By ALAN THATCHER
Welcome to Wimbledon Rackets and Fitness Club for the qualifying competition that leads to four coveted places in the first round of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic on Monday.
As well as a host of rising stars, we have a fascinating Golden Oldies encounter coming up later today featuring Italian Davide Bianchetti and Kent's Silver Fox Ben Ford.
The first winner of the day was Robbie Temple, who overcame fellow English hopeful Rory Pennell in straight games less than 24 hours after flying home from Calgary. The third game was tight and pennell led for much of the way through until the closing phase. Pennell raced out to 4-0 before Temple strung together five points in a row. Pennell hit back to lead 8-6 and 9-7 but back came Temple to force the tiebreak and win it 12-10 to clinch the match.
Robbie Temple beat Rory Pennell 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (48 mins)
On the adjacent court, Eddie Charlton was struggling to cope with the skills of young Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad, who won 3-1.
Karim Abdel Gawad beat Eddie Charlton 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 (54 mins)
Charlton took the opening game by a narrow 11-9 margin but Awad clinched the second on a tiebreak, 12-10. The young Egyptian's racket skills shone brightly throughout the third game and he eased home 11-4. Charlton struggled to concentrate at the start of the fourth and mis-hit two service returns before working his way back into the match. He led 8-7 in the fourth but Awad won the final four rallies to clinch it 11-8. He meets Temple in tomorrow's qualifying finals.
Davide Bianchetti (Italy) beat Ben Ford (England) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (44 mins)
Italian Davide Bianchetti overcame Kent's Ben Ford to move one place closer to a return visit to the glass court at the East Wintergarden.
He looked solid throughout the first two games but Ford looked dangerous at the start of the third. His silky racket skills helped him to open up a 5-2 lead before Bianchetti reeled off four points in a row to lead 6-5. Ford levelled at 6-6 but Bianchetti managed to stay in front to close out the match.
Henrik Mustonen (Finland) beat Adrian Waller (Eng)
6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 (63 mins)
Waller wins first game 11-6. Mustonen levels after winning second 11-9. Mustonen wins third 11-6. Adrian wins fourth 11-9 to take it to five. 11-6 in fifth to Mustonen.
A battle all the way in the fifth. Neck and neck up to 5-5 then Mustonen wins four points in a row to make it 9-5. Two points from Waller then Mustonen reels in two himself to win it after 63 minutes. Mustonen meets Bianchetti tomorrow.
Campbell Grayson (NZ) beat Jonny Harford (England)
13-15, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (67 mins)
First game tiebreak 15-13 to Harford. Grayson began the game chopping and slicing the ball into the front corners, but Harford worked his way into the match by hitting a tighter length to cut out Grayson's opportunities to go short. He gradually turned it round and won on the tiebreak, 15-13.
Tough second game and another tiebreak, which Grayson wins 12-10. A few untidy mid-court collisions every few rallies. Grayson takes the third 11-7 to lead 2-1. Harford leads 7-5 in the fourth but Grayson finishes strongly to win 11-7.
Matthew Karwalski (Australia) beat Jamie Haycocks (Eng)
11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (30 mins)
Whole match over in 30 minutes here. Karwalski looked very comfortable out there. He attributes his excellent form to spending some time in Manchester, practising with Stewart Boswell. If he gets through tomorrow, against Grayson, I bet he draws Bozza in the first round on Monday!
Charles Sharpes (England) beat Laurence Delasaux (England) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (48 mins)
Charles Sharpes had to dig deep to beat Laurence Delasaux in an intensely physical encounter, with some superb touch play from both players. As always, qualifying matches are brutal battles and Sharpes was puffing heavily as he chased down a variety of late chops, flicks and holds flowing from Delasaux's rackets.
The Yorkshire player's movement did not match his racket skills and Sharpes was rewarded for his willingness to run ... and run, and run. At the end of the match his face was several shades of pink and grey. But he's in the qualifying finals tomorrow. The pain has to be worth it.
Max Lee (Hong Kong) beat Chris Simpson (England) 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 (44 mins)
Max Lee meets Charles Sharpes after powering past Chris Simpson with a sustained spell of high-quality, attacking squash. Lee plays fast, tight, controlled squash and attacks with some ferocity. He mixed soft drops with some stunning volley kills and, as hard as Simpson tried to match him, Lee was usually tighter when it mattered.
After a tight opening game, Lee dominated the second to win 11-1. Simpson fought back from 6-2 down in the third to level at 8-8, but Lee finished with a flourish, slamming a crosscourt nick to book his place in the qualifying finals.
Sunday, qualifying finals:
3pm: Gawad v Temple
4pm: Bianchetti v Mustonen
5pm: Grayson v Karwalski
6pm: Sharpes v Lee.
Welcome to Wimbledon Rackets and Fitness Club for the qualifying competition that leads to four coveted places in the first round of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic on Monday.
As well as a host of rising stars, we have a fascinating Golden Oldies encounter coming up later today featuring Italian Davide Bianchetti and Kent's Silver Fox Ben Ford.
Robbie Temple beat Rory Pennell 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (48 mins)
On the adjacent court, Eddie Charlton was struggling to cope with the skills of young Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad, who won 3-1.
Karim Abdel Gawad beat Eddie Charlton 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 (54 mins)
Davide Bianchetti (Italy) beat Ben Ford (England) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (44 mins)
He looked solid throughout the first two games but Ford looked dangerous at the start of the third. His silky racket skills helped him to open up a 5-2 lead before Bianchetti reeled off four points in a row to lead 6-5. Ford levelled at 6-6 but Bianchetti managed to stay in front to close out the match.
Henrik Mustonen (Finland) beat Adrian Waller (Eng)
6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 (63 mins)
A battle all the way in the fifth. Neck and neck up to 5-5 then Mustonen wins four points in a row to make it 9-5. Two points from Waller then Mustonen reels in two himself to win it after 63 minutes. Mustonen meets Bianchetti tomorrow.
Campbell Grayson (NZ) beat Jonny Harford (England)
13-15, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (67 mins)
Tough second game and another tiebreak, which Grayson wins 12-10. A few untidy mid-court collisions every few rallies. Grayson takes the third 11-7 to lead 2-1. Harford leads 7-5 in the fourth but Grayson finishes strongly to win 11-7.
Matthew Karwalski (Australia) beat Jamie Haycocks (Eng)
11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (30 mins)
Whole match over in 30 minutes here. Karwalski looked very comfortable out there. He attributes his excellent form to spending some time in Manchester, practising with Stewart Boswell. If he gets through tomorrow, against Grayson, I bet he draws Bozza in the first round on Monday!
Charles Sharpes (England) beat Laurence Delasaux (England) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (48 mins)
The Yorkshire player's movement did not match his racket skills and Sharpes was rewarded for his willingness to run ... and run, and run. At the end of the match his face was several shades of pink and grey. But he's in the qualifying finals tomorrow. The pain has to be worth it.
Max Lee (Hong Kong) beat Chris Simpson (England) 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 (44 mins)
After a tight opening game, Lee dominated the second to win 11-1. Simpson fought back from 6-2 down in the third to level at 8-8, but Lee finished with a flourish, slamming a crosscourt nick to book his place in the qualifying finals.
Sunday, qualifying finals:
3pm: Gawad v Temple
4pm: Bianchetti v Mustonen
5pm: Grayson v Karwalski
6pm: Sharpes v Lee.
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