Quarterfinals
- Day 2
Martin
Bronstein, Squashtalk reporter on the scene at Grand Central Terminal
by
Martin Bronstein, Live at Grand Central Terminal, New York, 24 Feb 2004
All
content © 2004
Squashtalk, photos: © 2004 Debra Tessier
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| John White upped the pace against James Willstrop. photo: © 2004 Debra Tessier |
James Willstrop gave a very good account of himself against John White in their quarter final match, but White, after seeing the young Englishman open the match by hitting superb winners, (such audacity!) upped the pace even more and made his opponent run and stretch and stretch and run to wear him down to win in four. This was another fine, explosive squash match featuring Willstrop, but White showed his true colours and skill by negating even Willstrop's huge talent.
THIRTEEN FEET OF TOP
CLASS TALENT
Between them these two players measure over 13 feet but they still moved
like rabbits and played at a pace that at times was not quite credible.
White hits the ball harder than anybody - indeed, at times it was this
ability to slam the ball that got him the point - and Willstrop's reactions
are sometimes beyond belief even though you have witnessed them with your
own eyes.
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| James Willstop never stopped fighting. photo: © 2004 Debra Tessier |
NOW JOHN, THIS IS HOW
YOU HIT WINNERS…
Most players, when they play White try to contain him to stop him playing
winners.
Not young Willstrop: he came out for the second game and starting cracking
the ball into the nick and using that lovely soft touch at the front to
take control of the game. From 3-0 up he built his lead to 11-6 but still
had to work hard as White fought back to 10-12.
At this stage White made a couple of bad choices, trying to be a little
too clever rather than driving to the back. Willstrop read the shots and
took the game 15-10 in under 11 minutes.
A LESSON LEARNED
White knew exactly what he had to do and started to use his power to crack the ball past those elastic arms of Willstrop. The point is that only White has that brute cannonball shot and at least six times that power was just too fast for Willstrop's lightning reactions.
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| All Willstrop could do was throw his racket after the ball in despair. photo: © 2004 Debra Tessier |
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| Video Interview |
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
JOE KNEIPP?
Beachill was not tested by Joe Kneipp in the last quarter final. It seemed
slow compared to the White/Willstrop match and Kneipp after holding two
game balls and then losing the first 24 minutes game 14-15, seemed to
lose interest. He lost the next two games for seven points: the last time
they met in the world open in December, Kneipp had rolled all over Beachill.
Tonight, despite having Rodney Martin in his corner, Kneipp could muster
neither will or determination. What happened to the Kneipp who played
such exquisite squash against Liam Kenny in the first round? I doubt if
even Joe knows.
QUARTER FINALS
[2] John White (Sco) bt James
Willstrop (Eng) 15-13, 10-15, 15-6, 15-8.
[4] Lee Beachill (Eng) bt Joe Kneipp (Aus) 15-14, 15-3, 15-4.
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| Lee
Beachill(l) had no problem with a subpar Joe Kniepp tonight.
photo: © 2004 Debra Tessier |
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