Kristian Frost
5/11, 11/2, 12/14,
11/4, 11/4 (82m)
Chris Simpson
[Q] Peter Creed (WAL)
11/4, 11/4, 9/11, 11/6 (57m) [2] Chris Simpson (ENG)
Selby And Simpson to
Contest Clic Sargent Final
Daryl Selby and Chris Simpson will go head-to-head in the final
of the CLIC Sargent St George’s Hill Open, PSA M25 event after
claiming respective victories against Lucas Serme and Tom Richards.
Selby’s clash with Serme was an engaging affair with very little to
choose between both players in the opening two games but World No.18
Selby, nine years Serme’s senior, used his immense experience to
take the vital points towards the latter stages of each game,
claiming a 2-0 lead in the process.
The third game was also a close affair but Selby yet again managed
to pull away at the end to book his place in the final with a
hard-fought 12-10, 14-12, 11-8 triumph.
“Lucas was playing very well for the first two games,” said Selby.
“I had a very hard match [against George Parker] and he played very
well in the first two rounds so I knew it was going to be tough and
I could have easily lost the first two games. They were the closest
ones and that’s where he played his best squash, although I thought
I’d played well too. It was as tough as I expected, Lucas moves
exceptionally well and varies his shots beautifully.
“I’m really delighted to have a chance to win my first PSA World
Tour title in three years. I have lost a few finals in that time so
a win would be nice.”
Simpson meanwhile faced a difficult tie against long-time adversary
Richards but, after just edging the opening game, dominated the rest
of the encounter. A fast start from Richards in game three looked to
have breathed life into the tie but Simpson recovered to seal the
win in three. The 28-year-old from Guernsey goes into his final
clash with Selby looking to win his 9th PSA World Tour title –
against a man he has lost to in all three of the pair’s PSA World
Tour encounters.
Top
Seeds Through To Weybridge Semis
All four of the top
seeded players made it through to the semi-final of the Clic Sargent
St George’s Hill Open, PSA M25 event but were made to work hard for
it by their quarter-final opponents.
Top seed Daryl Selby overcame fellow Englishman George Parker in the
day’s opening match in a an absorbing encounter that saw Parker take
the opener after a lengthy and bruising game.
Selby regrouped in the second to draw level before Parker achieved
game balls on a number of occasions in the third. The Leicester-born
19-year-old was unable to convert however, which handed Selby the
initiative heading in to game four. With Parker clearly tired having
played two extra qualifying matches previously, Selby ramped up the
pressure in the final game to earn a hard-fought 12-14, 11-6, 14-12,
11-5 triumph.
“He [Parker] didn’t surprise me, I have been watching him improve
over the years,” said Selby.
“His attitude tonight was perfect, like Ben [Coleman] yesterday.
There was a lot of respect on the court and, as I say often, when
those boys concentrate on playing squash only, they show how good
their squash can be. I thought I played well but I let myself down
in the first game.
“I was up 9-5, that’s not good enough and I could have made my life
easier. Of course, we all want a 3-0 but it’s all credit to him and
how well he can play. He is 19-years-old and he is one of our best
prospects.
“He can play in the top 25, he proved it tonight. It’s all a
question of believing in himself like a few other players. They can
challenge the Egyptians, it’s all a question of belief.”
The World No.18 will meet the talented Frenchman Lucas Serme in the
last four after he dispatched Charles Sharpes in a comfortable
straight games victory.
Tom Richards and Chris Simpson have ensured that there will be at
least one Englishman in the final after they set up a semi-final
clash against each other. Richards had to overturn a 2-0 deficit to
defeat Jens Schoor while Simpson navigated a tricky tie against
Kristian Frost Olesen to move through in five.
Lee
Brothers Set To Play At The Clic Sargent Open
The
Lee Brothers Joe 26 and Charlie 17 from Walton on Thames both play
on Wednesday evening in the first round of The Clic Sargent Squash
Classic which takes place at their home club St George's Hill
Weybridge.
The tournament is part of the PSA World Tour and is the biggest ever
to be held in Surrey.
Daryl Selby the former British Champion and World no 17 from Essex,
heads a strong international field at the OWeybridge club, which
boasts its own all glass court one of only three in the UK.
Tom Richards 29 the number three seed, who is also from Walton also
features in the event and looks on course for a potential Thursday
night quarter final with friend and rival Joe Lee.
Tom who has been ranked as high as number 12 in the world, is
looking to do well this week to get his ranking back into the top
16.
Joe Lee whose highest world ranking is 29 is also on good form
having recently reached the final of The Norwegian Open.
His younger brother Charlie, The English Under 17 Champion is the
tournament's wildcard. He faces France's Lucas Serme the World
number 40 in Wednesday's first round.
Play takes place each evening from Wednesday until Friday and
Saturday's final is at 4pm. Tickets to watch the matches are
available from 01932 843541 ext 0.
