Semi Final | CCI International 2017

Match Report: Sachika Irshwin Balvani | Photo credit: Nitesh Square/Indian Squash Circuit

[5] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) beat 3-0 [WC] Ramit Tandon (IND) | 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 | 32 mins The first game

saw Tandon, the underdog and crowd favourite, go down 1-4 to Swiss world number 28, Nicolas Müller. Tandon seemed to be slightly off his game from his five-game epic win over Spain’s Borja Golan in yesterday’s quarter final match, and struggled to return Müller’s good length, giving Müller loose shots and hence the ability to finish the rallies and force Tandon’s mistakes. Tandon came back stronger in the second game, keeping the scores close in the first half of the game. Tandon hit a few good shots which worked successfully as winners, and forced a couple of mistakes from Müller. However, Müller did not lose his established depth and excellent use of the drop to keep Tandon at bay. After a three-minute injury timeout midway through the game, Tandon returned to level the score at 7 all. But he could not keep up, and Müller took the game. In the third game, Tandon wowed the crowed with a few dying nicks, but to no avail- he seemed unable to move to the best of his ability. On the other hand, Müller stuck to his pattern and won the match in a decisive three-game victory.

[3] Saurav Ghosal (IND) beat [2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) | 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 | 67 mins

The first game saw the Egyptian establish his dominance early in the game, and though the rallies were long, it was Mosaad who finally pulled through the second half of the game, 11-5. But Ghosal returned the favour, leveling the match score by winning the second game 11-4, working Mosaad considerably more to get to each ball. While this set the stage for a strong Mosaad comeback in the third game, it was Saurav who, by taking the ball earlier, managed to push Mosaad in all corners and force mistakes, earning and 7-3 lead. With both players having their fair share of fall-outs with the referees, the match went on to become more heated, but it was finally Ghosal who earned a 10-5 lead. Though Mosaad fought to make a comeback, bringing the score up to 8-10, a final tin cost him the game and gave Ghosal the upper hand. The fourth game was destined to be the final one, as Ghosal kept Mosaad moving from corner to corner right from the start. Mosaad won the crowd’s respect at match ball, when he changed the referee’s stroke decision (which offered him a much-needed point) to a let. Ghosal, however won the fourth game 11-8 to win the match and beat Mosaad for the first time in his career, and will go on to play Nicolas Müller in tomorrow’s final.