had in this match, but I would have been very disappointed if I had have lost this one. All credit to Simon, the first two games I played really well and then lost the two games and he played absolutely amazing.

In the fifth we both played well and I panicked on my match ball, when you have had a lot of match balls and you couldn’t win any of them, then you have another match ball you start to panic, especially in the fifth. I’m really glad to win and get through this and play the semi-finals tomorrow.

Mentally today was really important and not to focus on how many match balls I had. In the third game I had a lot of match balls and a lot of winners that I missed and that made me panic a little in the match. It’s a new experience for me, I have been in matches where I had match ball and lost but, today in the quarter finals of the British Open it’s different.

It will be a tough match, it is the defending champion and Mohamed, the most experienced player on the tour now, and it will be a tough match. I will focus on myself and my body as to how it recovers and be ready for tomorrow.

[3] Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1 Omar Mosaad (EGY)  7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (63m)

Fact. Last time Omar beat Simon was in the Chicago Open in 2015, and that’s when the Egyptian met the lady that he then married, Nouran (thanks Ali for the info). And I felt how hungry Omar was really today. The turning point is that second. A very attritional end of the game, could have been a parallel session at Pontefract that one, so many up and down the left wall. 7/7, 8/8, 9/9. Nothing between them but three winners coming from the end of the German racquet, and it’s 11/9 to Simon. From that point, I thought that Simon was more intense in the rally, and maybe stepped up the court, forcing Omar to cover more ground as he was retrieving the German’s attacks. The third is close up to 6/6, but from that point on, it was a Simon domination, and the 4th was a formality…

Simon I thought I could have been 2-0 down easily, and that would have made things very difficult, so I was very happy I was able to find my rhythm better in the second.

I was a bit edgy at the start of the match, it’s my first time on the glass court here, I wasn’t very confident in my shots going into the front. From the middle of the second, and in the third and fourth, I continued playing my game more, and that made a big difference. Once you get to those stages you want to continue. I felt I could have done better the last two or three tournaments, but overall, I have to be happy  with this season. I’ve gotten to the final of two major semis, it’s a huge achievement for me and the best season so far. I want to finish off in good form, I’m trying to do my best here and I’ll see how it goes. Two or three years ago, I was just concentrating on getting to the quarters and lost every time, not my mindset is different, I want to get to the finals of these big ones, and that’s what I try to achieve.