Thu 22nd, Day Eight : finals day at Frans Otten
QUARTER-FINAL ONWARDS COLLATED RESULTS
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Finals Day : Davenport and Manley make history with record-breaking World Masters wins
Australia’s Geoff Davenport and England’s Ann Manley became the most decorated World Masters players of all time in front of packed crowds at the Frans Otten Stadion.
Those victories weren’t the only to tumble this week in Amsterdam, with this year’s championships setting a participation record after 1070 players took part. Top seed Davenport set a new all-time record by claiming a seventh world championship title, winning the 65+ final 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 against South Africa’s Pierr Roodt. “I was so nervous this morning, the most nervous I’ve ever been,” said 66-year-old Davenport. “I wanted to win for all the kids I coach back home in Sydney because they’ve been so excited. The record might not last long, but it’s nice to be the first to hold the record outright.”
Meanwhile, 75+ defending champion Manley set a new women’s landmark with her sixth World Masters crown. She had beaten Australia’s Margaret Hunt-Kemp in each of the last three tournaments and once again came out on top in Amsterdam in straight games.
“Myself and Margaret first met in 1996 when we had an England over-40s tour to South Africa,” revealed Manley. “We know each other’s games very well but that didn’t seem to help today! She’s very tricky and it was hard work, but I’m thrilled. Hopefully my body will hold up and I can defend the title in two years.”
The Dutch crowd was denied an Anjema family double as father Robert Jan was defeated in four games by Finland’s Kale Leskinen in the 70+ final. Son Laurens-Jan, the former World No.9, cushioned the blow by winning a lengthy 40+ final 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 against compatriot Piedro Schweertman.
“It started out as a bit of a joke, me and my father playing this tournament together, but the night before the final you suddenly realise ‘Wow, I could become world champion tomorrow!'” said Laurens-Jan. “In 2018 [when he won the 35+ trophy in Charlottesville] it was a nice surprise, but this time there was more pressure.”
Mexico’s unseeded Marcos Mendez has been the surprise package of the tournament and completed his dream run with yet another comprehensive victory, with his 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 win over Nicholas Staunton meaning he won the 50+ championship without dropping a single game across his seven matches.
Mendez coaches World No.21 Leonel Cardenas back home and has a background in American hardball squash. He revealed: “When I converted to soft ball squash 20 years ago, I started from zero. I now know a lot more about this game and this was a dream for me to demonstrate to myself that I could do it.”
Former PSA world top 20 players Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana and Samantha Teran of Mexico were reunited in the women’s 40+ final on the glass court, with top seed Fernandes winning it 11-6, 11-4, 12-10. Two more former pros, South Africa’s Lizelle Muller and England’s Lauren Kinsey-Briggs, took the women’s 35+ and 45+ titles respectively. Kinsey-Briggs, who defeated Singapore’s Joannah Yue in three games, said: “I love this game and I really realise how much I love it when I stop. The enjoyment I have for it is immense. It’s so inspiring being here.”
Former World No.32 Peter Hill of Singapore showcased his legendary box of tricks in a 12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-1 victory over Ireland’s four-time World Masters winner Willie Hosey. Hill said: “When I signed up to play here, I said to myself, ‘I’m coming to win.’ There’s a lot at stake and I’m so glad I pushed through.”
Swede Christian Drakenberg couldn’t contain his emotions after his straight-games 45+ victory over England’s James Bowden. The seven-time national champion is still representing Sweden in European and World Team Championships and now has two World Masters trophies.
He said: “People don’t often see my emotions because I’m quite calm, but there is lots going on inside. I’ve been playing all my life. Of course I love my wife and kids, but squash is my life. I just love being here and I will be coming back as long as I can. The guys here in their 80s are my heroes. I can hopefully be like them in a few years!”
There were emotions aplenty too from 65+ women’s champion Mary Sceney as she was engulfed by her Irish supporters after beating Wales’ Jill Campion 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. Three-time winner Sceney revealed: “This is probably my swansong in the Masters, so I really wanted to win this one.”
Karen Meakins of Barbados defended her 50+ title by overcoming South Africa’s Linda Shannon in straight games, and Australia’s Susan Hillier won her third World Masters with 60+ victory over Scotland’s Sue Strachan. Another Scot, Pauline Douglas, was competing in her eighth World Masters and got a third title win by beating Aussie Gaye Mitchell 11-4, 16-14, 11-9. Canada’s Lauren Wagner won a North American duel with USA’s Hope Prockop 11-5, 11-9, 12-10.
Two Canadians lined up in the final of the oldest age category, the men’s 80+. Second seed Gerald Poulton beat old friend Howard Armitage 14-12, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6. “It’s a wonderful friendship,” said Poulton. “I must have been to upwards of 20 World Masters and World Masters Games etc and I love meeting the same people and new people. It’s what squash is all about.”
Belgian hopes disappeared when men’s 55+ finalist Gilles Roger sustained a nasty Achilles injury, having won the first game 11-2 against German Predi Fritsche.
The night’s final match was a cracker, with home favourite Omar Abdel Meguid of Egypt, who coaches at the Frans Otten Stadion and captains their Eredivisie team, outlasting Ireland’s Arthur Gaskin in the men’s 35+ final 17-15, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6.
There were 15 different nationalities amongst the 19 title winners in Amsterdam, with 1070 competitors taking part, breaking the record of 951 set at the 2016 World Masters in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Day SEVEN : Home hero Meguid topples top seed Snell as finalists are decided
Egypt’s Omar Abdel Meguid was fuelled by the support of his home crowd as he toppled top seed James Snell of England in the men’s 35+ semi-finals in Amsterdam. [3/4] seed and former World No.25 Meguid coaches at the hugely impressive 21-court Frans Otten Stadion and is captain of the club’s Eredivisie team. Roared on by a packed crowd, the Egyptian seized the initiative against top seed Snell and never relented, taking down the Englishman 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 on the all-glass court.
“This is my home court, I’m very comfortable on there and found a few nice angles that I was very pleased with,” said Meguid. “I am used to the vibe and atmosphere here. The Koopman family [who run the Frans Otten Stadion] are so supportive to the members, so winning in front of them is the main goal tomorrow.”
That win sets up a 35+ final on Thursday against US-based Irish [3/4] seed Arthur Gaskin, who knocked out second seed Christo Potgieter of South Africa in straight games. Gaskin was in reflective mood afterwards: “I loved playing on tour and I would do it all over again if I could, but it was stressful. What I’ve learned here this week is what a privilege it is just to be able to play, it doesn’t matter what level that you’re playing at. It’s just so fun. Seeing the players in their 70s and 80s is totally inspiring.”
The Dutch crowd was delighted to see Laurens-Jan and father Robert Jan Anjema reach the 40+ and 70+ finals respectively. Robert Jan, the 12-time Netherlands champion, said: “It’s not a disaster if we lose, it’s just great fun. But it would be good for Dutch squash to have two world champions here in Holland.” Anjema Snr will face Kale Leskinen in the 70+ final after the Finn fought back to record a fabulous 7-11, 9-11, 11-4, 14-12, 13-11 victory over South Africa’s formidable top seed Johnny Orsmond.
Elsewhere unseeded Mexican Marcos Mendez made it through to the men’s 50+ final and is yet to drop a game. The former World No.154 took care of England’s 5/8 seed Paul Boyle 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 and next faces Ireland’s Nick Staunton, who had to dig very deep to get past South Africa’s second seed Zuko Kubikeli 11-7, 2-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-8 in their semi.
England’s Barry Featherstone ended Brian Cook’s bid for a record seventh men’s World Masters crown by conquering the Aussie 11-8 9-11 6-11 11-8 11-7 in the 75+ semi-final. Cook, the left-hander from Queensland, won his first trophy at this event back in 1995, but was denied this year by Featherstone, who avenged his defeat at the same stage in Wroclaw two years ago.
“I was well aware of Cook’s record because Brian keeps telling me about it!” laughed Featherstone. “The match was nip and tuck and when I got into a winning position in the fifth, I was panicking! ‘Don’t lose it, don’t lose it, don’t lose it!’ But now it’s come true, it’s a marvellous feeling.”
Featherstone now faces fellow Englishman Larry Grover in Thursday’s final after the [3/4] seed’s 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 victory over Scotland’s second seed Ian Ross.
Cook’s defeat leaves an opportunity for Geoff Davenport – who also has six Masters titles to his name – to become the outright record holder. Sydney-based Davenport beat George Kousseff in straight games in his 65+ semi-final and must now beat second seed and three-time winner Pierr Roodt from South Africa to achieve Masters immortality.
In the women’s events all nine top seeds will contest the finals, with five of those facing the second seed.
Ann Manley will hold the outright record for most women’s Masters titles with six if she beats Margaret Hunt-Kemp in Thursday’s 75+ final. England’s Manley, 78, beat Australia’s Marilyn Kennedy in four games in today’s semi-final, with South Africa’s Hunt-Kemp overcoming France’s Claire Bryars in three.
Manley, who has not lost a World Masters match since 2016, said: “I’m just lucky my body is still holding together and I can run about a bit. I would be very chuffed to win again tomorrow. I just want to keep playing to a reasonable standard. I fear that may not be the case soon, but I shall keep trying!”
Top seed Susan Hillier of Australia will play Scotland’s Sue Strachan in the women’s 60+ final on Thursday. “Geez, she’s a runner and a fighter!” said Hillier after her 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 win over Canada’s Julie Multamaki. Hillier won her first World Masters on her debut in Hong Kong in 2014. “I had a mid-life crisis at 50 and thought, ‘I’ll try Masters!'” she recalled. She then won the 55+ title in Charlottesville in 2018 and stands on the verge of a third tomorrow. The 61-year-old added: “I just love it here. You meet so many people and it’s a chance to see different parts of the world.”
The top two seeds will contest the men’s 60+ final as Ireland’s top seed Willie Hosey and Singapore’s stylish Peter Hill won their semis in contrasting fashion. Hill beat Australia’s Peter Gilbee in three whereas Hosey had to mentally recover from losing a 2-0 lead against England’s Eamonn Price to dig in and win the final game 11-3.
Day SIX : Birthday wins move Cook and Ross to cusp of third consecutive World Masters title bout
Top seeds Brian Cook and Ian Ross both celebrated their 77th birthdays in style with victories on day six of the WSF World Masters Championships in Amsterdam to remain on a collision course for a potentially record-breaking final on Thursday.
Australia’s Cook had to dig deep today as he came back from a game down to secure a 9-11, 11-2, 15-13, 11-5 quarter-final win over Scotland’s Alex Sinclair on the Frans Otten Stadion’s all-glass court to set up a last four clash with English 3/4 seed Barry Featherstone. At the opposite end of the men’s 75+ draw, fellow birthday boy Ross, from Scotland, will face English 3/4 seed Larry Grover in the semis after defeating Spain’s Jose Luis Alba in straight games.
Cook and Ross contested the finals of the 70+ event in 2018 in Charlottesville, USA and the 75+ event two years ago in Wroclaw, Poland, where they both turned 75 on the opening day of the tournament. Cook remembered: “I went to brag to Ian in the changing room [about moving into the 75+ bracket] and he said, ‘Me too!'” Ian added: “We got out our mobile phones and showed each other the congratulations videos from our kids!”
Victory in Amsterdam would see Cook win a record seventh World Masters title – but his compatriot Geoff Davenport can also match that total by winning the men’s 65+ championship. Sydney-based Davenport took another step towards that ambition with a 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 quarter-final victory over England’s Dermot Hurford, which the top seed described as “bloody hard work.”
In the women’s 55+ draw, USA’s [3/4] seed Hope Prockop won a high-quality semi-final 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 against Australian #.2 Sue Davis, the niece of former tennis World #1 Rod Laver.
Boston-based Prockop has finished fifth, fourth and third in her last three World Masters campaigns: Edmonton (2005), Johannesburg (2016) and Charlottesville (2018). She’s now guaranteed at least second place and faces Canada’s top seed Lauren Wagner, who beat Australia’s Sarah Nelson, in Thursday’s final. “I’m absolutely thrilled to come through,” said Prockop. “Winning a World Masters has of course always been a goal of mine and I’m ready to give it everything I have!”
Chasing an all-time women’s record of six titles is England’s Ann Manley, who completed a clean sweep of three victories in 75+ Group A to set up a semi-final against Australia’s Marilyn Kennedy on Wednesday.
Ireland’s Mary Sceney is aiming to maintain her 100 percent World Masters record having taken the trophy home in her only two previous appearances in 2001 in Melbourne and 2014 in Hong Kong. “I’m very rusty this time around but I’m doing my best,” said the women’s 65+ top seed after a 11-6, 11-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3 marathon against South Africa’s Shirley Whitmore. “Thank goodness for my band of Irish supporters. The fun, camaraderie and team spirit is what it’s all about.”
Pauline Douglas, the 70+ women’s top seed, playing in her eighth World Masters, also complained of rustiness despite her straight-games victory over fellow Scot Maureen Carroll on the show court. Douglas injured her Achilles at the British Open Masters in June and recently spent a week training in Johannesburg with six-time World Masters champion Craig van der Wath (who has had to watch Cook and Davenport equal his record in the last two editions of the tournament having been out with a serious injury since 2016).
Ireland’s Willie Hosey, who has four titles, beat Sweden’s Jonas Ulvsback 14-12, 11-13, 11-5, 11-9 to set up a men’s 60+ semi-final against England’s Eamonn Price. Singapore legend and second seed Peter Hill faces Australian Peter Gilbee in the other semi.
Mexico’s former World #11 Samantha Teran won a blockbusting women’s 40+ semi-final with fellow ex-pro Siyoli Waters in four games. Teran faces top seed Nicolette Fernandes in what will be a sizzling final on Thursday. Meanwhile, both Lauren-Jans Anjema (men’s 40+) and his father Robert Jan (70+) remain on course for what would be a popular Dutch double as both reached their respective semi-finals.
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Day Five : Fernandes ‘back in love with squash’
Nicolette Fernandes says reuniting with fellow ex-pros Siyoli Waters and Samantha Teran at the WSF World Masters Championships in Amsterdam gave her “a bit of dread and fear” as well as tingles of excitement.
Fernandes, the former World #19 from Guyana who retired from the PSA Tour in 2016, is top seed in a high-calibre women’s 40+ draw at the Frans Otten Stadion.
The 41-year-old won her quarter-final 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 against Milja Dorenbos of the Netherlands on Monday and next faces South Africa’s Karen Blom, while the other semi-final is a blockbuster between South Africa’s former World No.28 Waters and Mexico’s ex-World #11 Teran.
“I have to admit, when I saw the player list it did drive a little bit of dread and fear into me!” said Fernandes. “I was like, ‘Oh no, we’re gonna do this again!’ But they are two of the ladies I considered my friends when I was on tour, so to play them again is just a treat for me.”
Another ex-pro showcasing their skills in Amsterdam is local favourite and former World No.9 Laurens-Jan Anjema. The men’s 40+ top seed beat Germany’s Heiko Schwarzer 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5 in round three today – and his father, Robert Jan, plays England’s Stuart Hardy in the 70+ quarter-finals tomorrow.
“It would be hilarious if we both win!” said Laurens-Jan. “But really it’s just about participating together as a family. My grandfather brought my dad to the squash court when he was five years old, then my dad brought me. Squash is in our DNA. Just doing this together, coaching each other but neither of us listening to each other, is great fun!”
Another former pro, Lizelle Muller, is top seed in the women’s 35+ and toppled Germany’s Sandra Zakowski 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 in the quarter-finals. “It would be wonderful to have the title of World Masters champion against my name – it would mean the world to me,” said the 2021 South African national champion. “This is my first World Masters, but I’m definitely going to do it every time now.”
Karen Meakins, top seed and defending champion in the women’s 50+, beat England’s Sarah Parr 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 in a repeat of their semi-final in Wroclaw. This is the Barbadian’s seventh successive World Masters, and she said: “My goal is to play in every single age group! I just love this tournament.”
Day five saw the first defeat for a top seed in the tournament as Canada’s Andrew Lynn [17/32] downed England’s Gavin Roger-Lund by a marathon 11-8, 12-14, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6 scoreline in the men’s 55+.
Elsewhere, Geoff Davenport of Australia beat South Africa’s Stan Voges 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 in the men’s 65+ quarter-finals to remain on course for a record seventh World Masters title. Fellow Aussie Brian Cook, who also has six titles, plays Scotland’s Alex Sinclair in the men’s 75+ quarters tomorrow – on what will be Cook’s 77th birthday.
Cook’s wife, Margaret Hunt-Kemp, lost to England’s Ann Manley 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 in 75+ Group A. That victory means Manley remains on course for an all-time record sixth women’s World Masters trophy.
Day Four : Ohlsson impresses just weeks after surgery
Mariza Ohlsson of Slovenia, the oldest woman playing in the 2024 WSF World Masters Championships, epitomised the indomitable spirit of age-group squash on day four at the Frans Otten Stadion.
The 81-year-old had surgery to remove a tumour in her ovary only three weeks ago, but bravely stuck with her plans to travel from her home in Seattle, USA, to Amsterdam to take part in the women’s 75+ competition.
Having finished third in the 2018 World Masters 75+ competition in Charlottesville and fourth in Wroclaw in 2022, Ohlsson couldn’t resist another crack at the title despite recent personal adversity.
She said: “I originally decided to play the tournament and then have the surgery, but I was in so much pain that I couldn’t wait, so I decided to have the operation first and see how I felt. Obviously, I feel OK as I’m here. I’m perhaps not at my full capacity, but at least I’m here!”
Ohlsson, a 5/8 seed, lost 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 to Australia’s Margaret Hunt-Kemp on Sunday but has two more matches left in women’s 75+ Group A on Monday and Tuesday.
Ohlsson was born in Slovenia then emigrated with her mother to the USA. She now plays at Seattle Athletic Club and at Squash Land in Ljubijana (the world’s only wooden squash club) when she returns to her homeland.
“Only three weeks ago I was on the operating table, but the tumour is out now so I’m extremely happy to be out here playing,” she said. “I started playing squash in my late 30s and have loved the game ever since. I’ve made wonderful lifetime friends.”
Elsewhere in Sunday’s action, the top seeds across all 19 draws remain undefeated on court, including South Africa’s men’s 70+ No.1 seed Johnny Orsmond, who came from behind to beat Canada’s Rashid Aziz in a tight 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 affair on the glass showcourt.
Playing in his seventh World Masters, the 70-year-old was roared on by the huge Springbok contingent that has travelled to the Dutch capital.
“I haven’t played for six years so it’s quite a lot of pressure to come in as top seed,” said Orsmond, who resumed playing only three months ago after a serious knee injury. I think if it wasn’t for them [his friends in Pretoria and the South Africa supporters] I wouldn’t have come back.”
Lauren Wagner, the women’s 55+ top seed from Canada, also got off to a winning start by beating Germany’s 17/32 seed Stoerte Becker 11-7, 11-3, 11-1, showcasing powerful ground strokes and graceful movement.
Wagner won the 2018 50+ women’s World title in Charlottesville as an unknown non-seed, having just returned to the game from a 12-year hiatus after having children. She didn’t compete in 2022 in Wroclaw but is determined to win a second World Masters title.
“I feel way more pressure compared to my last Worlds, where nobody knew me,” she said. “I’m pretty strong mentally, but obviously everybody wants to beat me now! I’ve always been pretty fit and I’ve been playing three times a week and following a squash-specific training regime, as well as biking and trail running.”
Brian Cook’s bid for Masters squash history remains on track after the Australian’s 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 win over England’s Michael Hoy in the men’s 75+. Scotland’s Alex Sinclair [5/8] is Cook’s quarter-final obstacle en route to a potential record-breaking seventh World Masters title. Geoff Davenport, the other active player on five titles, had a rest day today but faces South Africa’s Stan Voges in the men’s 65+ fourth round on Monday.
Day THREE : Manley and Cook keep historic title bids alive
England’s Ann Manley got her bid for a record sixth WSF World Masters Championship women’s title off to a winning start on Saturday – but was unaware of being on the cusp of squash greatness.
Most of the events are down to the Last 16 stage – we’ll list the quarter-finalists once decided
Manley, 78, sits level with compatriot Averil Murphy and Ireland’s Barbara Sanderson on five career World Masters trophies – and as she remains the only active player of the trio, another title this week in Amsterdam would see her make squash history. Top seed Manley beat Sweden’s Margaretha Borgvall 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 in her opening match in women’s 75+ Group A, but was “amazed” to be told about her place in the roll of honour.
“I’ve missed one or two over the years, but I really enjoy seeing the same people and hopefully seeing a bit of each city,” said the Bristol-based player. Manley met her husband through squash and has taught her daughters and granddaughters to play. “I just like the energy, the running about and hitting the ball. I’ve met nearly all my friends through the game.”
Brian Cook of Australia is also on the verge of Masters squash immortality, sitting as he does alongside compatriot Geoff Davenport and South Africa’s Craig van der Wath on a joint-record six World titles. Cook beat USA’s Daniel Souza 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 in the men’s 80+ first round on Saturday, while Davenport beat Canada’s Friedrich Scheuch 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 in the 65+ second round. Cook said: “The 80+ final is before the 65+ final on Thursday, so even if me and Geoff both win, I’ll reach seven first!”
Cook hasn’t lost at the World Masters since 2016 and says he is unbeaten in the Australian Masters since 2009. The 76-year-old admitted to contemplating not coming to Amsterdam “for all of two seconds,” but added: “Once I’m here, I’ll play forever!”
Day three saw South Africa’s Robin Kemp suffer a 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 defeat in the men’s 80+ first round against England’s David Fisher. At 84 years, eight months and nine days old, Kemp is the oldest player in the entire tournament, as he was in the edition in Wroclaw.
“If the 2020 event hadn’t been postponed because of Covid I would’ve done much better as I’d have been a fresh-faced 80-year-old then!” joked Kemp. “I just love the game so much. Squash has been very kind to me, I’ve had wonderful trips all over the world. It’s special to be here and it’s a lovely atmosphere.”
The chances of Kemp family glory aren’t over though. Robin’s wife Margaret Hunt-Kemp begins her campaign in the women’s 75+ on Sunday against Slovenia’s Mariza Ohlsson (who, by coincidence, is the oldest woman in the tournament at 81!).
“Margaret and myself are both mad about sport,” said Robin. “She is very competitive. I taught her to play squash and now she beats me! She is extraordinarily fit and fast.”
Elsewhere at the Frans Otten Stadion, the Anjema family remain on course for a Dutch double, with former World No.9 LJ, the 40+ top seed, winning 11-1, 11-2, 11-0 against Argentina’s Guillermo Pedernera in round two – and his father Robert Jan Anjema (5/8 seed), beating Germany’s Christian Brocker 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 in the 70+.
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Day TWO : Davenport out to make history after Day Two in Amsterdam
Australia’s Geoff Davenport got his quest to make WSF World Masters Squash Championships history off to a successful start on day two in Amsterdam.
Davenport beat Sweden’s Jonas Frick 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 in the men’s 65+ second round to remain on course for an all-time record seventh World Masters title. The Sydney-based 66-year-old, who won his first world age-group title in Finland in 2003, says getting his name to the top of the tournament’s all-time roll of honour has become “a little bit of an addiction.”
He said: “This tournament is what really motivates me to keep training and go through all the pain. Basically I want to get into the history books. It drives me. “I started off wanting to win one title and when I achieved that it became addictive. It’s just wonderful playing in it every couple of years and catching up with people you haven’t seen for a while. To have so many entries this year is fantastic.”
Davenport is currently level with South Africa’s Craig van der Wath and fellow Aussie Brian Cook on six titles. Although van der Wath is not competing this year, Cook is in Amsterdam and begins his own quest for a seventh title in the men’s 75+ draw on Saturday against USA’s Daniel Souza. The women’s record of five titles is jointly held by Ann Manley and Averil Murphy of England and Barbara Sanderson of Ireland. Only Manley is present in Amsterdam; she is 75+ top seed and her attempt to become the outright women’s record-holder starts on Saturday against Sweden’s Margaretha Borgvall.
Germany’s Simon Nordstadt, meanwhile, is just beginning his Masters squash career. In fact, it was his 35th birthday on Monday, meaning he qualified as a Masters player by just three days and is the youngest player at the tournament. “I was a referee at the European Masters last year in Hamburg and somebody told me the dates. It was absolutely perfect!” he said, reflecting on a positive experience despite a loss today to Mexico’s Fernando Lopez Hidalgo.
Two familiar names made serene progress in the women’s 40+ draw – Mexico’s ex-world no.11 Samantha Teran and South Africa’s former PSA no.28 Siyoli Waters.
Teran retired from the PSA Tour in 2019 and had a baby girl, Leonor, 15 months ago. She had a walkover in the first round today. “I used to live in Amsterdam and train with Liz Irving and Nicol David, so this is like my second home. I couldn’t resist coming back,” she said.
Waters, who now works for a non-profit organisation supporting women and children in Cape Town, beat Dutch 17/32 seed Cora De Bruin-De Vette in straight games. Waters is one of a contingent of over 100 South African players in the tournament.
“There’s something amazing about this event,” said the 41-year-old. “It’s exciting to know there’s another 40 years of squash ahead of me! All these people are here to do their best, so there’s a nice blend of a great vibe with competitiveness.”
Elsewhere on day two, men’s 60+ top seed and defending champion Willie Hosey of Ireland (aiming for a fifth World Masters title) won 11-3 11-3 11-3 against France’s Jean-Marc Fournier.
Christian Drakenberg of Sweden, the men’s 45+ top seed, was pushed hard by Kuwait’s Hussain Safar Mohammad but came through 11-5, 11-6, 11-7. “It would mean very much to me to win a second Masters,” said the owner of Stockholm Squash Club.
“This is the pinnacle. I tell people at home, ‘You have to go!’ They think they might not be good enough but it doesn’t matter because all levels of people come to compete. We all have a beer together – even the top seeds! The social side of it is just as important as the matches.”
Top Seeds :
M35 : [1] James Snell (Eng), [2] Christo Potgieter (Rsa)
M40 : [1] LJ Anjema (Ned), [2] Piedro Schweertman (Ned)
M45 : [1] Christian Drakenberg (Swe), [2] James Bowden (Eng)
M50 : [1] Derek Ryan (Irl), [2] Zuko Kubukeli (Rsa)
M55 : [1] Gavin Roger-Lund (Eng), [2] Yawar Abbas (Eng)
M60 : [1] Willie Hosey (Irl), [2] Fredrik Johnson (Swe)
M65 : [1] Geoff Davenport (Aus), [2] Pierr Roodt (Rsa)
M70 : [1] Johnny Orsmond (Rsa), [2] Stuart Hardy (Eng)
M75 : [1] Brian Cook (Aus), [2] Ian Ross (Sco)
M80 : [1] Howard Armitage (Can), [2] Gerald Poulton (Can)
W35 : [1] Lizelle Muller (Rsa), [2] Stacey Gooding (Wal)
W40 : [1] Nicolette Fernandes (Guy), [2] Samantha Teran (Mex)
W45 : [1] Lauren Kinsey-Briggs (Eng), [2] Johannah Yue (Sgp)
W50 : [1] Karen Meakins (Bar), [2] Rachel Calver (Eng)
W55 : [1] Lauren Wagner (Can), [2] Susan Davis (Aus)
W60 : [1] Susan Hiller (Aus), [2] Mandy Akin (Eng)
W65 : [1] Mary Sceney (Irl), [2] Jill Campion (Wal)
W70 : [1] Pauline Douglas (Sco), [2] Gaye Mitchell (Aus)
W75 : [1] Ann Manley (Eng), [2] Marilyn Kennedy (Aus)
Day ONE : WSF World Masters 2024 begins as Borgvall family odyssey continues
Day one of the 2024 WSF World Masters Squash Championships in Amsterdam saw old friends and rivals reunited – and a new chapter in the squash odyssey of the Borgvall family from Sweden.
Christian Borgvall, one of five brothers who all play at Stockholm Squash Club, got his campaign in the men’s 55+ draw at the Frans Otten Stadion off to a winning start with a 11-4, 11-2, 11-6 win over Germany’s Frank Gunther on Thursday. He was watched by his mother, Margaretha, who is 5/8 seed in the women’s 75+ draw and father Bjorn, who is 5/8 seed in the men’s 80+ competition.
All three have serious Masters squash pedigree. Christian won the ESF European Masters 45+ title in Wroclaw in 2017, father Bjorn is a 13-time Swedish Masters champion and Margaretha (who celebrates her 78th birthday next week and is the fourth-oldest woman at the tournament) has played in the WSF World Masters since 2003.
“It is wonderful to be here with these two great players who are important people in my life,” said Christian of his parents. “It’s an honour to have them here and I’m happy as long as they can play squash. My mother sometimes gets angry on court but my father is calmer, so I can give him advice!”
Margaretha, who plays record five-time World Masters champion Ann Manley of England in her opening women’s 75+ match on Saturday, said: “The squash environment is like a family for us. It is unbelievable that Bjorn and I can still play at our age. I hope this won’t be our last World Masters!”
Day one in Amsterdam consisted entirely of men’s qualifying and first-round matches. Gavin Roger-Lund was the only top seed in action across all age groups and he beat the Netherlands’ Walter Schreefel 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 in the men’s 55+ draw.
Roger-Lund, who represents England but was born in South Africa, won the British Open 55+ title in June. He said: “Being top seed here doesn’t necessarily give me an easier passage. I’m just focused on taking one match at a time.
“Up until two years ago I hadn’t played squash for a long time due to three children and job commitments. I have rediscovered the love for it now. It’s such a wonderful sport. My daughter Rachael is here with me – she is my coach, manager and moral support!”
In the men’s 60+ draw, Singapore’s Peter Hill – a 35+ champion in 2003 – brought out the array of trick shots that squash fans of a certain vintage may remember from the 1980s and 90s when he was a World No.26 and training partner of the great Jahangir Khan. Hill, the second seed who is based at the Hong Kong Ladies’ Recreation Club, started with a routine 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 win over Germany’s Michael Jansen on the all-glass court.
“I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve!” he said. “I love playing in front of a crowd. Whether it’s one person or a packed house, they are there for one reason – to be entertained.”
A handful of seeds suffered first-day defeats in the sweltering heat of the Dutch capital, the highest being men’s 60+ 5/8 seed Alex Betts of England, who went down 7-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 to South Africa’s Peter Steyn, and Ireland’s 5/8 seed Michael Cowhie who lost to France’s Olivier Collignon 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 in the 55+.
Sadly USA’s Wael Elhendy, winner of the 2009 World Team Championship and a former World No.8 when competing for his homeland Egypt, had to withdraw from his opening 40+ match against Argentina’s Guillermo Pedernera.
