Latest Tournament News - Nick Matthew vs. Mohammed Azlan Iskandar

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

April 4th 2006

In the pre-match warm-up, Robert Edwards talks about the two opponents. He brings on Lee Beachill for a chat. He asks Lee about Nick Matthew - Lee says that he is physically very strong, and his results have proven that. He is now in the top 8, and he will be looking to prove himself this week. Edwards asks Beachill about the English team - Beachill says that they have a great team, they have grown up together, they support each other until they play each other - the it's dog eat dog. Edwards asks if they are looking forward to partying at the end of the week - Beachill says absolutely, especially Peter Nicol. A comment about Iskandar - Beachill says he has had some great results, wants to get to the top, and he is a very tough opponent. He is very hungry - if he wins tonight it will be the best result of his career.

Nick Matthew vs. Mohammed Azlan Iskandar

Game 1

  • Iskandar serving.
  • Iskandar hits the ball down. 1-0.
  • A great second rally. Hard, fast squash - until a let call.
  • Matthew puts it into the nick at the back right. 2-0.
  • Matthew hits the tin trying to drop front right. 1-2.
  • Fantastic short boast from Matthew. Disputed by Iskandar, but ref confirms ball was good. 3-1.
  • Another hard-striking rally - both players have great form. Matthew wins rally with a great boast. 4-1.
  • Iskandar serving 2-4 as Matthew plays the ball down.
  • A drop from Matthew front right is too good. 5-2.
  • Matthew breaks a string and retrieves a new racquet. He is serving from the right.
  • A marathon rally ends in a let call. A rally focused in the left corner ends with Iskandar playing the ball down attempting a volley. 6-2.
  • Iskandar tins the ball. 7-2 to Matthew.
  • Iskandar plays the ball high and out down the left. Matthew leads 8-2.
  • Great pressure play from the T by Matthew results in an unreachable cross-court. 9-2.
  • Fantastic recovery from Matthew takes score to 10-2 game ball.
  • Cross-court from Matthew goes out. 3-10.
  • Iskandar tins a ball front left. Matthew takes the first game 11-3.

Game 2

  • Matthew serving.
  • Great play from both players - multiple drops, Iskandar making his count. 1-0.
  • Iskandar then plays the ball down. 1-1.
  • Ping-pong style reactions early on, then Matthew tins it. 2-1.
  • Iskandar plays great pressure, then cannot dig ball out of back left. 2-2.
  • Ball played out by Iskandar. 3-2 to Matthew.
  • Great touch from Matthew wins rally. 4-2.
  • Cagey rally early on, then speeds up. Iskandar denied let call. 5-2 to Matthew.
  • Superb disguise on a drop front right from Matthew leaves Iskandar nowhere. 6-2.
  • Volley drop from Iskandar is too good. 3-6.
  • Quick point from matthew moves him to 7-3.
  • Drop, drop drive routine from Iskandar is too good for Matthew. 4-7.
  • Some hard strikes, lots of cross-courts, then a tight drop from Iskandar front right wins the rally. 5-7.
  • Iskandar errors on drop into front right corner. 8-5 to Matthew.
  • Iskandar plays ball back to himself. Stroke to Matthew 9-5. Then Iskandar plays ball down. 10-5.
  • Another shot played down by Iskandar. Matthew wins game 11-5. He is now 2-0 up in the match.

Game 3

  • Matthew serving
  • Great reaction shot on a volley from Matthew - 1-0.
  • Iskandar attempts a cross-court volley from the left - unsuccesfully. 2-0.
  • Another two rallies where the ball is played down by Iskandar. 4-0.
  • Iskandar plays the ball out under pressure. 5-0.
  • Great pickup from Matthew down the right into the front corner. 6-0.
  • Another winner from Matthew. 7-0.
  • Matthew struggles to retrieve a drop front right. 1-7.
  • Great disguise on a cross-court from Matthew takes him to 8-1.
  • A reaction volley takes Matthew to 9-1.
  • Iskandar plays the ball down. Now 10-1 match ball.
  • Matthew plays ball out of court on an attempted volley. 2-10.
  • Easy cross-court from Matthew wins the game 11-2 and the match 3-0.

Our Summary
Matthew was just far too strong for Iskandar. His volley game put the Malaysian under pressure in many rallies, and forced Iskandar into a lot of mistakes, especially in the final game. A convincing and confident win from Matthew.

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