[5] Nick Wall (ENG) 3-2 [4] Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-11, 8-11, 11-7, 15-13, 12-10 (79m)
Some days, I love my job. Some days, I don’t.
I rarely criticise the refs. And in this event, I have done it already twice. And I don’t like it. But when you walk out of a match, and about 10 people come to you and say “this was a disgrace, you need to write about it”, “something has got to be done”, “WSO has got to improve fast”, etc, etc, etc…
As my sponsor said: “that was awful. But now, how do we improve the level of the referees? What can we do to make it better?”
I feel awful, because Nick is going to think that I am not happy he won. That’s not the case AT ALL! I’m just relaying what I saw, felt and it would seem that we are a few feeling the same way.
In my opinion, it was not against any player, but just a not-so-great day for the ref. At times, said the squash fan next to me, it would seem like you were pulling decisions out of a hat. I’m sorry to say, it felt like that at times.
On top of that, as the match went along, after taking the first two games pretty fast, 7 m and 10m for 11/3, 11/8, Curtis seemed to have a bit of a drop in energy. Not surprising to be honest, as his match the night before was fireworks and Co against Tom Walsh, intense till the last shot. Nick was much fresher, bless him, and we could see him getting more relaxed, stopping those tins that seemed to flourish out of his racquet, and get more and more dangerous.
The third is longer, 14m as Curtis cannot finish the rallies as quickly as in the first two games, and it’s his turn now to give points away, 6 in that game, 11/7 to Nick.
The fourth is crucial. I had that feeling that the Curtis WingMan needed to take that one to win the match, as the fact that Nick rested the night before might come and play its part.
Nick takes a good start in that 4th, 3/0, 5/2, but Curtis levels, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7. Nick ahead again, but 9/9 and match ball to Curtis. A no let – we all felt it not to be the correct call, AT ALL. But what do we know.
Nick, digging his heels in, will clinch that incredible 22m game, 15/13 on his 4th attempt.
The contacts between the two players are getting more frequent, they both start to block, more by tiredness than voluntarily I felt, and it’s getting messy. Calls after calls, I’m more and more lost in the line the ref is taking.
4/1, 6/2 for Curtis, but you can feel he is not able to step in front as much as he was at the start. The pace is ridiculous, Nick feels the tiredness of his opponent, and the pace gets even faster.
From 7/4, Curtis is penalised with three strokes in a row, 7/7. Very tough indeed.
8/8. One stroke each, 9/9. A second match ball for Curtis, 10/9. A gigantic rally, Curtis looks like about to play a winner.. but the ball comes back on him. 10/10. And it’s now 11/10, match ball Nick, after an error from Curtis.
A winner from Nick, Curtis just cannot get to it in time. Match to Nick. Never in doubt….
Nick : “I was very frustrated in those first two games, I literally couldn’t keep the ball out of the tin. Curtis is always a tough opponent and I thought he played really well in those first two.
“After those first two I said I’m going to let go of my ego, not worry about my squash and just try and battle it out and not give him six tins a game at least!
“I’ve not played my best squash today but I’m sure it’ll be better tomorrow because it’ll have to be.”
