James Willstrop's Column Nov 2

Last week's Egypt experience was not the best I have encountered in my professional career, I have to admit.

The El Gouna International, whose later rounds were played on a man-made resort of the same name, is a pleasant but soulless area made up of hotels, beaches and golf courses, seemingly designed to appeal to European families who partake in what they might refer to as holidays, but in which they amble about looking really quite bored.

For an inaugural event, which El Gouna was, it is not possible for everything to be perfect and the players understand this. Nevertheless, a new tournament is great news for the tour.

Much about the event was positive: good hotel, food provided, pleasant surroundings, even amongst the Egyptian chaos that I described last week.

There were issues which spoiled the event, though. in El Gouna, the all-glass court was near the water and most of the surrounding area was made up of sand.

On the surface it appeared that this could be another beautiful and unusual showcasing of squash. As it turned out, I ended up conceding my quarter-final against Greg Gaultier, struggling not to slip.

There had been problems all week on the court, perhaps because of the conditions, together with the state of the court floor. the heat made it sweaty and the sand was finding its way onto the court through shoes or from the strong winds.

Out of the players, I struggled the most, although Gaultier agreed that the court was bad but not unplayable, hence my having to concede.

Amr Shabana said the court badly affected him when losing his quarter-final and Ramy Ashour slipped in the final, though whether this was a court issue wasn't clear.

There were several stoppages throughout the week, which confirmed that there was basis to my argument. To have to forfeit a major PSA match because of a bad floor seems to me outrageous and it was the last thing I wanted to do.

It wouldn't have been quite so bad had the tournament director, or someone of official standing, actually acknowledged some regret but I haven't heard one comment from anybody, perhaps because they felt that
I was making it up and intended to cause problems.

In fact, the tournament director even had the gall to come on to court to tell me to play on during the match. for him to remonstrate in this way was a disgrace, showing a lack of understanding of top-level squash.

It appeared, at this tournament at least, that sponsors' gratification is far more important than players' welfare, which naturally left a bad taste in the mouth.