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Sat 28th, Day FIVE: Semi-finals:

[4] Daryl Selby (Eng) bt  [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
        11/2, 3/0 rtd (8m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt [3] Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
        6/11, 11/8, 11/3, 12/10 (65m)

[4] Daryl Selby (Eng) bt  [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
        11/2, 3/0 rtd

LJ limps out

The first semi-final at the Victoria Club was a big disappointment for the Dutch fans who had flocked in to see their top man, LJ Anjema.

From the outset the Dutch Champion and top seed didn't look to be moving well, as Daryl Selby won a number of points with simple drops and crosscourts that left LJ for dead.

They had a couple of lengthy rallies in the first game, which the Englishman controlled all the way through, and when Daryl when 3/0 up in the second LJ accepted the inevitable and offered his hand in retirement.

"In my match yesterday I dived after the ball and jarred my right knee. I didn't really feel it at the time but it stiffened up later, and was stiff and sore this morning.

"I had a physio look at it and he tried a few things. I had a good warmup and went on hopeful that the ball would be warm and that it would ease off once I got into the match.

"But every time I tried to change direction I could feel it, and against someone as good as Daryl if I'm not 100% then it's hopeless - I might have been able to get through an early round, but not at this level.

"It's a pity, I was playing well in the earlier rounds, so it's very disappointing ..."

 

"I never touched him!

"No, it's a real shame and I feel so sorry for him, in front of a good home crowd too.

"I'm happy to get through obviously, but wouldn't have wanted to get to the final this way. Still, at least I'll get a bit more recovery time after two tough matches in the earlier rounds ..."

"He played well, I can't take anything way from him.

"I had a couple of setups in the second, and three or four in the fourth, which on another day might have gone up instead of just clipping the tin, but that's just how it goes sometimes.

"The ball got a bit spongy in the third, maybe I should have reacted faster to that.

"There's no time to grieve, we've got India and Saudi coming up, so I'll have to get myself ready for those ..."

[2] Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt [3] Azlan Iskandar (Mas)
        6/11, 11/8, 11/3, 12/10 (65m)

Pilley returns to the final

Runner-up last year in Amsterdam, Cameron Pilley will get a second chance to claim the Dutch Open title after a tight semi-final against Azlan Iskandar which the tall Aussie finished in style.

It was the Malaysian who was on top in the early stages, taking a 5/0 lead in the first and consolidating it 11/6. He led 4/1 in the second too, but with both players being very patient, Pilley pulled it back to level at 5-all. The probing continued, both being very careful with their shots, 6-all, 7-all, 8-all. A drop that just clipped the tin for Azlan, a stroke to Cameron then a crisp winner and it was all square.

The third was over quickly as Azlan lost some of his precision, allowing Cameron to fire in the attacks to take the game convincingly.

Order was restored in the fourth though, Azlan was more accurate, cut out the errors, and looked to be taking it into a decider. After a good start he maintained the advantage throughout, reaching 10/8. A winning dropshot just clipped the tin to make it 10/9, a volley drop again just clipped the tin to take it into extra points.

Cameron glued one onto the backhand wall to set up match ball, then forced a lob out of Azlan that was too short ... he wasn't going to pass up this opportunity, leapt, and cracked the ball down into the nick for what must have been one of his most satisfying winners ... he certainly seemed to enjoy it, and the crowd certainly did.

"That's a good win, and a good way to finish it!

"I was a bit nervous at the start, my previous matches were against people I'd beaten, but Azlan has beaten me in all the tournament matches we've played, so I wanted to keep it tight at the start.

"In the fourth I just had to hang in there, trying to pull it back point by point. Then at 10-all I stuck one to the wall, and when the ball came up on match ball I thought I might as well go for it!

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow now, I hope I can win it this time. It's a pity about LJ, but Daryl's going to be a tough proposition - he's had a couple of hard matches but today will have helped him recover. We'll just have to see how it goes ..."