The Lakers broadcaster had been asleep on the trip home from Philadelphia when his broadcast partner, John Ireland, woke him with the news.
"I just can't get those words out of my head," Thompson said. "I just keep hearing those words over and over."
Thompson and Ireland were in the back of the team plane with a few other staffers, broadcasters and security guards. Players and coaches were up front.
"It was just stunned silence," Thompson said. "Everybody was sitting there in a daze."
The plane had Wi-Fi, but in a moment like this, information is not a salve. Thompson longed to get to his family. During a Lakers-Blazers game nearly 20 years ago, the former NBA big man had introduced his sons Mychel and Trayce to Bryant.
"Klay was too shy," Thompson said.
Klay Thompson ended up meeting Bryant a few years later, going on to train with him at various gyms around Orange County before blossoming into an NBA All-Star and champion with the Golden State Warriors.
Klay called his father as soon as he heard the news on Sunday. So did Thompson's wife, Julie. But there was still over three hours left on the flight back to Los Angeles. When the plane landed, Thompson went straight home and turned on the news.
"You just try to find a reason," he said. "Was it mechanical? Was it weather? You just want to know what happened. How did this ... how could something like this happen?
"And even if we do find out what happened, it doesn't bring them back."
LAKERS CONTROLLING OWNER Jeanie Buss and vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka were in Orange County by the time the team's plane landed back in Los Angeles. They'd gotten a call around 11 a.m. informing them of Bryant's death and immediately started driving to be with his family.
Pelinka was one of Bryant's closest friends and the godfather to Gianna. His kids played with Bryant's kids. He wanted to be there, to help, to grieve, to support -- whatever they needed.
Buss had made the drive to Orange County to see Bryant dozens of times. He'd become a trusted adviser and confidant as she succeeded her father as steward of the franchise following his death in 2013. That year, during a lunch, Bryant brought Gianna with him so she could learn from the Lakers' owner.
"At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter," Buss wrote in an Instagram post to Bryant on Thursday. "But in actuality -- and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing -- what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for."
Buss thought of that day on the drive down to Bryant's offices in Costa Mesa on Sunday. She thought of their lunches at nearby Pelican Hill Golf Club or SOL Mexican Cocina in Newport Beach. She thought of what Bryant said in 2016 when she was thinking of remaking the Lakers' front office by replacing Mitch Kupchak and her brother Jim with Pelinka and Magic Johnson.
"He gave me some excellent advice," Buss said in 2017. "You know, the Mamba mentality: 'If you're going to do it, do it clearly, decisively. Be strategic, have a plan.' And he was absolutely right."
It was hard for Buss not to let those memories become overwhelming as she and several associates spent the day at Bryant's offices, processing his death. The only clarity anyone had was that they needed to find the strength to honor Bryant, his family and the families of the seven other people who were killed.
Buss had buried her mother, JoAnn, one month ago. Now she needed to find a way to say goodbye to a man her family considered a son.
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Vogel on Pelinka: Told him to be with his family as much as he can
Coach Frank Vogel discusses the support the team has given Lakers exec Rob Pelinka, who was good friends with Kobe Bryant.
THE LAKERS HAD to arrange for grief counselors for their players and employees. And then, they had to decide whether to play a game against the LA Clippers on Tuesday.
The organization felt it would be too much for its employees -- many of whom had known Bryant for over 20 years -- to put on an event of that magnitude so soon. But that decision had ramifications for the NBA and many other business partners, so it took until Monday afternoon for a final postponement call to be made.
Although they had gone home to their families after landing in Los Angeles on Sunday, the Lakers had stayed in close touch throughout the week. There was frequent communication among ownership, the front office and players as the entire organization took its cues from the Bryant family.
No Lakers official would speak publicly before Bryant's wife, Vanessa, and that needed no explanation.
The Lakers have long prided themselves on cultivating a family atmosphere. While his close relationship with Magic Johnson has been well chronicled, Dr. Jerry Buss used to invite players of all status out for lunch every few weeks. He was looking to make a personal connection and let them know he cared. It's something Jeanie Buss made a point of continuing when she took over.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been embraced by that atmosphere this year, texting with Pelinka about transactions and socializing with Buss and her friends at games, practices or the office Christmas party. This is a different type of player-owner relationship for James than his other stops in the NBA, but it suits him.
And James and Bryant had just started to grow closer this year. For most of their careers, they'd shared a mutual respect but kept a healthy competitive distance. Two alpha dogs eyeing each other. As recently as last season, when James joined the Lakers, they hadn't been especially close. But things started changing this season when Bryant attended a game at Staples Center with Gianna and James came over to greet them.
James didn't sleep at all on Sunday night. Monday wasn't much better.
"I'm heartbroken and devastated my brother!!" he wrote. "My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I'll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation and it's my responsibility to put this s--- on my back and keep it going!!"
ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, the Lakers went outside on the grass fields across from their practice facility. It was the kind of sunny, gorgeous day that people from Southern California photograph and send to jealous friends on the East Coast.
"That is one of the luxuries of living in Los Angeles," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
The team knew it had a game to play on Friday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN), and that felt good.
There will be tributes to Bryant, his daughter and the seven others killed in the crash before the game, and celebrations of their lives throughout. Planning these tributes has given everyone in the Lakers organization purpose this week. They feel the importance to get this right.
Soon there will be a public memorial, but Friday is the first guidepost.
The Lakers might be owned by the Buss family, but they belong to Los Angeles. And Bryant was a favorite son.
The entire plaza outside Staples Center has been filled with purple and gold remembrances since Sunday. It is open to fans and mourners until 2 a.m. every night, and then again by 6 a.m. each morning.
There are pickup basketball games, raucous chants for Kobe and Gigi and solemn candlelight vigils. On Tuesday evening, Banda Imperio showed up to play for the crowds. It is a tradition at Mexican funerals to celebrate the life of the deceased and send their spirit off with joy.
Over a festive melody, the lyrics to "Un Puno De Tierra" echoed:
On the day that I die, I won't take anything with me
You must live life to the fullest, for it ends too soon
Of all that happens in this world, all that's left are the memories
Both world record-holders are selected, as Kipchoge defends his title in Japan
Kenya’s two world marathon record-holders, Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, are among the athletes to have been selected for the Olympic Games in Japan.
Kipchoge will defend the marathon title he won in Rio in 2016, while Kosgei makes her Olympic debut.
They are set to be joined on the Kenya team in Sapporo by Boston and Chicago winner Lawrence Cherono and world bronze medallist Amos Kipruto in the men’s race, plus world champion Ruth Chepngetich and 2018 London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot in the women’s race.
The reserves are Titus Ekiru, Bedan Karoki, Valary Aiyebei and Sally Chepyego.
Kipchoge broke the world record with his time of 2:01:39 in Berlin in 2018 and also ran a remarkable sub-two-hour time trial in Vienna, while Kosgei clocked her world record time of 2:14:04 at last year’s Chicago Marathon.
Kipchoge will be on the hunt for his fourth Olympic medal after his 2004 5000m bronze, 2008 5000m silver and 2016 marathon gold.
Cheruiyot is another athlete who will be looking for more medal success after her 5000m gold from Rio.
The Olympic marathon races, together with the other road events, have been moved to Sapporo, 800km north of the host city Tokyo, due to heat concerns.
The women’s marathon will take place on August 8 and the men’s race on August 9, the last day of the Games.
Nike’s controversial NEXT% shoe gets green light, says World Athletics, but governing body bans new prototypes with thicker heels and multiple carbon plates
The Vaporfly has survived World Athletics’ much-anticipated and long-awaited ruling on so-called shoe-related ‘technological doping’, but Nike’s famous footwear has effectively been forbidden from having any children.
Nike’s next generation models such as the Alphafly worn by Eliud Kipchoge during his sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna last year have been judged by the global governing body to be illegal in elite competitions.
But shoes will be allowed if their sole is no thicker than 40mm and if they only have one carbon fibre plate, in addition to being available for any athlete to buy for at least four months prior to their competition.
The words Nike and Vaporfly were not used in World Athletics’ lengthy press release published on Friday but the announcement means those shoes – and other current footwear models on the market made by brands like Hoka, adidas and New Balance – are permitted, whereas new prototypes with 40mm-plus soles or multiple carbon plates are banned.
When it comes to track spikes, no sole can be thicker than 30mm and two rigid plates are allowed if one of them is the traditional plastic plate used to attach the metal spikes to.
Race referees will also have the power to examine athletes shoes at the end of an event for inspection if they feel they do not “comply with the spirit” of the sport.
Seb Coe, president of World Athletics, said: “It is not our job to regulate the entire sports shoe market but it is our duty to preserve the integrity of elite competition by ensuring that the shoes worn by elite athletes in competition do not offer any unfair assistance or advantage.
“As we enter the Olympic year, we don’t believe we can rule out shoes that have been generally available for a considerable period of time, but we can draw a line by prohibiting the use of shoes that go further than what is currently on the market while we investigate further.”
Coe continued: “I believe these new rules strike the right balance by offering certainty to athletes and manufacturers as they prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while addressing the concerns that have been raised about shoe technology. If further evidence becomes available that indicates we need to tighten up these rules, we reserve the right to do that to protect our sport.”
World Athletics has come under fire for taking too long to deliver a judgement on the shoes. Kipchoge used the original Vaporfly 4% when he ran 2:00:25 for the marathon in the Breaking2 time trial in Monza in May 2017. But its verdict this week means they have taken nearly three years to act.
In a statement, they said their review group “concluded there is independent research that indicates the new technology incorporated in the soles of road and spiked shoes may provide a performance advantage and there is sufficient evidence to raise concerns that the integrity of the sport might be threatened by the recent developments in shoe technology.”
Given this, they promise to further study the benefits of such shoes with the help of biomechanics experts and people from the running shoes industry.
This is not the first time the governing body has had to rule on shoe innovations either. As reported in the latest issue of AW magazine, the world high jump record was broken by Russian Yuriy Stepanov in Leningrad in 1957 wearing a shoe with a sole on his take-off foot that was so thick that he ran with a limp approaching the bar. But on that occasion the IAAF acted fast to swiftly outlaw the footwear.
World Athletics’ new rules for footwear – which can be read in full here – had input from not only technical athletics and shoe experts but also lawyers. And it adds that with “immediate effect there will be an indefinite moratorium on any shoe” that breaks its new rules on heel size and the number of carbon plates.
This means all performances set with the Vaporfly 4% or NEXT% – such as Brigid Kosgei’s world marathon record in Chicago in October – are fine. But as spring marathon season approaches the prototypes such as the Alphafly will be off limits.
Australian Open wheelchair doubles champion Alfie Hewett has been told he cannot compete beyond this year because his disability is not severe enough.
Hewett, who has Perthes disease which affects his hip and femur, and partner Gordon Reid beat Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in Friday's final.
Hewett does not meet new classification rules introduced last August.
"There's a new system that's come in, and I just don't meet the requirements for it," Hewett, 22, told BBC Sport.
"But there's no other option for me, because I'm not able to compete on my feet."
The 22-year-old became very emotional as he and Reid celebrated a 4-6 6-4 (10-7) win over the top seeds at Melbourne Park.
In future, eligibility will be determined by an evaluation rather than a player's self-assessment. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) says the new rules will "improve the integrity of classification".
"I'm kind of just using it to my advantage at the moment," Hewett continued.
"I know there's been a lot of noise in the last six months, and the decisions have been made now.
"At the moment it is my last year, so that's why today meant a lot to me. And obviously Gio (Gordon Reid) knew that as well, and coming into that third set tie-break it was just a case of going out there and giving it my all.
"I shed a few tears at the end, and back in the locker room. We've had a great time together, and a good adventure, and if this is the last time I play the Australian Open, then it's very, very happy memories."
Reid, who has now won seven Grand Slam titles alongside Hewett, has huge sympathy for his doubles partner.
"It's obviously been tough," he said.
"I can't imagine putting myself in Alfie's position. Classification in Paralympic sport is a very controversial subject, one that's never going to be perfect and there's always going to be someone that misses out.
"Things could change, I wouldn't be surprised if they did, and hopefully this isn't the last year we see Alfie playing wheelchair tennis."
Players have the right to appeal, but it is likely to prove quite a challenge should Hewett decide to go down that route.
A spokesperson for the LTA said: "We are supporting all the players on our World Class Programme through the new classification process. That process is still ongoing, we are continuing to liaise with the ITF on it - therefore won't be commenting on any specific player cases."
The ITF website says players are eligible to compete in the open wheelchair division "if they have a permanent physical disability that results in substantial loss of function in one or both lower extremities (limbs), and that meets or exceeds the sport's eligibility criteria".
The rules have also been approved by the International Paralympic Committee.
Another player who has fallen foul of the new regulations is the Dutch five-time Grand Slam champion Marjolein Buis.
When she announced her intention to retire at the end of the year, she accused the authorities of "taking away my job and my passion".
Whiley win eases pain of missing son's birthday
Briton Jordanne Whiley won her first Grand Slam title on Friday since returning to the sport after the birth of her son.
The 27-year-old and Japanese partner Yui Kamiji defeated Dutch top seeds Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot 6-2 6-4.
Whiley said the victory eased the pain of having missed her son Jackson's second birthday, which was on Thursday.
"I've been away for three weeks now and that's the longest I've been away from him so it's been really difficult," said Whiley, who won her third Australian doubles title.
"And to have his second birthday yesterday was really emotional for me to be here. But I said to Marc, his dad, my coach and fiance, that if I'm going to be away from him then I have to make everything count.
"So I'm really pleased I'm bringing home the title. That's something that has really aided my performances coming back. I don't want to waste any time while I'm away."
Dominic Thiem will meet defending champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's Australian Open final after digging deep to beat Alexander Zverev.
Thiem, 26, won 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) in a match briefly interrupted by rain and a lighting failure.
The Austrian fifth seed said "it was an unreal match" and he will now look to win his first Grand Slam, after losing the past two French Open finals.
Djokovic is favourite to win a record-extending eighth title and 17th major.
The 32-year-old has lost just three matches in the past 10 Australian Open tournaments.
German seventh seed Zverev, 22, was bidding to reach his first Grand Slam final but instead, it his good friend who will play for the title.
"To reach the Australian Open final is unreal," said Thiem, who will bid to become only the second Austrian player - after Thomas Muster at the 1995 French Open - to win a Grand Slam.
"Two tie-breaks, so tough and so close, it was almost impossible to break him."
Third time lucky for Thiem?
Thiem produced a heroic effort, physically and mentally, to beat Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal in an epic quarter-final that lasted more than four hours on Wednesday.
As a result it looked as though the Austrian, who said he did not get to sleep until 5am following that win, was lacking energy against Zverev.
The crushing groundstrokes he produced against Nadal initially lacked fizz, largely down to being pinned back by the big-serving German.
"It is not easy because I played four hours and 10 minutes against Rafa, who is the most intense man on tour," said Thiem, who is through to his first Australian Open final.
"I had some troubles in the first set, it was both of our first semi-finals here and it was not easy."
But Thiem fought back in the second set, hitting cleaner and helped by a horror of a service game from the German, to level.
The unforced error count crept up again in the third, seemingly as a sign of fatigue, but he recovered when it mattered most.
After saving two set points at 5-4 in the third, Thiem started the tie-break with a deft pick-up at the net which provided the momentum - following that with an ace, two service winners and pair of blistering winners off either wing - to clinch the lead.
That was the fourth tie-break he had won in a row, following the three which saw him beat Nadal.
It also provided the confidence that took him through the fourth-set decider.
After two loose errors led to him being pegged back, Thiem was helped when Zverev whacked an overhead wide of the doubles court for a 4-2 lead.
The tension and drama increased when the umpire overruled a call that Zverev hit long at 4-3. The point was replayed with Thiem landing a ferocious forehand to win it.
Another winner brought up three match points for the Austrian and he took the second when he sprung forward to put away a forehand volley at the net.
Thiem broke out into a beaming smile before sharing a warm hug with his opponent, whom he has known since their junior days.
"In all of the tie-breaks I think I was 2-0, 3-0 up and it gives you confidence for the rest," he said.
'I felt like I was in Austria on a skiing holiday' - Thiem helped by lights delay
The magnitude of their first Australian Open semi-final and, a first Slam semi-final in Zverev's case, led to both players starting nervously.
But the tension was lifted - mainly among the crowd but also in Thiem, it turned out - during a bizarre stoppage.
As the players headed to their chairs after the opening game of the third set, Zverev complained that some lights behind the baseline had gone out.
Although it was barely noticeable to most of the puzzled fans on Rod Laver Arena, it led to an eight-minute break while tournament officials dealt with the problem.
The crowd were particularly entertained by Sweet Caroline playing over the speakers, with Thiem's mother Karin dancing to the Neil Diamond classic and the player breaking into a grin.
"That helped loosen me up a little," he laughed.
"I like that song. I felt like I was in Austria on a skiing holiday, they play that song all the time."
Thiem was still in the groove when they resumed, comfortably holding and then breaking for a 2-1 lead.
Although he was broken back for 5-5, the momentum remained tilted in his favour throughout the rest of the match.
Zverev's demons return at key points
Following his first-round win, Zverev pledged to donate his entire prize pot to the Australian bushfire relief fund if he won his first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
A gesture of great generosity, it was also one that seemed fanciful.
Zverev looked far away from being able to tilt a crack at the trophy after losing all of three of his matches in a torrid start to the season at the ATP Cup in Sydney.
The 22-year-old took his anger out at his father and coach, Alexander senior, in an unsavoury argument during a defeat by Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, where he hit 10 double faults and landed just 45% of his first serves.
However, his serve was the part of his game which was instrumental in carrying him to the last four in Melbourne and winning the first set against Thiem.
"I've spent hours on that shot. So at some point I knew it had to come back," said Zverev.
Zverev landed 90% of his first serves in the opening set, allowing his opponent to win just seven receiving points.
However, the demons returned at crucial moments in the match.
A pair of double faults allowed Thiem to break for the first time in the second set, from which point Zverev started missing more first serves and let Thiem apply more pressure.
Another double fault in the fourth set tie-break helped Thiem to a 3-0 lead and, after pegging him back to 3-2, Zverev produced that wild overhead to lose momentum again.
From there he was unable to recover, continuing Germany's 17-year wait for a Grand Slam men's finalist.
"I had a lot of chances. I had 14 break points. That should be plenty," Zverev added.
"In the important moments, I didn't play my best. He did. That's where the match kind of went his way."
Finalists at the Prince British Under-23 Championships at Roehampton
Second game tiebreaks are crucial in both finals By PAUL LINDSAY – Squash Mad Correspondent
Abbay Singh and Katie Malliff emerged as deserved champions at the Prince British Under-23 Open at the Roehampton Club.
Completing a string of impressive performances, both won their finals in straight games. However, both champions endured crucial battles in the second game of each final, with Malliff squeezing home 20-18 against Kiera Marshall and Singh getting the better of Ben Smith by a 15-13 margin.
Katie got off to a fast start in the first game, opening up a 7-3 lead as Kiera took her time to find her length. Although Kiera started to use her deceptive backhand volley more Katie kept the pressure on to win the first game 11-7.
The second was a battle of physical and mental skill as the game saw points exchanged back and forth. Kiera went 10-7 up but failed to convert her first three game ball points as Katie’s court coverage and deft drops kept her in the game. At 10 all both players had chances to take the game yet four more games balls were missed by Kiera as Katie eventually won 20-18 in a tough second game.
In the third, Katie again got off to a fast start with a 5-2 lead and although Kiera was now playing some lovely squash she could not string together a run of two or more points. Perhaps the effects of the second game had taken their toll as both players gave everything with a few more errors now creeping in. Katie managed to stay focused winning 11-7 to clinch the title.
Men’s Final: Abhay Singh bt Ben Smith 11-3, 15-13, 11-9 (37 mins)
The score line in the first game does not reflect on either how well both players were playing or the effort put in. It was all down to fine margins costing Ben on numerous occasions as he clipped the top of the tin from a winning position. These mistakes were too many in the first and Abhay’s relentless pressure proved too strong winning 11-3.
The second game was a complete change from the first as Ben increased the pace of his hitting with greater effect. However, from 7-7 Abhay managed to force errors to go 10-8 up. Ben then started to use his attacking volley wisely to get back to 10-10. Some world class squash over the next points mixed with some clumsy movement from both saw Abhay take the game 15-13.
The third game looked like a repeat of the women’s final with the loss of the tough second game hurting Ben more. Abhay opened up a 4-2 lead, then extending it to 8-5, but Ben never gave up. Some great court coverage and once again great use of his attacking volley saw Ben close to 9-10. Abhay stayed strong and won the game 11-9 and took the Men’s Prince Under-23 British Open title.
The men’s third place play-of was an all-Sussex affair with Perry Malik beating the unseeded Noah Meredith, who had knocked out 3/4 seed Jordan Warne to reach the semi-finals.
During the presentation, both champions thanked hosts Roehampton Club and sponsors Prince for putting on the event.
Prince British U23 Open 2020, Roehampton Club, London, England.
Men’s Final: [1] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [2] Ben Smith (ENG) 11-3, 15-13, 11-9 (37m)
Third place play-off: [3/4] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Noah Meredith (ENG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Semi-finals: [1] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [3/4] Perry Malik (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 [2] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Noah Meredith (ENG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-5
Quarter-finals: [1] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Hassan Khalil (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 [3/4] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Ben Sockett (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 5-11, 8-11, 11-3 Noah Meredith (ENG) bt [3/4] Jordan Warne (ENG) 4-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6 [2] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Jack Mitterer (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8
Reigning champion Tesni Evas (left) and Sarah-Jane Perry in action
Reigning champion Tesni hopes to be back at full fitness By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent
Top seed Sarah-Jane Perry and defending champion Tesni Evans are seeded to contest the final of the AJ Bell British National Squash Championships in Nottingham next month after the women’s draw was released today.
The tournament, which take places at the University of Nottingham Sport and Nottingham Squash Rackets Club between February 11-16, features a strong female line-up battling for the prestigious title, including four-time champion Alison Waters and last year’s runner-up Emily Whitlock.
Perry and Evans, the World No.8 and 9 respectively have never met in the British Nationals before, with second seed Evans of Wales having a strong record against the England No.1 on the PSA World Tour, prevailing in four out of their last five encounters. Evans will be hoping to be back at full fitness after rolling her ankle during the recent Tournament of Champions in New York.
Four-time champion Alison Waters (right) and 2019 runner-up Emily Whitlock
Perry, the 2015 champion, is seeded to meet former World No.3 Waters, a ten-time finalist in the semi-finals.
On the opposite of the draw is two-time defending champion Evans who is scheduled to meet 3/4 seed Victoria Lust in the last four.
Meanwhile, a quartet of English stars, Emily Whitlock, Millie Tomlinson, Julianne Courtice and Lucy Turmel are seeded to reach the quarter-finals.
Qualifying will see 18 players compete for the four qualifier spots on February 11-12 at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club.
AJ Bell British National Championships 2020, Nottingham, February 11-16.
Women’s First Round: [1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) v Qualifier [5/8] Julianne Courtice (Eng) v Rachael Chadwick (Eng) [5/8] Lucy Turmel (Eng) v Qualifier [3/4] Alison Waters (Eng) v Jasmine Hutton (Eng) [3/4] Victoria Lust (Eng) v Alison Thomson (Sco) [5/8] Emily Whitlock (Eng) v Anna Kimberley (Eng) [5/8] Millie Tomlinson (Eng) v Qualifier [2] Tesni Evans (Wal) v Qualifier
To view the draw, visit the official website at www.nationalsquashchampionships.com Follow live action from the tournament from 13-16 February via englandsquash.tv (requires free England Squash website account)
Cleveland Racquet Club is host to a major PSA Women’s tournament
Home hopes face tough ties in second round By MARINA DE JUAN GALLACH – Squash Mad Correspondent
American hopefuls Olivia Blatchford Clyne and Sabrina Sobhy won through to the second round of the Cleveland Classic and set up some challenging battles against higher-ranked opponents.
Sobhy recovered from a slow start to beat Ineta Mackevica from Latvia in five games and faces a challenging contest against the top seed, Nour El Tayeb of Egypt who will be looking to improve on her runner’s up finish in the Carol Weymuller Open at Heights Casino in Brooklyn.
Blatchford Clyne overcame Anna Serme (Czech Republic) in straight games and now meets England’s Victoria Lust, who is the No.8 seed in this high quality tournament.
Canada’s Hollie Naughton, like Sobhy, also had to battle back from a two-game deficit against the hugely promising Ali Loke of Wales before winning in the fifth game, having rescued a match ball in the third. Hollie’s reward is a massive challenge against No.2 seed Joelle King from New Zealand.
England’s Sarah-Jane Perry and Alison Waters, seeded three and six, meet Egyptian pair Menna Hamed and Mayar Hany in the second round.
Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 10-12, 12-14, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 Ineta got off to a good start volleying the ball and taking advantage of opportunities. In the third game, Sabrina found her length and created more opportunities that led her to victory.
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 Both players hit the ball clean and with good length. Farida gave herself the edge by- , being a little bit more aggressive, hunting the volley in important stages of the match.-
Menna Nasser (EGY) v Nadia Pfister (SUI) 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 Menna dominated the T during the first 2 games, forcing Nadia to hit some errors. Nadia managed to turn the tables in the fourth. The quality of Menna’s squash went high to lead her way to the victory.
Nadine Shahin (EGY) v [WC] Marina De Juan Gallach (ESP) 11-2, 11-7,11-7 Nadine started really well, taking advantage of the lack of length in Marina’s game. Even though Marina was more competitive during 2nd and 3rd games, that was not enough to take Nadine out of her way to victory.
Menna Hamed (EGY) v Salma Youssef (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 Competitive match between two players ranked only three positions apart. Menna got off to a really good first game. Even though Salma raised her game in the second and third games, Menna managed to stay mentally strong during three straight games.
Mayar Hany (EGY) v Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-5,11-4, 11-7 Mayar took better care of her opportunities by being aggressive in the front of the court and managed to win in three games.
Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) v Anna Serme (CZE) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 A very accurate and sharp Olivia cruised her way to victory in three straight games.
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Ali Loke (WAL) 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 Very good start of the game in Ali’s side, who went 2-0 up with a match ball in the third game. Ali used good variation, breaking Hollie’s rhythm. Hollie dug in mentally and physically strong and came back to win in five
Reigning champion Willstrop 22 not out By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent
Top seed Joel Makin and defending champion James Willstrop are seeded to meet in the final of the AJ Bell British National Championships in Nottingham from 13-16th February after the men’s draw was released yesterday.
Welsh No.1 Makin and former World No.1 Willstrop met just two weeks ago at the Tournament of Champions in New York, where Makin prevailed in a match lasting over an hour.
Three-time champion Willstrop, 36, will be appearing in his 22nd consecutive championships, while this year marks the third time 25-year-old Makin will compete.
In the top half of the draw, Makin is seeded to face World No.19 Adrian Waller in the semis. Should that transpire, Makin is set for a stern test with Waller prevailing in three of their previous four encounters, most recently at the WSF Men’s World Team Championships in December.
James Willstrop and Daryl Selby met in last year’s final
World No.18 Willstrop, seeded two, is predicted to face 3/4 seed Daryl Selby in the semi-finals in what would be a repeat of last year’s final in which Willstrop triumphed.
Scottish No.1 Greg Lobban is seeded to meet Selby in the quarters, but faces a tough first round against rising Englishman George Parker. Meanwhile, fellow Scot Alan Clyne, an eight-time Scottish National champion, is scheduled to face Makin in the quarter-finals.
Qualifying will see 34 players compete for the four qualifier spots on February 11-12 at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club.
AJ Bell British National Championships 2020, Nottingham February 13-16.
Men’s First Round: [1] Joel Makin (Wal) v Qualifier [5/8] Alan Clyne (Sco) v Qualifier [5/8] Tom Richards (Eng) v Richie Fallows (Eng) [3/4] Adrian Waller (Eng) v Nathan Lake (Eng) [3/4] Daryl Selby (Eng) v Qualifier [5/8] Greg Lobban (Sco) v George Parker (Eng) [5/8] Declan James (Eng) v Patrick Rooney (Eng) [2] James Willstrop (Eng) v Qualifier
To view the draw, visit the official website at www.nationalsquashchampionships.com. Follow live action from the tournament from 13-16th February via englandsquash.tv (requires free England Squash website account).
Finnish champion Emilia flies home flag By POKU SALO – Squash Mad Correspondent
The 30th edition of the Savcor Finnish Open in Mikkeli is this year again a women’s event as it was when the event started in 1990.
The first two rounds saw only one upset when Switzerland’s 9-16 seeded Ambre Allinckx beat seventh seed Anna Kimberley from England in four games.
The only Finnish player who survived was the fourth seed, Finnish Champion Emilia Soini, who beat Englands Katia Wells in three straight games.
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PSA $12,000 Women’s Savcor Finnish Open 2020, Sport Forum, Mikkeli, Finland.
Quarter Finals: [1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) v [5] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) [3] Enora Villard (FRA) v [9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) [4] Emilia Soini (FIN) v [8] Alice Green (ENG) [2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [6] Catalina Pelaez (COL)
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