[2] Will Salter (Eng) 3-1 [1] Bailey Malik (Eng) 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4
Salter wins battle of top seeds to take the title
Two tall players, but with contrasting builds. Salter the stronger more powerful, Malik lithe, explosive and dynamic. The early part of the first game didn’t do much to point to the direction of the winner.
The pace was largely not that fast, but the play was controlled. The difference being the occasional kills, particularly on the forehand from Bailey. At 10-7 to Malik, Salter pulled two points back and then followed the longest rally of the game by far, with Salter squeezing an error out of Malik after what felt like 100 shots. It felt like a big moment, but Malik then hit two winners to take the first.
The second game followed a similar pattern to the first, with most rallies being decided by the racket of Malik – either winner or error. On this occasion the errors won and Salter levelled up the match. 1-1 after 39 minutes.
The third was pretty much all Salter. He just rallies like he wants the rallies to go on all day. Squeezing, moving his opponent without impatience. Subtly changing the angles without leaving himself exposed to attack. He started to bring in his fair share of winners in this game too, and was taking control. Was this a sign of fatigue from Malik be it physical or mental?
It’s very much worth saying that the squash was great to watch. A variety of shots and pace. Defend, attack, straight, cross, drop, drive – you get the picture. It was a really nice advert for the game, played with both players looking to clear and looking to play everything. Some of their peers in the higher echelons could learn a thing or two. Well done both.
Anyway, back to the action. Malik was unable to turn the tide, and game four was much the same as game three, with Malik making too many unforced errors. In truth though they were partly forced by the wall that Salter had put up in front of him. 11-4 in the fourth, in just over an hour.=
A great end to a great tournament.
Steve Townsend | Head Squash Coach
Semis
Will Salter 3-2 Elliot Devred Morris 2-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3
The first semi-final started off as complete one-way traffic, with Morris in total control of the ball, the pace and his opponent. Playing at a medium slow pace he just looked a class apart and it was hard to see a way back for Salter in this match.
You could see from the start of the second game that Salter had come back out and was going to be much more aggressive. In his movement onto the ball, the pace on the ball and the nature of his shots. At first it didn’t seem like it was going to make much difference, but towards the end of the game Salter started to come into it saving a couple of game balls before going down. But you could very much see a way back int it for him now.
The next two games were tightish, but Salter always looked the most likely, with errors coming more frequently now from Morris and he was starting to look a little tired. The rallies were fast, frenetic with lots of play to the front and this was definitely suiting Salter.
Whilst there was no hint of throwing in the towel, there was not much resistance put up in the fifth set and a remarkable comeback was complete. Very much one for the never give up mantra.
Bailey Malik 3-0 Anthony Rogal 11-8, 11-7, 11-4
Malik was seeded to win this, and watching the two players knock up, your eye would tell you the same thing. But Rogal is effective, very effective, and difficult to break down as Matt Gregory had found out to his cost in the quarters the night before, so it was going to be interesting to see if Malik’s shot play would be able to break down the very solid play of his opponent.
It did in the first game. Solid play, mixing the pace and picking his moment to attack, Malik built a big lead, 9-2. A comeback to 9-6 was snuffed out by some good play and the first was taken by Malik 11-8.
The second was tighter most of the way, with occasional Rogal backhand volley drop winners, stunning retrieving (from both players) and errors often unforced from Malik, keeping Rogal in it until 7 a-piece. However, at this point Mailk won 4 quick rallies, with 1 Malik reverse angle boast, being met with another leisure centre from Rogal (an interesting pattern of play) but his was firmly in the middle of the tin.
There was to be no comeback in this match though. Malik coming through the 3rd with some degree of comfort. His brand of varied play and lightening movement into the front was on this occasion at least, good enough to break Rogal down.
