Latest Tournament News - White vs. Abbas

Welcome to the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance - a festival of squash hosted in paradise.

April 2nd 2006

Mohammed Abbas vs. John White

Robert Edwards asks for a professional view from David Palmer. They talk about Australia and the Commonwealth Games - Palmer came away with a silver after losing to Nicol in the final. He says that it is the best he has seen Nicol play in 3 years. Edwards then asks Palmer if he will beat up on Nick Kyme - the Bermuda Wildcard. Palmer tells him that he just wants to try to win. He says that he and Kyme have trained together, and are pretty good friends. Edwards says that Nick has told the press that he fancies this. Palmer responds that Nick is playing well - he played John White in Melbourne and was 7-1 up in the first game. Palmer tells Edwards that he won't take it easy. When asked about White and Abbas, Palmer remarks that they played in Chicago - and it was a very close match. He says that World rankings mean nothing. John has just flown in from New Zealand, but if anyone can play following such a marathon journey, John can.

Game 1

  • Abbas serving.
  • White tins it - 1-0 to Abbas.
  • Good shot from White 1-1
  • A great cut shot after several rallies leaves Abbas serving 2-3
  • A fantastic rally ending in a drop to the front right has White leading 4-2.
  • A ball out of court and a quick rally put it at 4-4, when White cracks a shot so hard it is unrecoverable by Abbas.
  • White moves to 6-4, before Abbas drops 3 times in succession to move to 5-6.
  • 7-5 to White, who then puts a ball down. 6-7 to Abbas.
  • 7-7 following a stroke to Abbas
  • A low cross-court from White takes him to 8-7
  • A hard, low drive down the line on the right from White - 9-7.
  • Game ball to White at 10-7 after Abbas is refused a let - according to march referee, White's shot was too good.
  • Four unbelievable drop shots in a row from both players have the crowd gasping. White gets the better and wins the first game 11-7.

Game 2

  • White serving.
  • Abbas disputes a let call. 0-0
  • Great shot from White but not good enough - 1-0 to Abbas.
  • Acrobatics from Abbas are enough to go to 2-0.
  • Hard shot from White unrecoverable by Abbas - 2-2
  • 3-3 - Abbas playing some great cross-courts and White hitting the tin too often.
  • Abbas goes 4-3 up, but another hard unrecoverable shot from White takes it to 4-4
  • 5-5 - the game is too fast to keep up!
  • Abbas now at 7-5 after mistakes from White
  • Great cut shot into the left front corner from White - 6-7
  • Two let balls, then a long rally where Abbas can't get to the ball quick enough - 7-7
  • Tin shot from Abbas takes White to 8-7 lead.
  • Great shot from Abbas - 8-8.
  • Let given to White after Abbas drop front right.
  • White puts the ball down - 9-8 to Abbas.
  • Some hard hitting down the right hand side, Abbas comes out 10-8 game ball.
  • A behind-the-legs shot from Abbas followed by a fantastic shot just above the tin gives Abbas the second game 11-8.

Game 3

  • Abbas serving.
  • Let ball at 0-0, followed by spectacular shot (overhead crosscourt volley) by White 1-0.
  • Hard hitting rallies follow. White loses a dubious let call - 1-2 to Abbas.
  • 3-1 to White after Abbas skies the ball.
  • Crosscourt into tin from White. Abbas serving 2-3
  • Ball put down by Abbas. 4-2 to White
  • Stroke to Abbas. 3-4. White looking none too happy with referee's calls.
  • Great recovery from a drop by White, followed by a devastating shot down the right. 5-3.
  • Cut shot again from White into front left. Abbas appeals for let - not given. 6-3 to White.
  • Great cut-off from Abbas - 4-6
  • Disguised backhand cross-court from Abbas - 5-6.
  • Another great shot from Abbas, then a stroke takes him to 7-6
  • Ball down from White - Abbas leads 8-6, then quickly moves to 9-6.
  • 7-9 to White after Abbas puts ball down.
  • 10-7 to Abbas after White's attempted drop front right hits the tin
  • 8-10 - great volley from White puts Abbas under pressure.
  • Two quick points from White 10-10 tie-break.
  • Abbas stretches White at back of court. 11-10.
  • Ball put down by Abbas (but close) 11-11
  • White waits for a shot to come off back wall - it dies. 12-11.
  • Abbas finishes off 13-11 to take a 2-1 game lead.

Game 4

  • Abbas serving.
  • White's shot comes out of the front left corner back at him. Stroke to Abbas 1-0.
  • A lot of let balls. 1-1.
  • Abbas disputes stroke call. White leads 2-1. Abbas then tins it for White to go 3-1 up.
  • Great cut-off volley from White leaves Abbas floundering at the back of the court. 4-1.
  • Two more great rallies from White - 6-1.
  • Devastating cross-court from White just above tin, followed by two errors from Abbas. 9-1.
  • 10-1 Game ball to White, easy point and easy game takes it to two games apiece.

Game 5

  • White serving.
  • Long rally at 0-0 followed by let ball. Abbas then makes mistake - 1-0 to White.
  • A great boast from back left corner is unretrievable by Abbas. 2-0 to White.
  • Unbelievable rally. Just too exciting to describe. The ball is in every corner, and there are drops, lobs, cross-courts galore. White eventually wins it. There is a break to clean the court.
  • Mistake from Abbas takes White to 4-0.
  • A big bang! White crashes into the back of Abbas. Both look mortally wounded (!). Let played.
  • Mistake by White takes it to 1-4. Then White takes advantage of a power play to go 5-1 up.
  • 6-1 to White after Abbas puts it out. Several let calls and some hilarity with the judges about proximity of the players to each other.
  • Another fantastic cut-shot into front left corner by White - 7-1.
  • Mistake by White - 2-7.
  • Some acrobatics by Abbas lead to a let. Abbas down 2-8. Ball then put down by White 3-8.
  • Mistakes from both players leave the game at 4-9. White ends up doing the splits trying to recover a great overhead volley from Abbas - unsuccessfully.
  • 5-9. Another great rally with a between-the-legs shot from Abbas and some great reactions from White. Abbas serving 6-9.
  • A great boast from back left by White leaves Abbas struggling again. White capitalises. 10-6 match ball.
  • Two great points in quick succession take Abbas to 8-10.
  • Still match ball to White. He tins an easy shot - 9-10.
  • A tight shot down the line gives White the game 11-9 - a fantastic display of squash by both players.

Post Match Interview

  • Edwards asks White if he has a towel fetish after so many breaks - White says he just needs the rest!
  • White comments on Abbas - 'he has shots and fitness'.
  • White then talks about Shabana - his opponent in the next round after a rest day. He says 'Shabana is a great ambassador for the game on and off the court. I expect a tough match and am looking forward to my day of rest'.

Our Summary
A fascinating display and a real gem of a match for the spectators. Abbas had a great range of shots and superb athleticism. White triumphed ultimately because of his racquet skills - but he was run close. He will need that day of rest before his next match.

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