Latest Tournament News - Amr Shabana vs. Thierry Lincou

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

April 7th 2006

Amr Shabana vs. Thierry Lincou

Prior to the match Robert Edwards presents 2 Bermudian players who will be playing an exhibition match. Chris Dawson and Steven Smith. These were part of the 1992 Bermuda World Junior team who travelled to Hong Kong. The coach for that team was a friend of Edwards - Julian Rose. Nick Kyme, Bermuda number one, also joins them. Julian says that they came up with the idea, and they managed to raise sufficient funds through raffles to make the three-week trip to Hong Kong. Julian moved here in 1991. When asked about the camaraderie that exists on the tour, Julian says that there are actually 6 players playing in this tournament who played in the World Juniors in 1992. The exhibition game takes place and Steven Smith wins 11-4.

Edwards introduces the first match - this is a semi-final match between a Frenchman and an Egyptian. Both have had great achievements in their countries. In any tournament this would make a worthy final. Edwards introduces 'D'Artagnan' - Thierry Lincou to rapturous applause from the crowd. He then introduces the double world champion and 'The Prince of Cairo' - Amr Shabana - current world number one, world champion and number one seed.

Edwards then asks the crowd to give everything they have got to support the two players. The semi-final match then begins...

Game 1

  • Lincou serving
  • Lincou tins an easy shot down the left. 1-0.
  • Shabana plays a deceptive mini-boast winner. 2-0.
  • Shabana then tins the ball. 1-2. A nervous start.
  • Another tinned ball from Shabana. 2-2.
  • Shabana misses a volley down the right hand side. 3-2.
  • A superb drop fro Lincou in the left takes him to 4-2. Then another tinned shot. 5-2 Lincou.
  • A better rally, much more consistent, with some tight balls down the right. Shabana then plays the ball down. 6-2 to Lincou.
  • So far it has been a case of too many mistakes from Shabana.
  • Lincou tins a boast from the back left. 3-6.
  • A great mini-boast at the front right from Shabana fools Lincou. 4-6.
  • Shabana plays the ball down. 7-4.
  • A cagey rally, again a lot of focus down the right. A sequence of drops ends witha winner from Shabana. 5-7. Crowd applaud.
  • Shabana under pressure early on, with Lincou controlling the tee. Then a let play.
  • More tight shots down the right, then Shabana tins a shot. 8-5.
  • Stroke awarded to Lincou when drop shot from Shabana pops out of the front right. 9-5.
  • Two let plays. A third draws gasps from the crowd as it looked like a stroke for Shabana.
  • Return of service from Shabana too good. 6-9.
  • Shabana tins an overhead volley into the front left. 10-6 game ball for Lincou.
  • A fantastic cross-court drop from Shabana is too good for Lincou. 7-10.
  • Shabana then tins it. Lincou takes the first game 11-7.
  • Shabana making too many shots into the tin in the first match.

Game 2

  • Lincou serving.
  • A great early recovery from Shabana, the Lincou denied a let. 1-0 to Shabana.
  • A fantastic drop from Shabana is a winner front left. 2-0.
  • Another drop from Shabana from the back right hits the nick. 3-0.
  • Shabana disputes a let call, believing that Lincou's ball was down. He then plays a winning boast to go 4-0 up.
  • Shabana then awarded a stroke. 5-0.
  • A rally with great shots from both players ends with a deep shot from Shabana being too good for Lincou to retrieve. 6-0.
  • Shabana plays the ball down 1-6. His first mistake this game.
  • Lincou controls the rally from the tee then plays a cross-court volley-drop. 2-6.
  • Shabana goes for a winner and tins it. 3-6.
  • Lincou overcooks a shot to the back right and it goes out of court. 7-3 Shabana.
  • Slower rally, then speeds up with the crowd really starting to appreciate the shot-making and reactions of both players. The rally ends in a let play.
  • Lincou plays superb drop to front left. 4-7. He then plays a ball into the nick front right. 5-7.
  • Lincou caught in no-mans land and Shabana capitalises. 8-5.
  • Lincou denied a let when Shabana plays a drop to the front right. Referee says it was a winning shot. 9-5 Shabana.
  • Several let plays. Lincou not looking happy with some of the calls.
  • Shabana plays a great recovery round the walls but Lincou drops a winner at the front. 6-9.
  • Shabana plays a drop front left which is too good. 10-6 game ball.
  • Shabana then tins two shots in a row. 8-10.
  • Lincou is denied a let call down the right side. Shabana wins game 11-8.
  • Much better play from Shabana this game. Lincou looking frustrated at times.

Game 3

  • Shabana serving.
  • Shabana frustrated with two calls. He tells the match referee 'You owe me two points'.
  • A great drop from Shabana front left. 1-0.
  • Lincou then has Shabana under pressure at the back, and he tins a boast. 1-1.
  • Lincou awarded a stroke. 2-1.
  • Shabana plays a ball out down the right side. 3-1.
  • A nice recovery from Shabana, then Lincou plays ball out. 2-3.
  • Hard-hitting rally initially, then slows down. Attempted drop from Lincou goes down. 3-3.
  • Winner from Shabana. 4-3.
  • Another ball played down by Lincou. 5-3 to Shabana.
  • Lincou plays ball down at the end of a great rally. 6-3.
  • Yet another ball down from Lincou. 7-3. Then a great length shot down the left from Shabana is too good. 8-3.
  • Lincou plays a drop front left which is just too good. 4-8.
  • Another mistake from Lincou. 9-4 Shabana.
  • Winning drop from Shabana. 10-4 game ball.
  • Lincou plays a great disguised drop to the front right. 5-10.
  • Another point for Lincou moves him to 6-10.
  • Winner off Lincou's serve from Shabana. He wins game 11-6. He now leads two games to one.

Game 4

  • Shabana serving.
  • Good early rally sees Lincou tin an attempted drop front left. 1-0 Shabana.
  • Good pickup boast from Lincou from the back right, but Shabana plays a winning drop front left. 2-0.
  • Hard-hitting rally ends with Lincou playing ball down. 3-0.
  • Lincou awarded stroke. 1-3.
  • Shabana plays ball out of court down the left. 2-3.
  • Winner off service from Shabana. 4-2.
  • Ferocious rally, ends with Shabana playing another ball out. 3-4.
  • Shabana plays ball down. 4-4.
  • A great disguised rally from Shabana. 5-4.
  • A sequence of 3 drops sees Lincou fail to pick the last one up. 6-4 to Shabana.
  • Cagey rally sees Shabana awarded a stroke. 7-4.
  • Shabana plays ball down. 5-7.
  • Winner from Lincou has Shabana on the deck. 6-7.
  • Lincou fails to capitalise on a controlling volley front right and tins it. 8-6 Shabana.
  • Lincou plays crucial drop shot down. 9-6 Shabana.
  • A superb rally has the crowd cheering. Athleticism and skill galore. Lincou edges it with a length shot to the back right. 7-9.
  • Lincou frustrated two let calls. He is serving 7-9.
  • Lincou fails to pick up superlative boast from Shabana. 10-7 match ball.
  • Lincou drops front right and Shabana goes for a winner - he plays it down. 8-10.
  • Hard-hitting rally - Shabana tins an attempted drop front left. 9-10.
  • Disputed call when Lincou calls let after playing shot. Let called.
  • Another let call from Lincou - this time denied. Shabana wins 11-9.

Post Match Interview
Edwards asks Shabana to come up. Rapturous applause from the crowd. First a comment about his opponent - Shabana must be delighted. Shabana says that every time he beats him it is a special game. Shabana now has to play the winner of Gaultier and Nicol. Who would he like to play? The one who is most tired !

Our Summary
A great match marred only by too many mistakes from both players in the first two games. The level then picked up and the last game was breathtaking in its skill and passion. Shabana showed great determination in coming through and making it to the final.

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