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 Round Eight, Tue
07-Mar:
Surrey H&R 3-2 USB Birmingham
Davide Bianchetti 3-2 Joey Barrington 9/3,9/6,1/9,6/9,9/6
(74m)
Phil Barker 0-3 Jonny Harford
2/9, 3/9, 7/9 (29m)
Simon Rosner 3-1 Joel Hinds
9/3, 9/11, 9/4, 9/4 (49m)
Chris Simpson 2-3 Steve Coppinger
6/9,9/7,6/9,9/5,5/9 (47m)
Lauren Briggs 3-2 Laura Lengthorn
9/7, 5/9, 9/7, 9/7 (69m)
Framboise reports from Esporta ... |
ANOTHER GREAT
EVENING IN PSL …
 Well, with most of
the big shots already gone to Melbourne (I’m myself flying on Saturday
night, thanks for asking), we still have a lot of fun, I’m here to tell
you…
As I normally do, I set myself up right behind the glass, on the left side
of the main court, ready to see the ladies, then string 2 and 1. I love
being so close to the action. Yes, it's nice, the lights, the crowd, the
big shows, but give me a traditional court any day, that's real squash for
me...
But as Lauren Briggs had more trouble getting here from North London than
she had coming from Switzerland the day before, the order of the evening
was changed, and I ended up having the pleasure of observing two young
guns, German Simon Rosner and Joel Hinds. |
« WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, HE IS
ITALIAN…. »
…is a sentence I actually heard during the star-match
Bianchetti-Barrington, while Davide was as only he knows how was
entertaining both crowd and refs…
But the best moment of the evening was when, as Davide was on his way to
the showers, he stated that he wouldn’t speak to me until I found
out the result of the football.
So, I quickly got on the mobile to Steve, who revealed that
some Italian club had won something or another 2/1.
And for the next five minutes, we had a mad Italian going from table
to table in the bar “we won, we won”…
Pffff. Football…
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Chris Simpson 2-3
Steve Coppinger
6/9,9/7,6/9,9/5,5/9 (47m)
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 "For the first game and a half
I was always behind him, he is sooo tall, and to be honest,, I
just arrived back from Brazil last night, woke at 12.30, so I
was a bit jet-lagged and I must say I didn't expect to play a
6' 6" guy today!
"In all fairness, he was playing very well. In this fifth I
thought I played much better, I moved him around a lot, but
mentally, I was going for the big shot, and it wasn't quite
there. In the end he was just stronger on the day.
Chris Simpson
 "I enjoyed that a lot, what made the difference was that in
the fifth he made a few mistakes. I could see he was tired, so
I tried to put him under pressure at the back.
"If you give Chris time on the ball he's very good at putting
you under pressure. I thought I played pretty well today,
although I wish I could have cut down on the mistakes at
crucial points."
Steve Coppinger
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MY MY MY THEY GROW
UP…
I cannot believe how kids grow up that quickly! And as we had a few juniors
on court last night, I must say it was astonishing to see how they literally
changed by the week…
Simon Rosner, so tall now, with already a little grey hair, so posh, I must
say.
Joel Hinds, that looks like those puppies that have grown up too
quickly, a bit off pace with his own height at times, and what about Chris
Simpson, who I nicknamed “the little man” a few months ago… Well, that is
so outdated it’s unreal…
Oh how time flies…
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Lauren Briggs 3-2
Laura Lengthorn
9/7, 5/9, 9/7, 9/7 (69m) |
 "I
can’t believe it took me 3 hours to cover 20 miles…
"My win in the Swiss Open gave me a lot of confidence,
although there are a few things I need to work on…
"It was always going to be tough against Laura, she is
such a good player. She mixes the shots so well, and you are
on your toes all the time, you’ve got to be ready for
everything, and she makes you work hard for every rally…
"So I tried to stay concentrated, and work as hard as I could.
And I’m very glad for the team, as we really needed
that one tonight…
Lauren Briggs
 "Lauren played very well indeed, the best I ever saw her play
against me by far, much more attacking than she has been
before, but tonight was not a good performance on my part, my
legs felt very heavy.
"I don’t know if it was still the jetlag
from New York, I don’t want to look for excuses, I just know
something was just not right tonight, I couldn’t move
properly, and didn’t volley as well as I normally do.
"I’m disappointed, but more for the team than from a personal
point of view, if that makes sense. This is a match I was
expected to win, that I should have won, and I feel really sad
for the team…
Laura Lengthorn
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NO STARS?
WHO CARES…
 Pete Smith
must be doing something right, as there was not an empty seat at Surrey
last night yet again.
And although you may expect people to turn up to see
famous players like Peter Nicol, their number one, it was quite refreshing
to see that the turnup was just as impressive for a 'less famous' line up…
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THE
YOUNGSTERS…
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Simon Rosner 3-1 Joel Hinds
9/3, 9/11, 9/4, 9/4 (49m)
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 Well, Simon has improved a lot since the
British Junior Open last year (I did see Simon in Pakistan during the Word
Teams, although I didn’t have the chance to see him on court, my apologies
Simon), and his boasts in particular, from any position, defence or
attack, are impressive. He has acquired a lot of experience, and that’s
maybe what Joel lacked a bit tonight, experience.
 Hinds also has improved a lot, he hits the ball extremely well, very fit
he is too, but he sometimes lacks a bit of variety in his shot selection,
and under pressure played a few too many loose
shots that Simon was only too happy to put away…
But the match was a perfect start to the evening, and both players gave it
100%, that was obvious to all present…
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"I was trying to play a lot on his
backhand, because he sometimes gets frustrated and plays silly
shots.
"I had quite a few chances but I made too many errors when I
got those chances. He would convert eight out of ten of his
chances, but I was only taking four or five, which is not
enough.
"I was happy with my fitness, I wasn't tired at all, but if you
play loose you get punished."
Joel Hinds
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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED…
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Phil Barker
0-3 Jonny Harford 2/9, 3/9, 7/9 (29m)
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Phil Barker was not at his best,
physically or mentally, against ex-student John Harford, and although he
played a few lovely lobs at last - I’ve been nagging him for a few months
about the fact he is not using that tool in his game enough in my opinion
- “yes, I was pretty happy with my lobs, shame I couldn’t do anything else
right tonight” smiled quietly the eldest of the Barker’s brothers - this
was probably the worse match I ever saw him play.
Mind you, he was facing a Harford on fire, who varied his shots to
perfection, attacking from all angles, controlling most of the rallies
with authority and style.
As the match progressed, Phil seemed to get into the rhythm of things, and
could/should have taken the third game, as the score was very close indeed
all the way, from 2/2 to 7/7. But on a return of serve in the nick and a
tin from Barker, Harford closed it out in three…
Hoping to see Mr Barker on form soon, as he is one of the players on the
circuit I do appreciate enormously…
 "I've been suffering with
bronchitis for the last two months, so I haven't been able to
train at all. I tried to get back into tonight, and just went
for my shots, which is not my natural game.
"To be fair he played very well, but he knew that if he just
kept it going I wasn't going to be able to stand the pace."
Phil Barker
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 "It was all good tonight, my length
was good, my squash was good. I really wanted to win that one
because although I know he hasn't played for a while he's still
top 40 and you've got to beat him.
"Tonight I played a bit different from my normal game, the ball
was coming to me and it felt right to attack it. American to
nine, lower tin ... I went for my shots and they came off."
Jonny Harford |
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MYSTIFIED FROG…
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Davide Bianchetti 3-2 Joey Barrington
9/3, 9/6, 1/9, 6/9, 9/6
(74m)
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I am normally not too bad in reading body
languages, and as I spend quite a lot of time on the tour with the
players, I normally have a rough idea of the way they relate to each
other… And I always thought that Mr Bianchetti and Barrington seemed to
get on like houses on fire. But as soon as the first ball was hit, the
tension was quite obvious, and they were getting more and more frustrated
with each other as the plot unfolded…
 And then, there would be moments where it was obvious they actually did
like each other a lot. So, what was it, friendship or hate… I must say I
was slightly lost…
Those two performers gave us a few good moments, both players arguing that
the other was in his way “I’m trying to get to the ball, and it’s a
looooong way around him”, to which the other one replied, “you can talk,
you are even worse than I am”, not to mention the “ref, is THAT allowed?”
“What”, “HE KNOWS”…
You spice it all up with a few courageous “no let” from the ref who did a
pretty good job not to get overwhelmed by those two “divas”, and you have
a pretty good idea of the kind on match we had…
But seriously, it was a very entertaining and good match, lots of long
rallies, both players here to win, passionate, involved, dedicated. And as
the last winner gave Davide the victory, they fell into each other’s arms…
“I don’t know why, “ laughed Bianchetti while stretching away, “because
Joey is one of the guys I get on the best on with on the Tour, but when I
play against him, I just want to win so badly, I don’t know why that is”.
“Of course we want to win, retorted Barrington, “we wouldn’t be doing our
jobs if we didn’t want to win more than anything”.
So they did like each other, no doubt about that. Which proves that every
time I think I know something about squash, I realise I know squat ...
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