After a day of epic performances, featuring comebacks, upsets and history being made, the Commonwealth Games semi-finalists have been confirmed.
[1] Joelle King (Nzl) 3-1 [5/8] Lucy Turmel (Eng) 9-11, 18-16, 11-9, 14-12 (82m)
[1] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 [5/8] Adrian Waller (Eng) 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (45m)
[5/8] Hollie Naughton (Can) 3-0 [3/4] Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 11-9, 11-5, 14-12 (36m)
[3/4] Saurav Ghosal (Ind) 3-1 [5/8] Greg Lobban (Sco) 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (59m)
[3/4] Gina Kennedy (Eng) 3-0 [9/16] Rachel Arnold (Mas) 11-4, 11-2, 11-1 (17m)
[5/8] James Willstrop (Eng) 3-2 [9/16] Rory Stewart (Sco) 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 (71m)
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 3-0 [5/8] Emily Whitlock (Wal) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
[2] Joel Makin (Wal) 3-1 [5/8] Eain Yow Ng (Mas) 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 (82m)
Makin wears Ng down
In the fial match of the day, second seed Joel Makin was given a stern test by Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng. The Welshman was on top in the first, but Ng changed his tactics and during the second and third appeared to be willing to take Makin on at the long game.
It worked as he took as lengthy second, but a glancing blow to Ng’s head from Makin’s racket saw Ng take a 15 minute break, and after that he seemed unable to maintain the same intensity as Makin slowly but surely reimposed.
Whitlock all at sixes against Perry
Second seed Sarah-Jane Perry made it a hat-trick of England semi-finalists as she dispatched Wales’ Emily Whitlock in straight games, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6.
Willstrop survives Rory test
Defending champion James Willstrop won a thrilling five game battle against Scotland’s Rory Stewart to keep his title defence on track.
Willstrop controlled the first game but Stewart fought back to take the lead. Willstrop levelled, but Stewart had a rapid start to the decider, leading 7-3 before Willstrops’s accuracy and the Scot’s own errors decided the match in Willstrop’s favour.
Gina blitzes into semis
England’s Gina Kennedy wasted no time in reaching the semi-finals in the first Commonwealth Games, blitzing Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold in just 17 minutes, Rachel having no answer to Gina’s relentless pace and accuracy.
“I don’t know what came over me. I’ve been training a couple of years for this event and that’s the best squash I’ve played this season. All day I’ve had a lot of energy and it all came together.”
Ghosal through to semis
Saurav Ghosal gave India a semi-final place as he overcame Scotland’s Greg Lobban in four tough games.
Ghosal was on top in the first game but Lobban upped his pace to equalise. Ghosal maintained a narrow lead in the third, then took increasing control in the fourth as Lobban’s challenge faded.
Naughton downs Chinappa
The first upset of the day came as Canada’s Hollie Naughton downed Indian 3/4 seed Joshna Chinappa in straight games.
Chinappa led in the early stages but Naughton grew in confidence as she powered through to take the opening game, and was dominant in the second.
Chinappa upped her game in the third which was close all the way, Joshna having four opportunities to take the game before Yorkshire-based Hollie delightedly took the victory on her first match ball, becoming the first Canadian woman to rech the semis.
“It’s unbelievable, a dream come true really. I knew I had to keep the nerves at bay. Playing in front of an atmosphere like this is something you don’t do too often! Thanks everyone for coming out.”
Coll powers past Waller
In the first men’s match top seed Paul Coll went through to the semis with a straight-games win over Adrian Waller.
The Englishman held his own in the first and had one game ball before Coll took the lead 12-10.
It was all Coll in the second, and after falling 0-5 behind in the third the Kiwi powered through to take the win.
“That was a tough test, I just had to try to stick to my game plan better than he did. It was a good fair match and I’m delighted to be through to the semis.
King edges through in opening quarter-final
[1] Joelle King (Nzl) 3-1 [5/8] Lucy Turmel (Eng) 9-11, 18-16, 11-9, 14-12 (82m)
The crowd at Birmingham University were treated to a fterrific opening match as defending champion Joelle King edged past England’s Lucy Turmel in an 82-minute thriller full of drama and high quality squash.
Turmel edged the opening game, then recovered form 0-7 and 3-10 in the second before King finally levelled on her 11th game ball!
There was nothing to choose between them in the next two games, but it was the Kiwi who led on the scoreboard for the majority of the time, stopping Turmel’s comeback in the third and eventually taking the match on her fourth match ball.
” “Lucy played an unbelievable match today, all credit has to go to her. She came here on a big occasion, came from the traditional court and gave everything. When you’re that far behind you can just let your arm go and it can come off, Lucy fought back well in that second and was always there. People say you don’t remember how you win, just that you won so I’ll take that and I’m so happy to be in the semis.”
