SAVCOR FINNISH OPEN FINAL

MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2012

Finals

Opponent:  Emily Whitlock

Nationality: English

Tournament Seed: 1

World Ranking: 33

LOST 3-0; 11/6 11/8 11/3

 

I lost a bit of confidence on the court today. In the process of trying to do the basics right, i kind of left out my aggressive and positIve attacking style to all corners of the court. I needed to take it up a gear, but played it too simply. Emily played her game well, placing me in the corners first, and consistently so.

 

Thanks to all the support in the last week. The live streaming has really helped people at home to take part in the action with me.

 

 You can watch the matches on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Squashfi?ob=0  (quarter final uploaded, but the semis and final will be on in next couple of days…)

SAVCOR FINNISH OPEN SEMI FINALS

Finnish Open Semi’s vs Carrie Ramsey

SUNDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2012

Relief surpasses happiness today. I was relieved to get off that court as the winner, because in some moments, it could have easily gone the other way, especially when she had match point at 10-9, or match point again at 11-10. Fortunately, lessons I had learned somewhere from squash experts about keeping calm under pressure, or memory of Rudyard Kipling’s poem studied in high school saying “if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”, all those lessons came in handy today. 

Savcor Finnish Semi Final

Opponent:  Carey Ramsey

Nationality: English

Tournament Seed: 8 

World Ranking: 68

Won 3-2; 7/11 11/8 11/6 8/11 13/11

 

At the start of the game, i just wanted to settle into things quickly and adjust to the court as soon as I could. I played a little more conservatively at first, but soon realised that she was comfortable with that game. I played more confidently in the second and third game, imposing my game well. She stepped things up in the 4th game and we both tried to move each other around the court. I made quite a few unforced errors, trying to finish off rallies too quickly, and that let her back in the game. The fifth game, is always anybodies’ game. It didn’t help that I decided to take the rollercoaster root to become the winner. I was 7-4 up, the 9-7 up, then all of a sudden, it’s 10-9, matchball to her. I certainly gave my home support a few heart attacks, but I am just happy that the match was not decided by me putting another ball in the tin.

 

In the final tomorrow, I will be playing a young English player, Emily Whitlock (no.1 seed). I have never played her before, but am ready for battle.

 

Monday 13th February 2012

Savcor Finnish Open Final

Opponent:  Emily Whitlock

Nationality: English

Tournament Seed: 1

World Ranking: 33

 

Live internet streaming for the Finals at 17h00 SA time (15h00 UK time) http://www.squash.fi/live/

 

 

SAVCOR FINNISH OPEN QUARTER FINALS

Finnish Quarters vs Birgit Coufal

SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2012

Quarter Final

Opponent:  Birgit Coufal

Nationality: Austria

Tournament Seed: 6

World Ranking: 62

WON: 3-1; 7/11 12/10 11/7 11/9

 

I has slower start than my opponent, while she came out firing. Pretty quickly, I was down 7-2, with the rallies far shorter than what I had intended them to be.  Glass courts often require players to take  a little time to adjust to them. In the first round I played on normal court, while Birgit has played her first match on the show court. I soon settled into the game, but had left the gap to wide to close up.

As the match progressed, I found better ways to keep my opponent working hard out of the back corners, which made it a little easier to use opportunities to the ball to the front.I am happy to be through that match with a win.

It was nice to know that I had the support of family and friends watching at home and around the world through the live streaming on the internet.

 

Semi Final

Opponent: Carrie Ramsey

Country: England

Tournament Seed: 8
World Ranking: 88

 

 SUNDAY 12th FEB 15h00 RSA time or 13h00 UK time,  LIVE ON INTERNET STREAM again: http://www.squash.fi/live/

 

 

 

 

1st ROUND IN FINLAND 2012

FRIDAY 10TH FEBRUARY

I thought arriving to below freezing temperature was bad enough, but today brought a different meaning to the word “chill”. -25C. Just walking one minute in that weather is enough to make a single drop of liquid freeze instantly. Good thing we only walk 2minutes to the shopping mall where they have erected an All Glass Court.

1st Round Main Draw
Opponent: Sally Skaarenborg
Nationality: Denmark
Tournament Seed: Unseeded
World Ranking: 101
RESULT: Won 3-0; 11/4 11/5 11/9 (27min)

More Info: http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/finnishopen2012.htm

Other South African matches provided the tournament with a few surprises and heart attacks, but unfortunately were unable to prevail today.

Steve Coppinger lost 3-2 against an Egyptian player, and Milnay Louw lost 3-0 against the no.1 ladies seed, Emily Whitlock.

LIVE MATCH STREAMING TOMORROW, SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY

My match is live on internet stream at 13h45 RSA time (11h45 UK) http://www.squash.fi/live/

Quarter-Finals
Opponent: Birgit Coufal
Nationality: Austria
Tournament Seed: 6
World Ranking: 62

Gather a few friends to watch…and bring your SA flags and pom-poms!!!

SAVCOR FINNISH OPEN

10TH – 13TH FEBRUARY 2012

I have arrived in Finland for the first time, to be greeted by -11C temperatures in Helsinki, which dropped to -18C by the time I reached my tournament destination of Mikkeli, at 01h30 this morning.

There are two other South Afircans here, Milnay Louw and Steve Coppinger. It’s always nice when we can travel together to tournaments, then we can support each other through our matches. Milnay will be playing a qualification match today at 16h00, while Steve is the no.2 seed in the men’s draw.

ROUND 1: Friday 10th February
Opponent: Sally Skaarenborg
Country: Denmark
World Ranking: No. 101

For the full draw, please visit: 
http://www.horizonsolutions.tv/entry/wispa/rankpdf.php?page=tourdraw&tour=11SQWI2M

 

WELCOME 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011 has come and gone, carrying off with it much excitement on the professional circuit.  I have really been fortunate to be able to visit different parts of the world. I ended the year on a good note by beating the world #27, Latasha Khan, 3-1 in Macau in the month of November. Over the year, my ranking has improved from #78 to #38.

I have kick started the year by training in Pontefract for two weeks, after visiting my in-laws in the UK. Pontefract is the home of the great coach, Malcolm Willstrop. I trained with him for a week in July 2011, and he was able to unlock some key areas when I was stuck. The week after the training, I won my first tournament on tour. Hmmm…I wonder if he had anything to do with that?!? 

2011 HIGHLIGHTS

• Winning my first tour title in Brisbane in July
• Winning my second title in Washington DC in September
• Finalist in France in March and Egypt in May
• Semi-Finalist in Sydney, Phoenix USA, Kuwait and Stantiago, Spain

 “Little by little” I keep saying. The small steps we take towards achieving our sometimes seemingly impossible goals, can really make all the difference in the long run.

NEXT UP

Finnish Open, Mikkeli
10th-13th February 2012

MACAU OPEN

MACAU OPEN (10th – 13th November)

Round 1 Main Draw
Opponent: Latasha Khan
Nationality: USA
Tournament Seed: 6
World Ranking: 27
Result: Won 3-1, 8/11 12/10 11/9 11/8

I tried to stay calm throughout the match, playing patiently until I saw an opportunity to take the ball to the front. Latasha is a very experienced player, who has recently added 2 more titles to her tour collection. I hope to learn from the win, taking the positives, and grow stronger with each tournament I play. This is officially my best win on tour to date!

Quarter-Finals
Opponent: Delia Arnold
Nationality: Malaysia
Tournament Seed: 3
World Ranking: 20
Result: Lost 3-0, 13/11 11/6 11/5

I played a structured game in the first game, and had my chances to take the game. Delia had a slow start, and I should have capitilised on my lead. This is where I will need to learn to step it up when the score is level. She picked up the pace, and I didn’t really respond to it. Well, that’s experience for you.

NEXT UP…

HONG KONG OPEN (13th – 19th November)
Watch this space!!!

RESULTS UPDATE for OCTOBER

SANTIAGO DE COMPESTELLA OPEN
SPAIN

Squash in Spain turned out to be of a learning experience than I hoped.
I struggled through my matches on the all glass court. The girls matches were scheduled while the afternoon sun was still beaming on court erected in the Area Central Shopping Complex. This made visibility of the ball difficult at times, especially if was a low hard cross court, or high lob. It made me look slow to the front…actually, let me put excuses aside, I was slow to adapting and played the wrong game on it.

1st Round
19th October
Opponent: Catuxa Codesido
Nationality: Spain
World Ranking: 273
Result: Won 3-0, 11/9 11/3 11/5 (14min)

Quarter Finals
20th October
Opponent: Cyrielle Peltier
Nationality: France
World Ranking: 120
Result: Won 3-1

Semi Final
21st October
Opponent: Lisa Aitken
Nationality: Scotland
World Ranking: 68
Result: Lost 3-0, 11/7 11/9 11/5 (18min)

Against Lisa, I fell apart somewhat- maybe “choked” is the word. I wanted it too much and ended up crashing instead. I tried to match her fast paced game, and lost my accuracy along the way. I forgot the new crucial lesson I picked up in Pontefract in July. I hope to bring them to surface again soon.

WORLD OPEN
ROTTEDAM, NETHERLANDS

Siyoli vs Milou

Milou

Kanzy

Kanzy vs Dipika

Nour El Sherbini turns 16!

Round 1 Qualifiers
29th October
BYE

Round 2 Qualifiers
30th October
Opponent: Milou van der Heijden
Nationality: Holland
World Ranking: 51
Result: Won 3-1; 4/11 11/4 12/10 11/8 (42min)

Official Media Report:
The last Dutch interest in the qualifying competitions came to an end when Siyoli Waters came from a game down to beat Milou Van Der Heijden before a partisan home crowd.

“Milou made it hard for me, but I also made it difficult for myself,” admitted the South African, “I made a few errors trying to create something out of nothing and lost some good leads.

“You put more pressure on yourself to win when it’s a big event like this, so I’m just aiming to play good squash in my next match and not worry about the score, the opponent or the crowd.”

That next opponent will be Kanzy El Dafrawy who boosted the already impressive Egyptian tally with a 3/1 win over yesterday’s quickest winner Birgit Coufal, although Kanzy needed to refocus after dropping the third game 11/0, which she did to take the fourth 13/11.

More info: http://www.worldopensquash2011.com/index.htm

Round 3 Qualifier
31st October
Opponent: Kanzy El Dafrawy
Nationality: Egypt
World Ranking: 35
Result: Lost 3-0, 11/6 11/4 11/9 (33min)

I didn’t play at my best in the first 2 games, and found myself running aimlessly after balls. In the third game, i got some structure back into my game, but gave her such a big lead at the start that I made it too difficult for myself. Naturally I’m disappointed, but in some sense, am excited about the future and the development of my game.

Kanzy went on to have a great tournement, beating an Egyptian champion and former world no.4, Omneya Abdel Kawy. She was then stopped in her tracts by the up and coming Indian star player, Dipika Pallikal. Another young Egyptian, Nour El Sherbini, celebrated her 16th birthday by beating the world no.13, Donna Urquhart from Australia. These youngsters never cease to amaze me. I guess I’m just going to have to learn to stay “young at heart”.

QATAR CLASSIC

QUALIFICATION ROUND 2
SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER
Opponent: Farah Abdel Meguid
Nationality: Egypt
World Ranking: 97
Result: Lost 3-1; 8/11 11/5 11/6 11/2 (33m)

I started off well and Farrah started off badly, and the obtained result is a lopsided game score…in my favour of course. I was 7-0 up before i knew it. Then she woke up…and boy did she play well. I managed to hold onto the first game. She caught me flat footed many times with her backhand boast, then she hit nicks and perfect drops left right and centre. I didn’t know what hit me and i felt helpless.

She went on to play Jaclyn Hawkes, the No.11 seed from New Zealand and World #15. Farrah beat her 3-1. That means that Farrah is really playing well at the moment, also boasting her 7kg lighter frame after working hard these previous months. Sometimes it’s best to just pat a player on the back when they are playing superbly, and not get too analytical about your game. Well done Farrah! Next time, i’ll be ready.

These young Egyptians are definitely taking the squash world by storm, and their ranking hardly ever reflects their ability accurately, as some of them tend to only play tournaments that are in Egypt or not far from it. Two Egyptian teenagers just caused major upsets in the Qatar Classic. The 16 year Nour El Sherbini beat the World No.5 and September’s US Open champion, Laura Massaro. The 18 year old Nour El Tayeb, current world junior champion, beat the world No.2, Jenny Duncalf yesterday. They will have to compete against each other today…and I’m sure will have many more battles in the future.

For more squash results, go to:
http://www.squashsite.co.uk/qatar/today.htm

DRAMA CHINA

So, great news about the visa for china. I guess you’d think the trouble stops there. Well…not exactly. This is the quick version of the story that followed, written by Dave Waters, aka Hubby.

** Note: match scheduled for 17:00 **

13:00 – flight leaves Beijing (connecting from last nights Kuwait flight), scheduled to arrive at 15:40

16:00 – flight lands in Shanghai

16:15 – taxi

17:09 – arrive at venue

17:11 – Tournament Organiser Statement: “Siyoli you have missed the 10 minutes grace period. You have defaulted the match and your opponent receives a walkover”

17:18 – Opponent agrees to shake siyolis hand on court to ensure Siyoli at least picks up loser ranking points and 1st round loser prize money.

17:30 – Siyoli goes to changing room to compose herself

17:35 – Siyoli comes back to watch matches. Dutch National Team Coach says: “Siyoli, I think the grace period is actually 15 minutes, 10 minutes is the old ruling”

17:40 – Check official manual, can’t see anything. Call Governing body on skype in London.

17:45 – Olga, Siyoli’s room mate finds the ruling in the manual – 15 minutes! governing body in London declare the match must go ahead in 20 minutes.

18:05 – match starts

18:15 – Siyoli is naturally pretty sluggish after 24 hours travel and…. a minor bit of trauma leading upto the match… she goes 1-0 down

18:25 – Siyoli pulls it back to 1-1

18:35 – Siyoli goes 2 – 1 up

18 45 – Siyoli takes game and match to win 3-1!

You couldn’t make it up….

RESULTS

SHANGHAI CHINA OPEN
1ST ROUND MAIN DRAW
Opponent: Pushppa Devi
Nationality: Malaysia
Tournament Seed: Unseeded
World Ranking: 128
Result: Won 3-1

QUARTER FINALS
Opponent: Low Wee Wern
Nationality: Malaysia
Tournament Seed: 2
World Ranking: 21
Result: Lost 3-0

Low Wee Wern is a former world #13. I have new respect for her type of patient game – doesn’t rush to finish off the point – she just makes you work hard to earn your point. Oh yes…and hardly any errors.I learned a lot from playing her, and hopefully can start playing like her in some ways.