Well it didn’t quite turn out as I’d hoped, but overall, I’m not too disappointed with the tournament. It was my first tournament in 6 months and there is something to say about lack of match practice. Sherbini played well, although there was a little more pushing and shoving then I would have preferred, but that’s just how some people play.

The first game was just feeling each other out without being too crazy and I was able to squeak it out 11/9. I wasn’t feeling overly comfortable, but was happy to have won it. The second game I slowed down the pace too much and allowed Sherbini to dictate play. I felt a little sluggish and my brain was a little scattered and I proceeded to lose that game quite easily 11/6.

The third was better and after some brainstorming with my super coach and wife Heather after the second game, I concentrated on trying to lift the intensity. I hit my stride in the third game and even though I lost, I felt the plan was working, but Sherbini was able to hang on enough to pull it out 11/8.

Fourth game was tight, I continued with a high pace and it was a see sawing affair, but Sherbini made a few more unforced errors than I did. I started to volley drop straight more, which was working well. We were both doing a lot of work, but I was able to win that game 11/8 and take it to a fifth and deciding game.

I started really well in the fifth and was pushing him back and stepping forwards and volleying again, which is what I love. I had a 6-2 lead when I put a backhand drop in the tin, which I then felt the momentum of the match swing. Sherbini pulled back a couple of points and he was back in the ball game. I had a couple of point break and he hit a frame winner to pull him within one point. Things were getting tight at 9-9 and when I won the next point I felt very confident and comfortable. I hit a great backhand crosscourt, deep into the forehand which court Sherbini a little wrong footed. I remember thinking, that’s a good shot, he’s going to be under pressure and give me a loose ball here, but unfortunately the squash gods were not with me and Sherbini framed the ball, which ended up as a straight drop shot winner. 10-10 tie break. It was a good next rally, but I was caught wrong footed and a straight drive by Sheribini gave him match ball. A desperate rally for the next one and a last desperate dive, match over. It could have gone either way there, a few framed winners that could have been frame tins and the results reversed.

Still, very happy with how I played, there wasn’t much more I could do. A good match to learn from before my next tournament in Detroit in two weeks at the PST World Championships 3-5 May. I hope you can join me then.

There’s always next time……………..

Wade

I hope some of you have had a chance to watch some matches on www.prosquashtv.com

I’ve had a good tournament so far, with some comfortable matches in the first two rounds. My first match was against a local player Sudesh Ojageer, which was light hearted and good fun. He was very grateful that I didn’t beat up on him too much and we put on a good show for the crowd, in which I won in 4 games.

I had a comfortable victory in my quarter final match against Ricky Weisskopf from El Salvador, although it wasn’t tough physically, my brain wasn’t very switched on. I was a little lackadaisical, as I was feeling very comfortable and under no pressure. I won the first after I think 2 game balls down, which rattled him. I won the second very comfortably and then totally switched off for the third, which I lost in a tie-break. I wasn’t worried at all, but Ricky came out firing in the 4th and I was 5-0 down. I started to get a little worried at that stage, but knew I was physically in better shape, so I just started extending the rallies. This strategy worked very well as, very quickly he was sucking wind and not able to compete with my increased intensity. I won that game and the match (in the end) comfortably.

My semi final match against Fabian Kalaitzis from Greece was a very good match. Fabian had won his quarter final match in a tough 5 games and I knew he’d be tired. He’s been around for years and is a great player, but once again after his quarter final match my game plan was just to pulverize him physically. I started out at an extremely high tempo and was in a much better frame of mind than my earlier matches. I was volleying a lot and taking the ball short on the 17inch tin, which made Fabian have to do a lot of work. I won the first game 11/6. The second game I knew Fabian was tiring, but he played really well and dug deep into his reserves to win the second game 9/11. I wasn’t worried at all with losing the second game as I knew he’d worked extremely hard in the first two games. I increased the tempo in games three and four and Fabian couldn’t sustain the pace, I walked away with the last two games and the match 11/4 11/4, winning 3-1.

I’m looking forward to my next match with Mohamed El Sherbini, who knocked out the number one seed, Stephano Galifi from Italy. I played Mohamed two years ago in Baltimore and won easily in 3 games, but he’s improved a lot in the last two years and it’s going to be a very difficult match.

I hope you can tune in for the final with myself vs Mohamed El Sherbini at 2.45pm (Sunday afternoon).

Wade