Imperious Darwish dominates Iskandar
In top form, Egyptian blitzes tournament without dropping a game
by A.J. Hakim
Top seed Karim Darwish hit his stride against Azlan Iskandar in Monday's Motor City Open final. (Birmingham Athletic Club photo)
Birmingham, Mich. – If there were any doubts about Karim Darwish’s form following a month off to nurse a sore back, they were quashed Monday night in the final of the 2010 Motor City Open presented by Suburban Volvo. Darwish, the tournament’s top seed, dominated three-seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia on the way to a 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 victory. The Egyptian’s supreme performance capped an event in which he did not lose a game.
Darwish dazzled a sold-out crowd at Michigan’s premier squash venue, the Birmingham Athletic Club, en route to taking home his $6,400 share of the record $40,000 purse and a Rolex watch from Greenstone Jewelers.
“Last time (I was here) was in 2004 and I lost in the semis,” Darwish said of his upset loss to Olli Tuominen in his last appearance at the MCO. “It’s such a great feeling to win this tournament.”
Darwish quickly found his rhythm, building a 9-2 lead in Game One. Dictating the pace, he forced Iskandar – coming off an exhausting five-game win over Thierry Lincou the night before - into a quicker game than he could withstand. The Malaysian’s lone opportunity was in the second game when he came out firing and jumped to a 6-1 lead. Sensing a momentum change, the crowd cheered on the underdog Malaysian. But four quick errors - combined with several quality shots from Darwish - and Iskandar’s lead evaporated to a 6-6 tie.
Iskandar fought hard... but Darwish was always a step ahead. (Birmingham Athletic Club photo)
His opportunity erased, Iskandar turned defensive, allowing Darwish to re-establish his rhythm and take Game Two. “There were points in the second game where I thought I attacked a lot,” said Iskandar, whose record against Darwish in PSA-sanctioned events dropped to 0-5. “Then I really got defensive at 6-1, and that game was so important.”
“It’s those differences that make a match,” continued the World #20, “and someone like Darwish, who likes to keep a good rhythm, you need to keep (rhythm) with him - or break it. Today, I chose to keep it with him, which probably wasn’t the right thing to do.”
In an ending indicative of how the match played out, a mentally-fatigued and frustrated Iskandar stumbled and fell while retrieving a shot on the last point.
“Today I was really focused, and really wanted to finish it as quick as possible,” said Darwish, who improved to world #4 in the PSA’s February rankings. “I didn’t want to go in and play a long match, so I think I played really well today. I didn’t expect that I’d be that comfortable, but I know that he is a little bit tired from yesterday’s match. I took advantage of it, and I tried to play more offensive, tried to attack every ball and tried to get him to the back as much as possible.”
Champion Karim Darwish receiving the Motor City Open trophy and a Rolex watch. (Birmingham Athletic Club photo)
After the match, both players spoke admiringly of the tournament, the club, and their host families.
“The tournament has been really good,” Iskandar said. “Everyone has been so responsive with us, and it’s helped me to play good squash. The family I stayed with has been so good, and I felt really at home.”
“This is the second time for me here in Detroit,” said Darwish, his arms full of the tournament’s trophy, a check from David Fischer, Chairman and CEO of Suburban Volvo, and a dazzling Rolex watch from Robert Greenstone of Greenstone Jewelers. “I really liked the atmosphere here at the club. The people are so friendly. I really enjoyed it this week.”
Motor City Open Notes
By Henry Payne and A.J. Hakim
Darwish and Tuominen back in 2004's Motor City Open. (Birmingham Athletic Club photo)
Welcome back, Karim
The last time Karim Darwish came to the Motor City Open it was 2004, he was a rising star at 23, #9 in the world, and the three- seed. And he was an upset victim - losing to Olli Tuominen in the semis. Olli, who was unseeded in 2004, was 25-years old and World #25. Fast forward six years, and Darwish has met expectations. He dominated the PSA tour in 2009, reigning atop the rankings all year until a back injury sidelined him in December.
Flying Finn
Of course, Olli hasn’t done too badly either. A Motor City regular, he lost to Greg Gaultier in that 2004 final, achieved his highest world ranking of #13 in 2006, then won the MCO in 2008. Now 31 years old, the Flying Finn was #4 seed this year as World #23.
It’s tough getting old
Squash is no friend to age. Finalist Iskandar – 27-years young - wore down 33-year old Thierry Lincou, the #2 seed (and World #1 in 2004), in Sunday’s semi, making Lincou look every bit his age by Game 5. But on Monday, Azlan met the world’s best player - in his prime. Darwish is just a year Iskandar’s senior at 28, and moves like a cat.
Speedster-friendly
“I think Iskandar has a chance. These courts favor him,” said Olli before Iskandar’s upset of Lincou Sunday. The Finn should know. He too has benefited over the years by the BAC’s springy courts, which, like clay in tennis, favors speedsters. Unlike temporary glass courts at events like last week’s Tournament of Champions in New York Grand Central Station, the ball stays up longer on club courts.
American boy
The MCO faithful had hoped to get a good look this week at America’s highest-ranked player ever, Julian Illingworth. Alas, the #32-ranked player in the world was upset in the first round by Chris Ryder of England.
Alpena reunion
On Wednesday, qualifier Edward Marks had his own cheering section all the way from Alpena, Michigan. Spectators Darin Emery, Brent Evans and Alex Howison traveled five hours from Up North to cheer on their friend and former co-worker.
“He moved back to Connecticut and is always all over the place, so we thought this would be the only chance we’d ever get to see him again,” Emery said of Marks, who met the trio when he interned at an Alpena TV news station.
The group arrived without any knowledge of squash. “We always worked out together, and we wanted to play racquetball with him one time, thought we could beat him pretty bad,” Emery recalled. “He would skunk us four or five games in a row. And he says, ‘I play squash.’ No idea what he’s talking about. I thought he grew vegetables.”
So with the MCO in town, Marks invited his buddies to see how the game was really played. “About a week ago he called me,” Emery said. “He said, ‘I’m flying into Detroit. You guys gotta get down here and watch me play squash, so you can understand what it is.’”
Marks (ranked #263 in the world) was overmatched against Yasir Butt (World #55) and lost: 8-11, 3-11, 8-11, but was thrilled to see his friends in attendance. “It was awesome,” Marks said of the experience. “They got the whole crowd behind me. They’re some of my best friends.”
Thanks
Hats off to Suburban Volvo, Greenstone Jewelers and all our sponsors for a great tournament. And thanks to MCO co-chairs Mike Beauregard and Peter Schmidt and the entire Motor City Open committee for making the trains run on time.
