Aug 7, 2022
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Joelle in control today
[5] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0 [10] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
A superb performance from the Kiwi on the glasscourt today, only made 5 errors the whole match, finding both great retrieval and attacks against Alison (9 errors) who went for a bit too much too early – maybe not completely fit from the injury that kept her out of the European Champs a few days ago.
It was a fair and fast match between those two, with lovely rallies at times, and hard work being produced, 8m, 12m, 9m of attacking and accurate squash, but with Joelle closing it down in 3…
Joelle
I felt much more focused today. I have played Al so many times, when we were four or five in the world and I definitely had to be at my best tonight. I didn’t make many errors and didn’t give much away so I’m happy with that performance.
Normally I would like the hotter conditions and the bouncier court, but I’ve worked hard at trying to improve my short game and my overall squash and I’m now starting to like the colder conditions.
It’s one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. Having such great players win it before me, I would love to get my name on that title, but it’s one game at a time.
Yathreb had a good start but Alison too accurate in the middle
[10] Alison Waters (ENG) 3-1 Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 (38m)
Yathreb
I thought I was playing well in the first game, I was leading 6/0 I think but I guess I started going to relax and became a bit too complaisant, going for too much and made too many errors. In the second, I regrouped and was more disciplined, but after that, I think I just lost my length, and she is so good in the middle, she punished me…
“One of my biggest wins” says Nadine...
Nadine Shahin 3-1 [9] Alison Waters (Eng) 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 11-3 (37m)
Nadine It's one of my biggest wins so far, I've never beaten a top 10 player so far.
I was feeling really excited, and I played her once in Chicago two months ago. I lost 3-0 really quickly, so I was determined to do better in this one. I had to not lose focus, not even for a second. To beat someone like Alison, you have to be determined, and you have to be 100 per cent focused.
I switched coaches, so for the last couple of months I've been working really hard with my new coach, Omar Abdel Meguid, and I think mentally I'm tougher and stronger. Even two months ago, I was not like this. Now I'm studying every player and doing my preparations well.
It's an amazing scene, I'm really looking forward to playing it, and I'm going to be prepared."
Amanda didn’t take any prisoners
Amanda Sobhy (Usa) 3-0 [7] Alison Waters (Eng) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (24m)
The American back at her lethal best on this rewarding glass court. “you hit your target so well at the back” commented Jenny Duncalf the MC for the event. “I think that Thierry will be happy with that” smiled Amanda referring to her coach Thierry Lincou, former world number 1 and world champion.
Well, a few stats will tell you the extend of the American domination: 9 winners, 0 errors in 8m for the first game, same winners same errors, same length for the second, and same winners, 1 error in 6m for the third. Like Jenny commented, Alison didn’t do much wrong (4 errors in the whole match), never let go of a point, kept fighting and finding lovely attacks/length of her own, but Amanda was just too accurate and fast cutting off any attempt of putting any kind of pressure the English lady would have had. Just too good.
Amanda “We haven’t played in a while. I knew what to expect, we’re right there in the rankings, so I saw this as a good opportunity, but she’s a fighter – she’s not been in the top ten for so long for nothing. I was just really pleased with how my length was and that’s kind of the key.
I prefer the glass court, so knowing I was going to be on here put me a bit more at ease. I think Thierry would be really happy with my length game, we practice that a lot.
I feel like I’m back at my best, if not stronger. The thing about being out for so long is that you kind of get a clean slate to start over, so whatever weaknesses I had before I was able to turn them into strengths and it’s nice to see it all coming together. It’s taken a while, I’m a bit of an impatient person, but good things take time and it’s nice to see them paying off.
Alison confirms the US Open 2018 result...
Alison Waters (Eng) 3-1 Zeina Mickawy (Egy) 11-13, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (37m)
Those two only met once, it was on the round 2 of the 2018 US Open, and Ali had taken the match in three, with a very tough third, 12/10. Well, this time, it was the first one that was as close as it comes, 13/11, with not much between the players the whole opener. If Zeina was just a little couple of points ahead in that first game, Alison saved the first game ball with a stunning drive lenght, but coudn’t concretise hers at 11/10, and it’s Zeina that takes the cake, 13/11 in 11m, the longest game of the match. From that point on, Ali was in control basically. Yes, Zeina was fighting beautifully, but as she was hitting harder and harder, she lost her accuracy, and the relentless volleying from Alison was just too powerful and sharp today for the Egyptian...
Alison It’s tough going on so late, but it’s the same for both of us. You have to keep yourself going and she played well and was so strong around the middle on that forehand. I just tried to straighten up when I had the chance and get to play my shots. I’m really pleased to get off. Obviously I’ll regroup tonight and get some rest. Playing the World Champion in Egypt will be a tough match, but I’m looking forward to it.
Egypt Wins the World Squash Championship Title
Egypt Wins the World Squash Championship Title
The Egyptian squash team won the World Women’s Team Championship, held recently in Dalian, China, After winning the English team with two victories without charge, to crown the title for the fourth time in their history.
Noran Jowhar won the first game against Alison Waters three for two, while Rania Al-Waili managed to take control of the second encounter against Laura Masaru from the start.
She…
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Dipika continues her killing spree…
R2: Dipika Pallikal Karthik (Ind) 3-0 [7] Alison Waters (Eng) 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 (30m) After beating Salma Hany in the first round, 3/0 if you please, Dipika was able to impose her squash on Alison, ranked 10, as in 10 places above her at the moment.
The first two games could have gone either way to be honest, and I guess Ali was a bit unlucky not to get at least one of them… The English played catch up in the first, down 7/4, 7/7, down 9/7, saved a game ball at 10/8, at 10/9, Dipika thought she won the point, the ref wasn’t sure of one of the shots, replayed the point, and finally, the Indian walked off court 11/9….
The second is truly crucial. What a battle between those two attackers: Dipika’s attacking boast doing some damages but also costing a few points, still in that second, Ali is more positive, a couple of points ahead at up 7/7, Dipika 9/7, 9/9, game ball Dipika 10/9, Ali forcing a tie-break but it’s the Indian again on her second attempt, 12/10, with 9 winners from Dipika for 4 tins and 2 strokes, against 6 winners for Ali and only 1 error.
The score is pretty close in the 3rd up to 5/5, but Dipika’s confidence is just too high and her shots seem to get in again and again, 11/5 match ball. A good reaction from Ali, superb squash coming out of her racquet but it’s the Indian that finally closes down, 11/7.
Dipika:
I’m extremely happy and satisfied. Ali is such a fighter on court, I knew she would keep coming back and back and retrieving everything;
I had a game plan and I’m glad I stuck to it, in particular in the first game – aiming for the back corners and only attacking when the opportunity arose. But in the next two I played short a bit too early . I won a few points, I lost a few too, but I’m happy my head stayed with me for the whole match.
This event in Saudi is a great platform for women sport everywhere, it gives women a chance to show what there are made of, what they can do, not only here but everywhere in the world.