Saturday 11th Dec 1pm

It's been quite a last 24 hours! To win yesterday was a bit of a dream like scenario. Everything just came together all week. It was a real target to win a major title but to do it this week with the quality of the draw in Pakistan was special.

Anthony was tough to beat even though he was a bit jaded and the first three games were a real scrap. When I managed to nick the third he was spent and I just had to make sure I didn't let him back in. I think it was a good match played really aggressively but fairly by both of us and hopefully the packed crowd enjoyed it.

It took a while to get the game started. After the warm up we had to wait for another five minutes for the Prime Minister to arrive ... (if Blair was late to the British Open we'd let him off I'm sure). Then as we started we both found the court was a bit slippy so we had another five minute break for the court to be wiped with the damp cloth. This was brutal ... We just wanted to play!

Then we had a heavy collision in the middle of the court and my sheer amazing strength seemed to wind Anthony a bit! ... "three minutes injury break" he said...

"Anthony, you're joking", I replied ... "just kidding", he said cheekily, being the comedian that he is.

People in Pakistan are very passionate about squash and the reception they gave us in the final was awesome.It is very different over here compared to England. When you see the Pakistan National news on TV, the squash is the very first story they cover and it is always back page news in the national newspapers.

I spoke to Malc during the tournament as usual over the phone, and he uses his blend of wit and calmness to keep me relaxed which is great for me. It's good to have him there all the way, and also the club who as always are greatly supportive.

I hope these notes have been informative. Congratulations to the PSF and all involved in the tournament for doing a great job! It is an important event in the PSA calendar , let's hope it stays that way.

James Willstrop

11.30pm 9th Dec 2004

Semi-Final:
[8] James Willstrop (Eng) bt  [2] Nick Matthew (Eng)
       11/4, 11/5, 11/5 (30m)

Semi finals day today and I was really happy with my performance. The scores don't flatter Nick and I can assure you the match was harder than it looked! I am happy with it but am well aware there is a new challenge awaiting at four tomorrow. I am looking forward to it immensely. I really enjoy the big occasion and a super series event is certainly that. I want to have some fun out there too and hopefully Anthony and I can produce a good match for the Pakistani spectators.

Anthony and Jonathan was fiercely competitive and really exciting from the spectator's point of view. It was a bit strange when a group of school children who were watching the match started clapping intermittently, and randomly at completely the wrong times! No one seemed to be able to get through to them when it was right to clap! It was almost comical, but not for the players.

I noticed Jansher was watching in the front row. It was good to see the Pakistani squash legend there supporting the event. He is one of the greats and I learned a lot by watching him when I was younger so it was good to see him there.

 Elsewhere on the scene not much is happening. Dan Jenson and David Palmer are still around as they are off to Chennai for the doubles after this, and were seen in golfing gear which looked quite amusing. Ernie and Tiger played this morning and had caddys!

Otherwise all is the same; routine stays the same, practice, hotel, tv prepare, play, and hopefully win!

James Willstrop

10.30pm 8th Dec 2004

Quarter-Final:
[8] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [3] Amr Shabana (Egy)
      11/9, 11/7, 1/0 rtd (22m)

There's always lots of time when you're in Pakistan, what with armed guards having to go anywhere with you so most of the time is spent either training, playing, slagging some of the other players off or relaxing in the hotel room - and now writing!

Islamabad is better than i thought it would be. The hotel and squash centre are good and transport is running well.

I beat Amr Shabana today. I was two up and he came off. I played ok for the two games that were competitive but felt more flowing yesterday beating Olli 3-0.

Nick also did well in the end to beat Shahid who is formidable, like Pakistani's tend to be, in his own country. It was difficult as Shahid is very skillful and looks for anything he can get from the referee which must have been annoying, especially with 50 or 60 people shouting against you from outside.

Power was looking sharp in his match with Palmer, who was doing a lot of complaining to the referee and made Power look angelic which is difficult!

I missed the Ricketts / Gaultier match but Anthony seems in good spirits and has had a couple of good wins here added to the quarter final in Qatar so it looks like he's back in form.

Anyway all ready to play tomorrow against Nick. Just had some good food and a massage and it will be back to the hotel room to watch the umpteenth film of the week with Nick and maybe finish last night's game of chess which I will lose for sure!..

Hope it's not a sign of things to come!

James Willstrop
 

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