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| Daily
Results and Reports from Manchester |
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THE
NORTH-EAST MASTERS |
Day SIX, Fri 11th Feb
QUARTER-FINALS:
John White bt Marcus Berrett
12/10, 11/6, 11/6 (32m)
James Willstrop bt Simon Parke
7/11, 14/12, 11/6, 6/11, 11/6 (70m)
Alison Waters bt Vicky Botwright
9/3, 6/9, 0/9, 9/3, 9/7 (71m)
Rebecca Macree bt Becky Botwright
9/1, 9/4, 9/2 (30m) |
EN BREF
 Day
SIX:
Bad hair day, It's a dirty job, On the Radio, Meetings ... Meetings, and
more ... |
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MAGIC PARKE, DETERMINED JAMES…
Standing ovation.
That’s how the crowd thanked those two remarkable athletes for the amazing
show they gave us. And boy o boy did they deserve it. Both of them of
course, even if one has got to salute the outstanding performance of
Simon Parke, who retrieved shots that cannot be retrieved, so many
times, so many many times that James Willstrop might have thought he
would never see the end of that one…
Out of balance and anticipation. That’s how Simon succeed to save and
retrieve so many balls that would be written off by the rest of the world.
He starts extremely early, reading his opponent's game, is already running
as his opponent is hitting his shot, and basically throws himself out of
balance to catch the ball. Recovers his balance. And runs the other way.
Again. And again. And again.
Pushing his opponent to make the error…
 But
there was more tonight to Parke’s game than the retrieving… His drives
couldn’t have been tighter, but most of all, he was attacking at every
chance he had, he had a very “active” game, instead of the “reactive” game
that I’ve seen him play normally. The result? Some outstanding,
breathtaking, amazing rallies, with both players attacking and retrieving,
to the crowd’s delight who showed their appreciation so many times during
the match…
In the first game, the score stayed close 3/3, 4/4, 6/6. The pace was high,
the hitting hard. James made 7 tins, all under pressure, during this game,
and very rightly, Simon walks away with the game in 13 minutes, 11/7.
In the second, we were very quickly at game ball for James, 10/5. It should
have been simple really. Yeah right. Parke saved five game balls (two drop
shot tins for James, a lucky nick cross court, a stroke and a drop shot nick
for Simon).
10/10.
But Simon couldn’t transform his two game balls, and finally, finally, James
gets the second in 17 minutes, 4-2.
 In
the third, Parke had a little drop in energy (not surprising really), and
although he played some stunning drives and lengths, James was the boss on
that one, and 8 minutes later, the young man was in a strong leading
position, 2/1 after 40 minutes of the match.
Having had his little rest, Parke came back with a vengeance to lead 4/1 in
the fourth, only to get caught back by some beautiful delayed shots from
James, 4/4. Up the vet goes again, 6/4. There, we had the rally of the
match, where James saved some lethal drop shots, lengths, cross courts,
finally won by Parke, with the crowd erupting in loud and sustained applause
yet again. James scored only two more points, and Simon equalised once again
11/6 in 10 minutes.
And then ran out of steam.
Sir Simon was now paying for all the amazing effort, running, retrieving,
saving he did for exactly 60 minutes. Ten minutes later, he was accepting
defeat 11/6 in the fifth…
James' tenacity, calm under pressure, precision and technique, focus and
concentration, allowed him to outlast the former world number 5, who tonight
played at his utmost best…
James Willstrop bt Simon Parke
7/11, 14/12, 11/6, 6/11, 11/6 (70m)
Squash
the Winner - Malcolm Willstrop |
 "Today I was trying to attack more, but to be
more sensible when attacking, trying to cut down the mistakes as much
as possible.
"I know it lasted 70 minutes, but it felt like 3 hours.
"I was very disappointed after the British Open, I had flu over Christmas,
but in Chicago and Dayton I had very good results, beating Adrian Grant and
I pushed Peter Nicol. I was attacking more tonight, but
then again the court suits me, and my forehand kills were working fine, so
when something works you just keep doing it.
"Also people think of James as a shotmaker, but he is 6' 5" and he's not
going to enjoy bending his legs, so you've got to go for the shots as well.
James is a great guy, and we match up very well in style.
"I enjoyed this match immensely, and actually I was thinking, 'that's why I'm
still playing, because I enjoy it so much.' "
Simon Parke |
 "I knew
it would be hard against Simon, it always is, he just gets back
everything you can throw at him.
"I expected to win of course, but in the end I'm just pleased to get
through, I know how well he's playing.
"I hit a bit of a wall in the fourth, but I got a really good start in
the fifth and I knew then that he was as tired as I was, so I was able
to keep it going to the end.
"I kept thinking about how Simon beat Thierry in Boston, that you can
never, ever be complacent for one second when you're playing him."
James Willstrop |
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STUNNING WATERS …
Oh. My. God.
We saw last night a fantastic performance from Alison Waters and Vicky
Botwright, squash to a standard that I've rarely seen before (the closest I
saw was Rebecca Macree/Jenny Tranfield in BSPA Wimbledon last year, 93
minutes of pure magic).
 The
simple thing to say about Waters I think is that she went for it, as only a
20 year old can. No inhibition, no second thoughts, just talent and guts.
You know, the 20 years of hard work, and an overnight success kind of
feeling…
After the match, I asked Paul Carter, who coaches both girls if Vicky did
anything wrong, and very rightly, Paul couldn’t find a single thing to say…
because she didn’t... She played extremely well, never gave up, ran for
every ball, good length, concentration…
Waters was just in a different zone. Her calm, determination and composure
when she started playing were just remarkable. She started immediately by
hitting strong shots, lots of weight in the ball, and even if she hit two or
three tins to start with, at 3/3 in the first game, I wrote in my book “I
think she will win that one”…
It took 9 minutes for Alison to take the first one 9/3. Vicky made a few
mistakes, mainly because of the pressure she was under, being pushed around
the court by a combination of hard hitting, inch perfect drops and volley
drops, counter attacks, lobs, you name it.
 The
second was Waters shooting to 4/0, only to be caught up 4/4, then 6/6. Each
girl then forced a change of serve, both playing beautiful drops shots. Just
a little thing in passing. They had to play a few lets, as Alison seemed to
be a bit slow to clear the ball after her return of serve. At 7/6 on her
serve, Vicky placed a lethal backhand front court boast that gave her game
ball, and a backhand drop shot tin from her opponent allowed her to equalise
one game all, 9/6 in 13 minutes.
The third was a squash lesson Vicky-style that lasted 5 minutes, only three
mistakes from Alison, just pure perfection from Botwright really… 9/0.
Waters dominated the fourth, and maybe Vicky lacked patience in that one,
going for shots a little too soon, the pressure was no doubt starting to
tell on her. It was still a long game, 14 minutes for 9/3, where Alison
served us with some extraordinary volleys, interceptions, and volley drops.
But nothing was preparing us for the last 20 minutes. Vicky was behind all
game, trailing at 0/3, then 2/4, 3/7. Was the match over? I think not. The
local girl dug in to eventually catch up to 7/7. But it was to be Alison’s
night, and even if Vicky saved a match ball, she could only bow to her
training partner, 9/7 in the 5th.
Perfect squash. Perfect behaviour. Perfect show.
Alison Waters bt
Vicky Botwright
9/3, 6/9, 0/9, 9/3, 9/7 (71m)
 "I've
been coaching Alison for 8 yrs, and Vicky for 7. It's simply
heart-breaking, I just suffer in silence. I purposely haven't spoken
with either of the girls. I think it was a fantastic game of squash,
they both played 100%, they both played how David and I wanted them to
play.
"It's so hard when you coach several players. So of course, Vicky will
be very sad, and Alison very happy, but they both played at their
best."
Paul Carter |
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 "I thought I might make it when I was coming back in the fifth, but I had my
'great escape' in the last round, and I suppose you can't expect to do it
twice."
Vicky Botwright |
 "I
was a very tough match. I started well, but gave away some cheap shots
in the second, which cost me.
"I got caught up in it all, getting involved with the refs in the
third, and lost focus and concentration. But then I said to myself,
'I've beaten her before, and this is my first quarter-final - I want
to make my first semi-final', and that helped me get my concentration
back.
"I was getting tense in the fifth as Vicky started coming back, but
this is my best British win, for sure.
"Playing Tania in the first round, who I'd never beaten, meant I had
to take this event one match at a time, which I still am."
Alison Waters |
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MACREE: FULL POWER
The two ladies that stepped on court last night, Rebecca Macree and
Becky Botwright, are a real pleasure for the eyes. Different style, but
both beautiful, fit, a good publicity for the sport, I thought.
 Actually,
when Rebecca arrived in the arena, I couldn’t help complimenting her on her
stunning figure. “I’ve been training”, she said. “Well, I’ve been training
for 44 years now, and it never worked for me…” I replied…
The match itself was a bit one sided I must say, Macree dominated her young
opponent from the start, even if her drives and cross courts were a bit
loose.
The first game was very quick, 7 minutes and 9/1. The second was the
tightest, as Botwright was led 5/0 then 8/1, and fought back, saving four
game balls to eventually lose the game 9/4 in 14 minutes.
The third and last game was 7 minutes long, Botwright saved a match ball
thanks to a return of serve drop shot, at last, could be said, as she lost a
lot of points by returning Rebecca’s serve into the tin… But Macree was not
to be denied, and on a clear score of 9/2, she wins her place in the semi to
meet the hero of the night, Alison Waters.
Rebecca Macree bt Becky Botwright 9/1, 9/4, 9/2 (30m)
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 "I felt good tonight. I've been training hard, I feel fitter and stronger and
I just want to play.
"I played the right shot at the right time tonight, and that's what the
game's all about. Becky was very calm, considering it was her first time in
the quarters and on the glass court. She looked so relaxed and played well.
"I'm looking forward to the semi-final with Alison. We play and train a lot
together at my club, so it will be interesting."
Rebecca Macree |
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White Back On Track
 Defending
Champion John White shrugged off indifferent early form in this championships to blast
into the semi-finals with a comprehensive victory over Marcus Berrett.
White led the first, but Berrett fought back to force the tie-break.
"It's always disappointing when you make a comeback and don't finish it
off," said the Yorkshireman. "And after that I didn't get much of a
look-in."
White dominated the next two games with trademark winners from all over the
court, to move into the semi-finals where he plays James Willstrop.
Should the match be anything like their spectacular match at the English
Open last August, the crowd are in for a real treat ...
Steve Cubbins
John White bt Marcus Berrett
12/10, 11/6, 11/6 (32m)
   
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"Marcus places the ball well, and is so quick to the front of the court. He
has a very good basic game and can keep you on court a long time, so I'm
pleased to win 3/0.
"I didn't get much sleep last night, the kids were ill, although I got a
couple of hours in the spare room.
"But I was happy as soon as I started to
practice on this court this evening, I was moving freely and enjoying it. It
takes a good long shot and a short shot, and although it's hotter than most
glass courts it suits my game. That's definitely the best I've played this
week."
John White |
 "It's the same story, you can't leave any shot, you've got to hit every one
of them. If you leave one shot open it's gone. John and I have played
several times before, but this one was the most physical we've ever played.
Normally we tend to play in the middle of the court, but this was our first
meeting on the glass court.
"As I only play once a year on that court, if that, my biggest fear was to
look ridiculous. I'm happy I didn't embarrass myself too much. In fact, it
makes you hungry for more."
Marcus Berrett |
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