PSA: Gordon battles on in New York

By Alan Thatcher

April 17, 2013 - 5:35am

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Gordon Keeps Home Hopes Alive In New York

17 April 2013

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Oliver NY Metro Open, Metropolitan New York, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (45m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 (50m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [2] Julian Illingworth (USA) 12-14, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (80m)

US national champion Christopher Gordon kept home hopes alive in the Oliver NY Metro Open – Squash Revolutionafter upsetting third seed Shawn Delierre to reach the semi-finals of the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 15squash event being staged across four venues in Metropolitan New York in the USA.

The unseeded New York-born 26-year-old, who won the country’s national title for the first time last month, despatched Canadian Delierre, ranked 37 in the world, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 in 50 minutes at Street Squash in New York.

But there was domestic disappointment at Pyramid Squash in Tuckahoe where No2 seed Julian Illingworth crashed out of the tournament. The eight-time US champion survived a tie-break opening game against Shaun le Roux before going down 12-14, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 to the unseeded South African in 80 minutes.

UK-based Le Roux, ranked 59 in the world, now faces Australian Matthew Karwalski, the world No60 who defeated fellow non-seed Campbell Grayson 11-7, 11-6, 11-5. New Zealander Grayson had reached the quarter-finals after upsetting event promoter Shahier Razik, the No4 seed, in the first round.

“It was a fast paced and entertaining match – however, the 3/0 score does not reflect the intensity of the match nor the amount of work put in by the two players,” said the New York Sports Clubs’ spokesman Alwyn Callender. “The rallies were long and hard fought with Karwalski playing like a man on fire. He hunted volley opportunities with devastating consistency and accuracy.

“Grayson was under constant pressure having to traverse the entire court several times during most rallies and as such could not play enough attacking squash to be a real threat to the winner. He put up a good fight but the relentless volleying took its toll and he progressively faded during the match.

“Karwalski maintained a constant lead by winning blocks of three to five points throughout the entire match. After losing the first point in the first game, he went on a five point rampage to set up the first game.

“The second game had a similar pattern as Karwalski lost the first point but then went on to win the next four points to run up a 4-1 lead.

“The third game got off to a familiar start with Grayson winning the first point and Karwalski winning the second. At 2-1, it appeared that Grayson might something left in the tank and try to turn things around. However, it was not to be as Karwalski won the next three points. Karwalski went on another four point streak moving the score to 8-3. Grayson made a gallant effort to close the gap but the hole was too deep and he finally succumbed 5-11.”

There will also be Australian interest in the top half of the draw where Ryan Cuskelly became the only seed to make the semis after beating fellow countryman Zac Alexander 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in 45 minutes.

The New York-based top seed from New South Wales will face local hero Gordon for a place in the final.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Christopher Gordon (USA)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) v Matthew Karwalski (AUS)

Campbell Conquers Promoter Razik In New York

16 April 2013

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Oliver NY Metro Open, Metropolitan New York, USA

1st round:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (47m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (34m)
[3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [WC] Ramit Tandon (IND) 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 (97m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [4] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (65m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 17-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 (86m)

New Zealander Campbell Grayson ditched event promoter Shahier Razik in five games in the first seeding upset in theOliver NY Metro Open 2013 – Squash Revolution, the new PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event being staged across four venues in Metropolitan New York in the USA.

Fourth seed Razik, the six-time Canadian champion who is the driving force behind this inaugural championship, recovered from losing the first game to build up a 2/1 lead over the Kiwi at the New York Sports Clubs.

“The crowd at the New York Sports clubs saw it all tonight,” said club spokesman Pete Avitable. “Everything from mega rallies, come backs, dives, slips, time outs, and all kinds of excitement on display.

“In the first match, Campbell got off to a quick start in the first when he looked to tire in the second and third. Razik looked like he had an edge when his pace seemed to slow down, and Campbell took full advantage to get himself in back in control and win a close decider.”

Another comeback marathon followed at the club when Australian Matthew Karwalski beat Mexican Eric Galvez - runner-up at the Rochester Pro-Am championship at the weekend – 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10.

“Galvez was going for his fifth match in five days,” explained Avitable. “He was up 2/1 when his shoulder seemed to be bothering him. In the decider Eric, with a 7-4 lead, needed a three-minute injury time out.

“He came back to give himself match-ball with a few decisive winners, but Karwalski tied it up at 10-10 with a spectacular winner to win a thrilling rally and eventually closes it out 12-10 in fifth.”

At Pyramid Squash in Tuckahoe, eight-time US champion Julian Illingworth survived an 86-minute battle with GermanJens Schoor to win 17-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 and lead home interest into the quarter-finals.

At StreetSquash in New York, reigning US champion Christopher Gordon also booked his place in the last eight with an 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 win over Canadian David Letourneau.

While second seed Illingworth, the world No41 from New York, takes on South African Shaun le Roux in the lower half of the draw, Hartford-based world No54 Gordon will line up against third-seeded Canadian Shawn Delierre in the top half.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Zac Alexander (AUS)
[3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Christopher Gordon (USA)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Shaun le Roux (RSA)

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