NASH Cup 2017 Day 2 Recap
The 2017 NASH Cup stared with 31 players ranked in the world’s top 100. As we move into the main draw (final 16 players on each side) 29 remain. The coming days should offer a level of play never before witnessed in London Ontario…it all starts back up at 3pm.
530pm Court 1 Catalina Pelaez(COL) vs Diana Garcia(MEX)8-11,11-7,13-11,9-11,11-9(53mins) Pelaez plays Moverley
A very close fought match with nothing left on the court…they went hard. Catalina lost some momentum, but an injury break in the middle of the 3rd game seems to re-focus her. Local RMT Jessica Wilken was on hand and able to help her through between each game. These players were well matches and it came down to the wire with Catalina moving on. She will face #2 seed Fiona Moverley tomorrow.
530pm Court 2 Anna Kimberley(ENG) vs Reyna Pacheco(USA)11-4,11-8,11-5(21mins) Kimberley plays Cornett
After the first couple of points both players came out strong, both playing tight shots. After the first game Anna has controlled the T , for the most part and was making Reyna run all over. Pacheco had trouble keeping the ball tight in the second game, but has got some really good bounces by hitting the back nicks twice. Once off her serve and once during a rally. Flat nicks aren’t common on these courts and two in a game a quite a rarity. After the second game Pacheco was down two and looking to battle back in front of a supportive crowd. Kimberley kept control of the game. Kimberley won 3-0 with the beautiful tight shots she played.
630pm court 1 Michael McCue(CAN) vs David Baillargeon(CAN)11-9,11-8,11-8(37mins) McCue plays Richards
Write up by: Brad “Stingray” Hanebury a.k.a. Chris’ Brother
Back by popular demand, or because no one else wanted to do a write up at this time. Regardless, I’m all there is so you’ll need to deal with it.
Prior to the match, McCue preps by doing a lengthy stretch and warm up on the show court. Apparently he had already warmed up previously, but no one saw him so he had to go through the routine again. Asked for a pre-game comment on the match, McCue responded with “no comment”, which if you think about it, is actually a comment, albeit not a great one. Classic McCue.
David “The Badger” Baillargeon was not available for a pre-game comment, so we’ve fabricated one for him. (Translated from French) “McCue is a push over. I’m gonna crush him so bad he’ll quit squash and his family will disown him, assuming they haven’t already.” Fighting — and very out of character — words there from The Badger. Let’s see if he can back those up on court.
Post warmup, the Badger looks calm and confident. Canadian legend, Shawn Delliere coaching him tonight. Imagining what sage wisdom might be passed on in between games is an exercise best not undertaken.
The match begins with both players feeling each other out. McCue and Badger trade quick points. The courts are playing slightly cooler than the previous night, which isn’t relevant to this commentary in any way.
The first game progresses with the players continuing to exchange points. Neither able to build the momentum needed to pull away.
Business end of the first game and McCue works hard to dominate the mid court. It appears to work, as he pulls away to take a two point lead. The Badger, not content to let the game slip away, responds with a volley nick off the serve. However, it’s not enough, as McCue regroups and closes out the first game 11-9.
Second game begins and McCue looks focused and determined. He starts the game by stringing together the first four points. McCue’s depth with his length and his use of all angles stretches the Badger to all four corners. The Badger needs to find his own depth of shot if he wants to throw McCue off his strategy.
A hard fought rally has the Badger closing the point gap to 3-5, but McCue — unfazed — wins a quick next point with a well placed backhand drop. McCue begins pulling away with the game and the Badger, in frustration, hits a return of server into the mid tin. Not content to let the Badger hit all of the tin, McCue decides to gracefully place on into the top of the tin. The Squash Gods satisfied, the players continue on with their game.
McCue pulls further away in the game, and despite a valiant final effort from the Badger, McCue wins 11-7 to go up 2-0 in games.
The Badger races on court to start the third game, showing McCue that he still has plenty in the tank and is more than willing to do what it takes to win this match.
The players have several rallies that may or may not have been great. To be honest, this reporter got distracted while trying to flag down a bartender. McCue leads 5-3.
The players trade quick winners back and forth until McCue, in a fit of Hulk-like rage, delivers a solid shot into the calf of the Badger. He attempts to play it off as an accident, but this reporter is determined to spread some fake news and claim it was on purpose. It’s also possible the shot went off the Badgers racquet, but where’s the sport in reporting such a thing.
8-6 for McCue. Business end of the third game. The Badger desperately needs to do something to stage a comeback before it’s too late. McCue, however, decides to do this for him and hits back-to-back unforced errors to tie the game up 8-8. What a swell guy.
McCue regroups and wins the next two points to give himself two match balls.
A quick final rally and McCue takes the game and match 11-8.
o This brings us to the end of our write up, but do not fear, dear reader; I will be back later in the week. For where there is squash and there is beer, and both in copious amounts, there will be reporting by Chris’ Brother.
630pm court 2 Shahjahan Khan(PAK) vs Juan Camilo Vargas(COL)6-11,11-8,11-5,11-7(58mins) Khan plays Lake
Shahjahan may be the lowest ranked player in the tournament, but that isn’t slowing him down. The momentum he closed with yesterday continued into this fiercely fought match with the Colombian Juan Camilo Vargas. Juan controlled the opening game, but Shah was able to make some adjustments and come back in a way that game him an edge through the rest of the match.
730pm court 1 Nouran El Torky(EGY) vs Laura Tovar(COL)12-10,11-8,11-7(26mins) El Torky plays Naughton
London Squash was host to a full family of Colombian’s who arrived to cheer on Laura. These two fought hard in every match, and the first one clearly could have gone either way. Both players adjusted and played very tight in the second game, lots of long rallies but El Torky managed some amazing holds to stop Tovar’s feet from moving. As the players battled though the heat and a very fast court both continued playing tight and a very fast pace. El Torky is played lots at the front and made Tovar fight for some final points finishing 11-7 in the third.
730pm court 2 Colette Sultana(MLT) vs Alison Thomson(SCO)3-11,6-11,6-11(21mins) Thomson plays Letourneau
Alison came out very strong gaining control of the match right from the beginning….and she never looked back. That isn’t to say that Colette didn’t play well – she did. The London Squash crowd has seen both players compete in the past and the improvements in their game are noticeable. The match was hard fought with some long rallies, but Alison maintained control taking it in three games.
830pm court 1 Lyell Fuller(ENG) vs Ashley Davies(ENG)8-11,11-6,8-11,10-12(52mins) Davies plays Soliman
The two countrymen are facing off in the PSA for the first time. Both trained with the same coach as juniors so they have similar game. As the two giants warm up with Davies being 6’5 and fuller being 6’4…well not quite…both stand 6’2+ through.
As the match begins with Davies serving. Before he released the ball he gives a wink to Fuller, setting the tone. As the game is half way through the first both players are sharing control of the T and both using the same style. Davies is up 10-8 thinking the game is over and begins to leave the court. Thankfully one of his feet stayed on the court or there could have been a problem…or at least a discussion. The referee needs to give permission for a player to leave the court before a game is complete.
As the second has starts there has been substantial amount of stokes against Ashley, shifting the momentum Fuller wins the second game, 11-6.
As the third game starts and both players are sweating tons. The game gets tied at 2’s and they are both pushing hard. Fuller pushes ahead by a couple of points and suddenly the two countrymen are having words on court. After that was over play begins again and after a couple no lets for Fuller a 5 point lead has shifted to a tie at 8-8. 2 points later Davies is up 10-8. A scream from Davies after a huge rally.
Davies is up 2-1 and gets a stroke off the first rally. Then, after he serves again, he finishes the rally with a cross court nick as the crowd screams. Such amazing squash going on tonight. One thing I’ve noticed is these two are able to get incredibly low for their height. They are hitting the ball 1 inch above the floor every time. Fuller has a 3 point come back to make the score 9-8 Fuller. Davies then ties it 10-10; an error for Fuller to make it 11-10. The final point has Fuller making an error again and hitting the tin. In an understandable disgust Fuller chucks his racket at the floor with so much power it went into the balcony seating. What an amazing match to watch, the best and final match of the night.
830pm court 2 Israr Ahmed (PAK) vs Jan Van Den Herrewegen(BEL) 5-11,7-11,9-11(37mins) Herrewegen plays Harrity
A very solid performance from Jan tonight. Looking a lot more focused and the silky movement was back. The rallies were long and varied from deep length to sharp drop shots. Israr found a short shot that worked, but also had a tendency to catch tin which hurt its effectiveness. After a long match yesterday Jan clearly wanted to end this one in three. He never looked troubled, but his tendency to let the ball come to him rather than attack the around the T area is something he’ll need to improve for tomorrow! The last game was tight, but it’s off to the main draw for Jan.
Tuesday Match Summary
Catalina Pelaez(COL) bt Diana Garcia(MEX)8-11,11-7,13-11,9-11,11-9(53mins)
Anna Kimberley(ENG) bt Reyna Pacheco(USA)11-4,11-8,11-5(21mins)
Michael McCue(CAN) bt David Baillargeon(CAN)11-9,11-8,11-8(37mins)
Shahjahan Khan(PAK) bt Juan Camilo Vargas(COL)6-11,11-8,11-5,11-7(58mins)
Nouran El Torky(EGY) bt Laura Tovar(COL)12-10,11-8,11-7(26mins)
Alison Thomson(SCO) bt. Colette Sultana(MLT) 11-3,11-6,11-6 (21mins)
Ashley Davies(ENG) bt. Lyell Fuller(ENG) 11-8,6-11,11-8,12-10(52mins)
Jan Van Den Herrewegen(BEL) bt. Israr Ahmed (PAK) 11-5,11-7,11-9(37mins)
Wednesday Matches
3:00pm 1 Millie Tomlinson [1] (ENG;22) vs. Nicole Bunyan (CAN;63)
3:00pm 2 Nouran El Torky [Q] (EGY; 71) vs. Hollie Naughton [5] (CAN;40)
3:45pm 1 Tom Richards [1] (ENG;39) vs. Mike McCue [Q] (CAN; 91)
3:45pm 2 Andrew Schnell (CAN;71) vs. Farhan Zaman [8] (PAK; 61)
4:45pm 1 Misaki Kobayashi [6] (JAP;39) vs. Haley Mendez (USA; 51)
4:45pm 2 Nikki Todd (CAN;62) vs. Nada Abbas [4] (EGY; 37)
5:30pm 1 Nathan Lake [5] (ENG; 52) vs. Shahjahan Khan [Q] (PAK;155)
5:30pm 2 Jan Van Den Herrewegen [Q] (BEL; 96) vs. Todd Harrity [4] (USA; 50)
6:30pm 1 Samantha Cornett [3] (CAN;29) vs. Anna Kimberley [Q] (ENG;112)
6:30pm 2 Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL;44) vs. Sarah Cardwell [7] (AUS; 42)
7:15pm 1 Youssef Soliman [3] (EGY; 48) vs. Ashley Davies [Q] (ENG; 111)
7:15pm 2 Eain Yow Ng (MAS; 83) vs. Ben Coleman [7] (ENG;54)
8:15pm 1 Danielle Letourneau [8] (CAN; 43) vs. Alison Thomson [Q] (SCO; 70)
8:15pm 2 Catalina Pelaez [Q] (COL; 69) vs. Fiona Moverley [2] (ENG; 24)
9:00pm 1 Charles Sharpes [6] (ENG; 53) vs. Nick Sachvie (CAN; 69)
9:00pm 2 Shawn Delierre (CAN; 80) vs. Joel Makin [2] (WAL; 47)