21/05/2007
LE SPORT OPEN
Ford Celebrates First PSA Tour Success
Le Sport Squash Open,
Rhos-on-Sea, Wales
1st round:
[1] Ryan Thompson (NAM) bt [Q] Stephen Siviter (ENG) 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5
[7] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt Jethro Binns (WAL) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
[4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Nick Wall (ENG) 8-11, 11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 11-8, 11-10 (2-0)
[8] Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt [Q] Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8
[Q] Philip Whitlock (ENG) bt [6] Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7
[3] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Thomas Javanaud (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
[5] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [Q] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-9, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[7] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [1] Ryan Thompson (NAM) 11-5, 11-10 (2-0), 6-1 ret.
[4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [8] Matias Tuomi (FIN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
[3] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [Q] Philip Whitlock (ENG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-10 (3-1)
[5] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9
Semi-finals:
[4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [7] Tom Pashley (ENG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0)
[5] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [3] Joe Lee (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5
Final:
[5] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-10 (3-1)
Ford Celebrates First PSA Tour Success
Englishman Ben Ford fulfilled the promise expected of him for many years when he beat Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller in the final of the Le Sport Squash Open to claim his maiden PSA Tour title at Le Sport Health & Fitness Club in Rhos-on-Sea, Wales.
A long-time England-ranked player, Ford only became a member of the PSA for the first time in March 2006, already then aged 30. The Kent-based coach quickly set about establishing himself on the international circuit, competing on the Tour while maintaining his coaching commitments at Charing Cross in London and the Limpsfield club in Surrey.
The 31-year-old made his breakthrough in the inaugural PSA Tour event hosted by former PSA stalwart Philip Whitlock when he defeated Egypt's second seed Mohamed El Shorbagy in the quarter-finals.
In the semis, fifth seed Ford upset fellow Englishman Joe Lee, the No6 seed, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5.
Ford's final opponent Nicolas Mueller was also celebrating his first appearance in a PSA Tour final - a month after lifting the European Junior Championship title for the first time.
The fourth-seeded Swiss teenager took the opening game in the final. But the experienced Ford fought back to win the match 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-10 (3-1) - and fulfil his goal of achieving success on the PSA Tour.
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