This weekend saw the highlight of the domestic Junior calendar with the playing of the Junior Nationals. There were events from U11 to U19 for both boys and girls. Dermot Dineen and his committee did a superb job with over 90 players taking part.

Madeline Perry - through to another final

RESULTS: Women’s Tub O’Towels Cleveland Classic, Pepper Pike, Ohio, USA

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 11-2, 11-8, 11-3 (40m)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (54m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)
[Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [6] Joelle King (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (49m)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 12-10, 11-4, 11-9 (35m)
[Q] Annie Au (HKG) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (30m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 15-17, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5

The last match of the night went the full distance when England’s No2 seed Laura Massaro twice had to come from behind to see off Irish rival Madeline Perry 15-17, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5.

“I am just happy to get through that match as it was a tough first round for me to have,” said Massaro, the world No2 from Preston. “Madeline is a very tough competitor!”

Perry, the 14 times Irish champion and a Cleveland Classic semi-finalist for the past three years, said: “It is a shame because I played well all though the match but I came off the pace a little in the last two games. Laura played a great match.”

Qualifiers Nour El Tayeb and Annie Au produced sensational upsets in the opening round of the Women’s Tub O’Towels Cleveland Classic to claim unexpected places in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Squash Association Gold 50 event celebrating its fourth year at Cleveland Racquet Club in Pepper Pike, Ohio, USA.

Egyptian El Tayeb, the former world junior champion making her debut in Cleveland, brushed aside sixth-seeded New Zealander Joelle King 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.

“El Tayeb played a fantastic match, being aggressive and retrieving really well,” reported tournament director Joe Russell, the club’s Director of Squash. “She was not making any errors and was anticipating much of King’s shots. King did not have a great match. She did not seem comfortable on the court making errors on easy shots.”

Au, the reigning Asian champion from Hong Kong, took on No7 seed Jenny Duncalf, the former world No2 from England who held an unbeaten 2/0 Tour head-to-head record over the 24-year-old.

The Hong Kong number one despatched Duncalf in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 to achieve her career breakthrough.

“Au (pictured above) was very good today at slowing the pace down and lobbing the ball into the back corners,” explained Russell. “It was clearly giving Duncalf trouble. Duncalf was down 9-5 in the second game and it looked like she was about to gain control of the match. However, Au had enough of a cushion to take the game 11-9. The third game was all Au as she cruised to the 3/0 victory.”

Top seed Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia expected to reach the final for the fourth year in a row, was in sparkling form as she defeated Nour El Sherbini – the second Egyptian qualifier in the draw – 11-2, 11-8, 11-3.

“She was very methodical, moving the ball on court, not making any errors,” said Russell. “Nicol’s only scare was in game two, when she went down 7-2, before storming back to take the game 11-8.”

There was further unexpected Egyptian success when unseeded Omneya Abdel Kawy ousted Malaysia’s No8 seed Low Wee Wern 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Camille Serme (FRA)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Annie Au (HKG)

The Boys under 19 panel have been fundraising for the last few weeks where they were selling tickets to a draw for 2 tickets for the Ireland v Wales 6 Nations match taking place on February 8th at Lansdowne Road.

The draw took place on Sunday 2nd February in Sutton LTC. The draw was made by Patrick Murray of Leinster Squash and the winner of the 2 tickets is Bernard McSweeney from Cork.

Irish Squash and the fundraising committee would like to thank all the people who gave their support to this fundraising effort.

The World U19 team championships take place next August in Namibia so with such an expensive trip this fundraising is invaluable.

So THANK YOU ALL AGAIN and well done to all the squad members who sold all the tickets.

Entry form for Dutch Junior Open here – http://www.europeansquash.com/juniors/junior-calendar/details/314-dutch-junior-open-2014-ss.html

LEINSTER SQUASH JUNIOR CLOSED 2014

The Mount Pleasant Open took place the weekend of 24-26th of January in Ranelagh, Dublin 6. With most of Ireland’s top home based players playing it was a superb weekend of squash. In the Men’s A final Derek Ryan, the No. 1 seed played Michael Craig, the No. 3 seed in a cracking final. At he end of the 4th game which Craig won to level the match 2 all, Derek conceded the match as an injury he sustained in the 3rd game proved to be too painful to play through. it was a real shame because the match was shaping up to be a cracker in the 5th and it would have been very interesting to see if the experience & skill of Derek could have beaten the youth and skill of this talented young player. As Michael said in his victory speech playing Derek is a real benefit to Michael’s progress as he learns from the master.

In the women’s final Ciara Moloney just had too much for Fiona Power the 19 yr old from Galway LTC. Fiona looked a little nervous but Ciara really took command from the start and was driving the ball extremely well into both corners. In the Women’s B round robin Claire Bergin of Mount Pleasant came out as winner with Catriona Fitzgearld in second place.

In the men’s A/B play off, Rory Byrne, Kevin Moore, Stuart hadden and Rory Gilligan filled the first 4 places. In the Mens C Final Stephen Fasenfeld beat 19 yrs Harry Lloyd 3-1 where Stephen just had too much experience for Harry. in the D final the organiser of the Open Henry Gillanders played out a superb match with Jim Coyne of Leinster CC. He won 3-2 but it was so so close with 3 games going to 11-9 including the last. Either player would have been a worthy winner.

Well done to all in Mount Pleasant for a superb tournament and especially to Mary and Henry for their tireless work all weekend.

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Watch the Men’s A Final below

Look out for the recorded matches on Irish Squash TV – Sportslive later this week. Just search Irish Squash and you will see Sportslive and all the library of matches from tour events this season including the Mount Pleasant Open 2014 will be there to view on demand.

Follow all the results here

RESULTS: Women’s JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (32m)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (28m)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-13, 11-8 (52m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Joelle King (NZL) 9-11, 13-11, 11-3, 11-7 (52m)

French number one Camille Serme overcame a frozen ear and a mid-match case of nerves to thwart Irish champion Madeline Perry‘s effort to unseat a higher-seeded player at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions for the second time.

Serme, making her maiden appearance in the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold event at Grand Central Terminal in New York, admitted to being concerned going into the match because Perry held a 6-1 career record against her.

Walking the three blocks from the Westin Grand Central Hotel to the glass court in Grand Central Terminal in bitterly cold New York weather, without a hat, Serme – who has lost only to world No1 Nicol David since August 2013 – said her ears had literally frozen by the time she arrived at the tournament venue. By match time, the ear had thawed and the Frenchwoman was sufficiently warmed up to take an early 5-1 lead in the first game, managing to maintain her edge to win the opener 11-8.

The second game was all Serme, who took a 2/0 lead in the match by winning the game 11-4. In the third, the world No5 from Creteil, near Paris, had three match balls at 10-7 – and celebrated a premature victory on one of those when she gave a jubilant fist pump thinking she had hit a winner.

But Perry, the 36-year-old world No7, ran the ball down and won the point. “I got nervous,” said Serme after the match. “It came in my mind that I had only beaten her once.” Perry snatched the game 13-11 to keep the match alive.

The 14 times Irish champion from Belfast had pulled off an improbable, come-from-behind, victory after being down by a similar score in the opening round against Raneem El Welily, the third seed from Egypt. She thought she could do the same again.

Her top-ranked French opponent, however, had other plans: “I knew that I had to stick to my tactical plan,” Serme revealed later. The plan, which had worked in the first two games, was to slow down the pace. “I did not want to give her any opportunities to hit the ball hard which she does so well. And I had to play my shots when I had the opportunity.”

The agile and nimble 24-year-old executed her plan well and won the fourth game 11-5 to close out the match.

The “happy and relieved” Serme, whose coach and trainer are in NYC for the championships, is thrilled to be in the ToC semi-finals – as much because she is as eager to improve as she is to win. “It’s good to keep winning,” Serme said as she cooled down on the stationary bike after the match. “This way my coaches can see what I have to improve on.”

Serme’s semi-final opponent will be second seed Laura Massaro of England. A few millimetres and two tins by her New Zealand opponent Joelle King were all that stood between the English number one and a two-game deficit.

Kiwi King had played authoritative and confident squash to win the first game 11-9, and had game ball at 11-10 in the second. A drop shot from the sixth seed barely clipped the tin to even the game at 11 points each and Massaro managed to eke out the victory 13-11.

At the break between games, Massaro’s husband and coach Danny told her: “Just relax, enjoy being out there.” The world No2, who acknowledged having a strong self-critical nature, took the advice to heart. “After all, I won’t be able to do this forever, so I should enjoy it while I can,” said Massaro. The difference when she got back on court was stunning. She won the third game 11-3 and the fourth 11-7.

Alison Waters earned her trip to the ToC semi-finals when she ended the run of English compatriot Sarah-Jane Perry, a qualifier who upset England’s No7 seed Jenny Duncalf in the first round. “The key to the match was making sure that I stayed in front and didn’t allow SJ to play her shots,” said the fourth seed from London after her efficient and ‘never-in-doubt’ 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 victory.

Waters should be fresh for her semi-final match given that her match time for the two opening rounds combined totals less than an hour. The British champion will probably need as much energy as she can muster as she will be taking on top seed Nicol David who defeated fellow Malaysian Low Wee Wern in three games.

The world No1 had another busy NYC day: David participated in a photo shot with men’s world No1 Nick Matthew for the announcement of their appointment as official Laureus Sport For Good Ambassadors. The 30-year-old from Penang also attended the ToC Inaugural Women’s Leadership Luncheon honouring former WSA player Natalie Grainger before returning to her hotel to prepare for her evening match. None of these activities, however, distracted the Malaysian superstar from the primary reason for her presence in New York City – to win her maiden ToC trophy!

Super-focused and finely-tuned, David defeated her younger national rival 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 to record her 25th Tour match victory in a row since losing last May’s British Open final to Laura Massaro.

When asked if she ever gets bored with squash after so many years playing and being No1 (since August 2006), David’s answer was emphatic: “No. I just get more and more into it, especially these last few years when I feel like I truly understand the game,” explained the Malaysian who this month marked her 90th consecutive month at the top of the world rankings.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [4] Alison Waters (ENG)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [5] Camille Serme (FRA)

Official event website: www.tocsquash.com

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [8] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v [Q] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Madeline Perry (IRL) v [5] Camille Serme (FRA)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [6] Joelle King (NZL)

Madeline Perry, World No. 7, advanced to the quarter-finals of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal after scoring a stunning upset in the opening round of the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold event in New York City.

Perry, dropped the first two games in her afternoon match against third seed Raneem El Welily, the world No3 from Egypt who seemed to be in complete control after her 11-8, 11-4 lead.

But, from the very start of the third game, Perry (pictured right in action with El Welily) was a different player. The 36-year-old pushed up several feet and started playing attacking shots much as her Egyptian opponent had done in the first two games.

“She’s really a better player than me in terms of skills,” said Perry later. “So I realised that I just had to stay positive, enjoy myself and do something different than my usual conservative game.”

The change in Perry’s strategy worked exceptionally well as she took a 10-3 lead in the third game, before winning it 11-6. The fourth was more of the same and Perry won the game by the identical score. Welily, 25, from Cairo, reasserting herself at the start of the decider, taking an 8-5 lead.

But the WSA Tour veteran from Banbridge, was not about to give up against her younger opponent and scrambled to move ahead 9-8. After Welily tied the score at 9-9, both players dug in their heels and played the point of the day as each covered all four corners of the court and Welily retrieved several seemingly irretrievable balls. After the young Egyptian hit a cross court from the deep forehand corner, Perry flew forward to hit an attacking backhand dead nick volley – clinching the match on another attacking backhand volley.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Perry in her post-match interview. “I just hope that one of the photographers got the picture of that backhand volley at nine-all!”

After gathering her thoughts, two-time ToC semi-finalist Perry added: “I’m obviously delighted. I was completely outplayed for the first two games and completely turned it around and played some great squash.

“I had some trouble with my knee for a few months after the summer which disrupted my training but trained well for the last couple of months and felt much better. I love the court and the amazing venue!”

Fifth seed Camille Serme will be Perry’s quarter-final opponent after the French number one advanced with a 3/1 victory over two-time defending champion Natalie Grinham.  Madeline last played Camille in the European team Championships quarter final last May, where Madeline won a superb victory to enable Ireland get to the Semi final. Ultimately Ireland got to the final and just lost to a very strong English team, 2-1 to win the silver medal.

Natalie Grinham won the first game 13-11 by hitting an extensive variety of shots and using the lob exceptionally well. Serme – who has lost only to world No1 Nicol David since August 2013 – admitted to being surprised by her 35-year-old opponent’s first game strategy.

The world No 8 from Creteil, near Paris, adjusted in the second by playing more length. “I just tried to be more patient, which wasn’t so easy,” said Serme. It may not have been easy, but the adjustment worked and, after taking an 8-3 lead, Serme won the second 11-6.

A number of uncharacteristic errors from Grinham – who confessed to getting nervous – and excellent court coverage by Serme, gave her the third game 11-4. The five-time French champion sealed the victory after winning the fourth 11-7. As a wistful Grinham stood by the stands watching the next match later, she said: “I really wanted to have another chance to play on this court.”

Qualifier Sarah Jane Perry, looking remarkably relaxed and confident, earned her trip to the quarter-finals in her maiden appearance in the event with a seesaw five-game victory over seventh seed and England team-mate Jenny Duncalf. Perry, the 23-year-old world No17, controlled the first game with good length and accuracy.

In the second, the lead exchanged hands several times until Perry closed out the game 11-9. Duncalf, the world No9 who has been ranked as high as two in the world, cut down on her errors in the third and fourth to even the match at two-all. Deliberately slowing the pace in the fifth, Perry was the beneficiary of more unforced Duncalf errors, winning the game 11-4 to take the match.

“It is easier to be relaxed when you are the underdog,” said Perry, who is just returning to the WSA Tour after a three month injury hiatus. “I certainly wasn’t expected to win.” As for the confidence factor, Perry added: “I know I am playing well and you have got think you can win; otherwise, what’s the point of playing?”

Perry will now face countrywoman Alison Waters. The fourth seed played in front of the most vocal crowd of the day – the Harvard University women’s squash team who had turned out in force to support their number one player Amanda Sobhy, ranked 18 on the WSA Tour.

Waters, who defeated US number one Sobhy 11-3, 11-9, 11-6, was unfazed by the partisan fans. “I quite enjoyed the loud crowds – it is much more fun to play for them.”

Waters completely contained the American star, who had survived a tough five-game qualifying match the night before. “Amanda is very strong and can be a dangerous player if you let her have the ball in the middle of the court,” said the three-time British national champion. “So my strategy was to keep her in the back of the court and out of the middle.”

It was a strategy that worked. “Ali was hitting her targets really well,” admitted Sobhy. “I was scrambling most of the time.”

In the day’s other matches, sixth seed Joelle King of New Zealand dominated her match against Australian Kasey Brown, the newly-elected Women’s Squash Association president. King’s quarter-final opponent will be world No2 Laura Massaro of England who defeated Australian veteran Rachael Grinham – two days before her 37th birthday – in four games.

RESULTS: Women’s JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York, USA

1st round:
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-3, 11-9, 11-6 (25m)
[Q] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4 (63m)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-13, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (49m)
[6] Joelle King (NZL) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 (25m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-2, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)
1st round: (played Tuesday 21st Jan)
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Annie Au (HKG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
[8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)

Official event website: www.tocsquash.com