#willstrop

James Willstrop (ENG) 3-1 [3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10 (71m)

When Karim lost the first game, I thought, well, I would have been surprised had he won it. We know the Egyptian track record of wining 5 games bless him. And he started well actually, 4/1, only to be completely overplayed by the former Qatar Classic Champion, 4/4, then 10/5. A big push from the Egyptian Open champ, 8/10, but it's still James in 12m, 11/8.

A superb response from Karim in the second, 8m of crafty and accurate squash, we think that's it, nice for James to have taken a game, off you go now... 11/4.

Ha ha ha... the little we know about squash, the little we know about Human Resources..   3/0 for Karim in the third, still looking with the momentum, James into exhibition mode. Did Karim see it as a sign of renouncement? Did he relax and think of the quarters? 6/6... 9/9... 11/9 James...

Ah. The plot thickens, doesn't it...

Another great start for the Baby Face Assassin, 3/0, 4/1. James is sticking to the score, and here we go, 4/4. Four errors from James at that point. He is puffing a lot. Karim is surely going to overtake him. Surely? Making the rallies longer, the court bigger, and twisting and turning James... nothing does. 8/8. And the incredible... James, 10/8 Match Ball. The Egyptian crowd is stunned. Karim plays his best squash, and forces a decider, 10/10. Surely, surely, he is going to win another 5 setter... Not today... It's 12/10 to James in 28m, and if James did 5 errors, Karim didn't make a single one in that last game..

James

Today was about persistence I think, on this court, there are a lot of opportunities to attack, so I just played it.

This is definitely my best win since my victory at the Commonwealth Games, I haven’t competed at that level for a while.

I am absolutely thrilled. It is hard to say because I am on a rush of adrenaline, particularly in these conditions where it is shootout squash. The intensity is cranked up and you haven’t got any time to settle. The mental intensity of the squash that has been played is heavy, so the adrenaline is high.

I didn’t know whether I was capable of doing it. I know what I am doing in training, and I know I can play alright and I know I can hit the ball alright, but it is whether physically I can cope with these players in a match situation.

In the context of what I am doing in my career, I am enjoying my squash and there are other things that are going on. There is a nice balance, but that is what you find when you are a little bit older. It means I have the freshness and the experience to produce a performance like that, and it is great that I can do it on a big occasion.

His engine at the minute is strong, so he is match fit and sharp, much more probably than I am. Just because of the amount of matches he has played, but then I have the advantage of being fresher. At 10-10, I knew it was a chance, because the momentum would have gone with him in the fifth. He played a blinding three minutes of squash at that point, but I just had to try and take the right shot at the right time

To be in the quarter finals, and with a rest day, that is quite positive. It is a fabulous prospect, and hopefully I can get recovered well and do it justice on Wednesday.

But for now, I think I’m going to go to bed…

[3] Tarek Momen (Egy) 3-1 James Willstrop (Eng) 7-11, 11-0, 11-1, 11-7 (39m)

One of those moments where you have to swallow a very tears really. Back to 2005, I saw James win in this venue – can’t say that court as it since changed. And it was an immaculate performance, against Dave Palmer I think. Not sure. James was young and soooo incredibly sharp that day. I remember chatting with him outside, behind the court.

Cut to today. Tarek gave him a lesson in the second, and when he came back on court for the 3rd, James had a little look at me, with his cheeky smile, as to say “times have changed haven’t they”… And when finally he got a point at 3/0 in the 3rd, he went for a loud “PFEWWW” that got the crowd smiling with him.

I have seen so many times James play extraordinary squash, I saw him win so many titles and matches, but I have never been as proud as when he came back and fought, shot by shot, running for his life in each and every rally in that 4th, getting Tarek worried he might have to push to a 5th….

Yes, of course, I need to say how wonderful, how amazingly great Tarek played today after being a bit dormant and passive in the first game. Of course it was a scintillating performance from the Egyptian in the 2nd and 3rd. Borderline incredible really, in the line of his performances against Greg Gaultier in Cairo or Nick Matthew here a few years back. Truly stunning performance. 

But people, the only one I saw today was James, the Fighter, the Englishman in all its splendour, with dignity, humour and style, knew how to take the lesson, bow to his opponent, and start again from scratch. So I just want to salute that Champion, hoping that  he’ll carry on a very long time to entertain and impress us with his guts and talent. 

Tarek There was not much difference between the first and the second game really. In the first game I was lacking length, I made too many errors but he was sharp as well. We’ve played a few times recently and this was the sharpest he’s been. I was worried after the first, I thought I was in trouble because with the way he was playing, I thought it was going to be a very tough match. So I just tried to get my length into the corners in the second - I had no idea how it would pan out. It worked well. I don’t think I’ve ever bagelled anyone before, but James has said before that you have to go for it if the opportunity is on and shown your opened the respect that he will compete for every point - and coincidentally the only person who’s ever beaten me 11-0 was James! I’ve played him for many years, he gives it 100 per cent every time he plays, in the fourth he came back and really pushed me again and only a true champion would do that. I have the upmost respect for him. I’m in for a big battle tomorrow - they’re both fit and have great court coverage so will prepare for what could be a long match, Recover well, eat well, sleep well and focus - just another day to deal with…

James Willstrop (Eng) 3-1 Max Lee (Hkg)  11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9 (48m)

I hadn’t seen Max play for a while, whereas I had seen James in London Channel Vas last week. And James looked in good squash form, if maybe a bit short physically. Tonight was a bit of the same really, nothing wrong with the racquet, but a bit of a drop of energy in the second and his movement being exposed by the accuracy and speed of Max.

But out of the blue, second wind from the third, and off James went to play his “on one foot” amazing volley drop shots from everywhere on the court, and Max got to a few, he was a bit too late on the ball to put a consistent pressure on his opponent. 

Still the last two games could have gone either way, not for the fainted hearted, shots flying in all directions/heights, 8/8 in the third, 11/8 in 16m, and 7/7, 11/9 in 10m in the last game, with a James looking a bit rushed off his comfort zone, but still enough in control to clinch that one nicely in 48m…

James I had the lead so was important that I finished it off.  I haven’t played this kind of squash for a long time - it’s cold and fast on there, it might be entertaining, but it’s a nightmare because you don’t know where the ball is going. But it’s the same for both players so I’m just lucky it was on my side today.

I’ve won here, and was very proud to do so especially as I was very young. It’s an incredible city - alluring, exciting, mystifying - and I’m always excited to come back, even though there won’t be many more for me.

The welcome here is second to none, no two ways about it. We get looked after so well here. We are used to do everything ourselves, and it’s fine, but here, everything is catered for us. To come here and be treated like kings is very special for us.

I’m just pleased to be playing here again.

[5] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 James Willstrop (Eng)  11-7, 12-10, 11-4 (48m)

James, like I mentioned yesterday, had a bit of tough luck with health issues for the past 6 months and playing Paul Coll on a warm court is probably not what you want to do when you lack physical preparation! Actually, I am told that James is going to not go to Hong Kong to get some good physical preparation for about 4, 5 weeks, and that he should be pretty strong for Jan...

It was a very fast paced match, lovely to watch, Paul retrieving and counterattacking beautifully whatever James was throwing at him, and playing impeccable positive squash, 2 unforced errors the whole match. James played a few more, but then again, that’s his style of play, flamboyant high percentage squash, 11.

James could/should have taken the 2nd, he had two chances, 10/8, but Paul retrieving forced two errors out of the Ponte man, 12/10 Paul in 17m. Funny to notice that in that game alone, they both were awarded/penalised with 4 strokes... The third was a bit of a formality, 9/0 before James scored, but the Tall Giant never gave up and the score truly doesn’t reflect the intensity, 13m for 11/4 and a measure of revenge for the Commonwealth Games final.

Paul:

I didn’t feel comfortable out there for much of that much, but that’s probably down to him making it difficult with his holds. It’s good to get the first match out of the way since the U.S. Open to keep the momentum going. Like I said, I didn’t feel comfortable out there, but the majority of that was down to him and his skills.

The CWG are always in my mind, it’s one of my ultimate goals in squash, but I’m trying to block that out for another four years and trying not to dwell on that too much because it can release some negative emotions.

I love this court, I’ve played league on it a few times and I think I’ve only ever lost one match on it, to Ali last year. I love this court and I’m ready to go again.