Squash: Free Game Friday - Massaro v Sobhy - PSA Dubai World Series Finals

[@AllanKant]

Its hard to describe exactly, but when you watch how the players move onto and out of the shot back to the T, you can quite clearly see how Massaro unfairly occupies her opponents space. Its quite subtle, but its there.

[@hunterfrancischun]

example?

[@altaroxllc3184]

6:52 When Lets look like Strokes. :-)

[@altaroxllc3184]

Like at 14:10.

[@napoli57rat]

Come on! That was a stroke??!! The results of all games I have played change if that is what a stroke looks like. Instead of assuming all the judges to my games have been dumb, I assume there is something wrong with the judges to this game.

[@napoli57rat]

And if that is a stroke, why not the one after?? I bet because that would have been against "the plan". Kind of reminds me of WWB with the story fixed before the action starts.

[@apurvgupta6120]

First, learn what a let and a stroke is. Play some squash after that, gain some experience and become eligible enough to comment on the rules. The judges are never dumb, you are blind to not see whether it is a stroke or a let.

[@napoli57rat]

You seem to be an expert. Why don't you illuminate us on what a let is and what a stroke is. That way, I, the two commentators (who were both professional players), and the tens of people in the audience booing will learn a lesson from you in the art of judging squash games.

[@apurvgupta6120]

I am not an expert, but a keen observer. You and the others who disagree with the judgements must watch more squash.

[@tonytan5945]

i think sobhy had actually won that game 3 times before massaro did. Terrible referring and both bad calls made on video reviews. Bad calls happen to everyone but Sobhy should be commended for not going berserk.

[@mariocampos2044]

What happened to these judges? Clearly against Sobhy.

[@pierogiovannylandarivera1633]

I state that I am a low-level player, but for me the referee should never arbitrate such an event

[@andriusstancaitis4888]

its unfair then u got british player and british refery u can tell in witch hand he played for

[@japeking1]

The first video call should have been a Let and the second should have been a Stoke. Both decisions against Sobey. Both blatantly incorrect; calling into question the referees' rectitude. Otherwise a really good game with much credit going to Sobey for playing through the endless interference and staying quiet and on task. Exemplary..

[@jackadams3176]

dude this is one corrupt ref. incredible vid decisions in fav of massaro

[@876tahj]

This referee sucks. How can you give a 'stroke' for something, and then give a 'yes let' for the same thing? Does that make sense? No!

[@bettiethebadger]

Probably worst referee decisions ever

[@andredejongh1411]

Massaro got a new title ; Most annoying Woman on the circuit............

[@holamorelia7926]

what a robbery

[@ghawatzhusten3368]

The game has no magic

[@hunterfrancischun]

two horrible calls

[@damainasian1999]

I wonder how much Massaro paid the ref to rig? She whines all the time, and just questions every decision that is made against her, like can you stop?

[@carwynrc]

lol...u sure that they are all in her favor

[@M0odez]

People take their hate for Massaro way too far xD The only moments I noticed in this game were: 1. Pickup appeal early game from Massaro, perfectly reasonable as it looked dodgy (commentators agreed it looked strange) 2. Questioning the score at 4-4, every player gets confused over the score once in a while and this was pretty free of drama 3. Questioning the tin call at 9-9, it looked dodgy in the replay. Let decision seemed pretty fair to me; I certainly wouldn't back myself to make the call in real time from 20 metres away 4. The first 2 video reviews that went her way, she obviously had her opinion before the decisions were made and pointed them out to the ref, which I would expect from the majority of players in a tie break scenario 5. The decision which she reviewed that went against her, which the commentators agreed was worth a review and was immediately accepted by Massaro The only thing making Massaro look bad here is the fact that Sobhy is so good; she accepted the poor video decisions that went against her and knew that she lost the game because of her errors, which totalled maybe 5 or 6 points against her, rather than the decisions which cost her at most 2 points. Going as far as thinking that Massaro paid the ref is ridiculous! There have been many worse decisions than the ones that went against Sobhy in this game. I can understand why people don't like Massaro, she does not have the talent or the shots of the Egyptians and certainly does not have the shot quality of Sobhy, but she clearly works harder than everyone else to make up for it and I am glad she won this tournament because she simply played the best squash and hustled through each match very well. /end rant

[@M0odez]

It's not immature mind games, her style is to hustle and draw out errors and swoop in on lack of fitness or concentration. Her best strength is that she has no real weaknesses (that are as significant as Sobhy's fitness, for example). As for the hugging thing, just because all the other girls do it doesn't mean it's disrespectful not to; she might just not like the sweat.

[@M0odez]

Example from this video?

[@M0odez]

Ok let's talk about the serves. Massaro was clearly ready I agree, but surely if you have played squash for 30 years you would understand that she stopped because of the noise from someone in the crowd? Sobhy and the ref didn't even blink and just she just served again. So now we have cleared that example, I would like another. Personally, I am struggling to see any opportunity for Massaro to affect Sobhy; they barely exchange a word or even gesture in the whole game. Massaro yells to herself on big points to keep herself going and funnily enough she always directs it AWAY from Sobhy into empty space on the court, which I find to be very sporting. Also, someone tried gamesmanship on you and you straight up took the piss out of them as a response? Did the ref not say anything in those games, because that kind of behaviour is childish and very UNsportsmanlike.