Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1 [8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (62m)
When you think that both of them could play in the Masters events. I was sitting next to Mathieu Castagnet, French National Coach, who was giggling the whole match with some “I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I’M THE SAME AGE THAN MIGUEL!!! You would have to carry me out of the court if I was doing a 10th of what he is doing!!!!
Funny thing. Having Mathieu next to you is a bit like having Joey Barrington in the ear, only as a coach: he is talking to his player – who cannot hear him AT ALL obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t relate here now WOULD I constantly like “we have worked that hundreds of times in training, you know what to do”, or “what are you doing, he is dead, drop it, drop it, nooooooo, oh, that’s great, that’s amazing, well done, good, love that one”… The whole time. Like I said, it’s like having your own coaching tutoring… Love him to bits.
Back to squash, and honestly, although I was dreaming of going back to the hotel and report from my cosyness of my room, I surprised myself wishing that Miguel would push for a 5th game, as I was having such a great time watching those two SILLY BEGGARS OF ALIENS running all over the court, producing an extraordinary squash that only them can dream of executing and get out of it alive.
Incredible pace, incredible pick ups, frantic squash, fair, fluid, just go and see the replay… You won’t regret it…
PSA report:
France’s Gregoire Marche booked his spot in the quarter-finals with an eye-catching win over former British Open champion Miguel Rodriguez.
Marche made a blistering start to the encounter, producing some spectacular squash and subduing Rodriguez’s renowned ‘disco-time’ skills over the first half of the match. The World No.20 raced into a commanding 2-0 lead with some high-tempo, but equally controlled hitting, taking the opening two games by 11-9 and 11-3 scorelines.
However, the inevitable Rodriguez resurgence arrived soon afterwards, with a number of sloppy errors from the Frenchman’s racket soon seeing Rodriguez firstly draw a game back, and shortly afterwards, hold a slender lead in the fourth.
As the pressure mounted in the fourth game, the packed house inside the Wimbledon Club were treated to a number of highly entertaining rallies, with neither player wanting to take a step backwards.
A regulation tin though from Rodriguez at 9-9 in the fourth game ultimately proved costly, with the unseeded Marche subsequently moving through to the last eight of the Gold-level event after 62 minutes of breathless action.
Miguel
I hate this floor. It’s the second match I play on it in my whole career, because I played the British Open last year. It’s not good for the players, it’s very humid, it doesn’t absorb the sweat like a wodden floor would.
But then again, we both played on it, and he managed to play better on it. He played very well in the first two games, and then I managed to keep focus, to keep my targets in the four corners, it was much better, I made less mistakes, I was more focused.
I felt I couldn’t play my game, I was always under pressure, in the first two games, I was never in the lead, all credit to him, he was hanging out there, and pushing as well. That’s not the way I wanted to perform today. I did my best…
Grégoire
“I think it is always an enjoyable battle playing Miguel. I think we are the old boys on tour now, but I think we still move pretty well. I was moving well today, I was feeling confident, the same as yesterday I had a lack of concentration in the third, maybe because it’s late and a long day.
“It’s a match where you have to find a way to win. I’m glad I did it because you can never even give 10% to Miguel otherwise he will take it. I’m happy I won today and I’m feeling well.
“I will try to recover, do a bit of bike, trying to get some good food and sleep. I think I play at the same time tomorrow so I have the full day again. I’m looking forward to playing Mo ElShorbagy tomorrow.”
