By Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Photos courtesy of Squash Australia
It’s back! The world’s best gathered in Canberra, the nation’s capital, to contest the prestigious title of Australian Open Champion.
The national convention centre in the heart of the city was the stage, the players arrived en masse, the atmosphere was electric—the Australian public had not seen this caliber of event for many years.
The Australian season consists of state titles and smaller events culminating with the Open, and International Players flew in from all corners of the globe. While some entered local events, others gathered in Melbourne for preparations, New Caledonia for jet lag, Sydney for promotions or enjoyed the warm winter sunshine of Brisbane.
Location was key to the Aussie Open’s revival. The hotel was virtually next door to the venue and the heart of the city, while qualifying and early rounds were held at Woden Squash Centre—a traditional old club with nine plaster courts and no heating; a true test not for the faint hearted.
Australia is known and recognized for sunshine, beaches, and the outback, but squash has always been traditionally played in winter here. You can almost imagine the surprise and comments of players regarding winter, jet lag and long haul flights, but these were soon forgotten as each day, a very appreciative and expectant crowd were treated to some amazing squash and a great spectacle.
The men’s draw attracted the world’s top 10, yet a smaller women’s purse showed with the absence of many players. But this did not detract from great squash and a good performance from the Australian players and well-contested matches throughout.
USA’s newly crowed world junior champion, Amanda Sobhy, took on England’s World No. 2 and tournament No. 1 Jenny Duncalf to kick start the 1st round of the women’s event on the show court. Australia’s rising talent, Tamika Saxby, put on a valiant effort in front of family and friends against a vastly experienced No. 2 seed, Rachael Grinham (Aust).
The leggy and lithe body of New South Wales’ Donna Urquhart couldn’t stop Queensland’s Grinham in the 2nd round nor could newly toned and in shape World No. 10 Kasey Brown (Aust) in the quarters. Grinham hadn’t played on Australian soil since winning the 2005 Open. The 5’3” former World No. 1 nearly held her seeded position to steal a place in the final before going down in a gutsy and intriguing 5-game battle with England’s Alison Waters.
The women’s final was tough both physically and mentally as Waters had game ball in the 2nd to potentially lead 2-0 but couldn’t clinch it. Madeline Perry, who had secured her place in the final with a convincing four-game win over Duncalf in the semis, led 2-1 before Waters stepped up to the plate and tied the match at two games apiece. Once again Waters seemed in control in the deciding game only to squander three match balls with Perry fighting all the way. Winning with a tight, but possibly getable, forehand drop, and a “no let” by the three referees, left a frustrated Waters stranded helpless amongst the mixture of groans and cheers from the crowd. The fact remains, Perry has her name on the trophy and claimed the title as the biggest of her career.
On the men’s side, four Australian qualifiers showed the crowds that Australia’s future was in good hands as Scott Arnold, Matt Karwalski, Ryan Cuskelly and Zac Alexander put up impressive and gutsy performances against Cameron Pilley (Aust), James Willstrop (Eng), and Egyptians Amr Shabana and Mohamed El Shorbagy—players with much higher rankings and vast experience.
England’s Tom Richards had the biggest win of his career, defeating World No. 9 Daryl Selby in a 93-minute five game opener—his goal of reaching the Top-20 before the end of the year was looking very promising. Adrian Grant’s time in the nation’s capital will not be remembered happily, as he spent most of his visit in bed and even a trip to the hospital with stomach illness. In the second round, Grant was forced to “retire” after dropping the first game to countryman Peter Barker, 11-1.
Canberra’s favorite son, Stewart Boswell, drew a crowd in his 1st round clash with Thierry Lincou—and what a crowd. We haven’t seen a full house for a 1st round match like that in a long time. Stewart’s comment after the match said it all: “I never thought that a tournament like this would happen in my home town during my squash life. I’ve never played a first round match like this with so many people supporting me. I just wish I was coming back for the second round.”
The men’s draw featured seven World No1‘s—David Palmer, Lincou (Fra), Greg Gaultier (Fra), Ramy Ashour, Karim Darwish, Amr Shabana, and current World No 1, Nick Matthew—allowing the crowd to watch so many champions, put playing styles to faces and watch their heroes perform.
Rumors of retirement, recovering from illness and personal expectations weighed heavily on Palmer’s result against England’s in-form James Willstrop. David’s 2010 campaign to add another Australian Open title to his already impressive record ended in frustration and personal disappointment as he never truly seemed to “get going” and looked off the pace for most of the match.
The match of the event was the much anticipated Gaultier and Ramy Ashour clash in the semifinal. The Egyptian flare of Ramy against the focused and self-confessed “newly revitalized and motivated” Frenchman Gauliter, was always gearing up to be a titanic battle…and boy, what a match.
Gaultier’s focus and controlled aggression during the early rounds was outstanding, and his match with Ramy was not to be outdone. It had absolutely everything—drama, passion, banter, humor, flare, theatrics, intensity…and finally mutual respect and great showmanship. The pair received a standing ovation from the awestruck crowd and no doubt a match both players will remember.
Entering his first event as the newly crowned World No. 1, England’s Nick Matthew consolidated his No. 1 ranking and deservedly so, with a solid performance throughout the event, stating it wasn’t “relief” but “belief” that got him through tough matches and hold off the attack of Ashour.
Watching in the crowd, many of Australia’s past champions were present as coaches, parents or spectators—including World Champions Michelle Martin, Rodney Martin, Vicki Cardwell and British Open Champion Anthony Ricketts.
The event was a great success and a welcome addition on the international WISPA and PSA calender again. The organizers have vowed to make improvements next year and during the following three years that Canberra will host the Australian Open—one of those, hopefully, being the presence of Malaysia’s World No. 1 woman player, Nicol David.
