Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday: Day One as it happened

The first match is under way on the Eventis McWil glass court featuring Stewart Boswell and Henrik Mustonen.

History will be made when the first one makes an appeal to the TMO (Television Match Official). However, knowing how fair these two players are, it wouldn't surprise me if there were no reviews at all!

The identity of the TMO is a closely guarded secret. He (or is it she?) is already being called The Stig in the Referees' Room.

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I wished I'd put a bet on that! No reviews requested during the whole match as Stewart Boswell eased home in just 22 minutes, almost certainly the quickest match in the tournament's history.

Bozza was very sharp and businesslike but Mustonen clearly looked uncomfortable on the glass court as he sprayed shots all over the place. Boswell won 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 and is first man into the quarter-finals.

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Two left-handers on court now with Robbie Temple keen to impress against No.4 seed Peter Barker.

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Just when you thought things were going smoothly, we suffered a delay when the court lights tripped with Barker leading by two games to love and 6-3 in the third game.

When the players returned to court, there was another stoppage when Robbie Temple left court to deal with his second nosebleed in three days.

He came back on to continue a valiant fight, playing some excellent squash and hitting several winners, before the more experienced Barker closed out the match in straight games.

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Earlier Barker had made history by becoming the first player to use the video review system. Not only dfid that decision go against him, but so did every one that followed. No wonder he left the court to say "Can you ask Robbie's Mum and Dad to stop reffing."





Later he offered a more qualified view of the new PSA initiative, saying: "This is long overdue. Other sports are using the technology and making it part of the show and it's time we caught up. It needs to be speeded up a bit but it is definitely a step in the right direction for the sport."

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British Under-19 champion Charles Sharpes has been walking round with a big smile on his face all day, looking forward to the opportunity of getting on court against James Willstrop.

Now the smiles must stop and it's time for business. Let's hope he gets some vocal support from the Wimbledon Massive who are in tonight.

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Great effort by Charles despite the 3-0 scoreline. He certainly warmed to his task as the match progressed and earned some richly deserved applause for a succession of winners, especially in a close second game.

James was happy to bury some straight kills in the front right nick whenever the opportunity presented itself and he was very generous in his praise of his opponent after the match.

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Last match on: Joey Barrington v Matthew Karwalski. Matthew has been training with Stewart Boswell for the last few weeks and is keen to put on a good show.

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Barrington won the first game but Karwalski used the TV review system to good effect when he was game ball down at 10-9 in the second.

He was given a let but upon appeal the decision was overturned to give him a stroke to make it 10-10. He then struck a lucky nick in the back left corner to lead 11-10 and Barrington chopped a ball into the tin to make the match level at one game all.

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Karwalski led 7-5 in the third after some tight drop shots but Barrington tightened up to win the game 11-8.

Karwalski earned a generous round of applause after calling a ball down in the middle of the game but Barrington reverted to commentator mode and gave the referees a long, rambling lecture for not spotting it themselves!

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Karwalski roared out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth and kept in front all the way as Barrington made a belated response, the Australian winning it 11-6 to take the match to five.
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Barringtgon finished strongly, winning 11-4 to book a quarter-final clash with Willstrop.

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