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Farag Claims ‘MeerSquashHeroes Title
The world’s best junior player Ali Farag won the
‘MeerSquashHeroes Open 2011 title today when he beat local
favourite Dylan Bennett in a thrilling final match in front
of a packed gallery at the renowned ‘MeerSquash & Activity
club in the Dutch city of Hoofddorp.
The Egyptian youngster lost the opening game to his higher
ranked and more experienced Dutch opponent, but came back
strong in the next two. The fourth went to Bennett again,
the event’s top seed, before Farag resumed control in the
deciding fifth game, eventually running out a 7-11, 11-4,
11-2, 9-11, 11-7 winner.
Third seeded Farag, who beat James Snell (2) earlier in the
day in the semi’s, displayed some outrageous shots and
lightning fast movement en route to his second PSA Tour
title in 2 weeks and thus extended his unbeaten record in
2011 after winning the British Junior Open early January,
followed by the Open du Gard 2011 in Nimes the week after.
As a result of the great start of the New Year the world
number 94 will surely see his ranking rise drastically when
the next World Rankings are published at the beginning of
next month.
Bennett and Farag into ‘MeerSquashHeroes
final
Dutch international Dylan Bennett and Egypt’s Ali Farag will
contest the final of the ‘MeerSquashHeroes Open 2011 after
both players came through similar semi finals at the
renowned ‘MeerSquash & Activity club in the Dutch city of
Hoofddorp.
Top seeded Bennett overcame compatriot Sebastiaan Weenink in
a close-fought battle which had the large crowd on the edge
of their seat. The 26-year old from Eindhoven lost the first
with ease but recovered to win the next three, en route to a
3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 score line.
In the other semi final 18-year old Farag, seeded third
during the PSA Challenger 5 tournament in the Netherlands,
entertained the audience with incredible shot-making and
extremely light footed movement. His higher ranked opponent
James Snell fought hard to stay with the Egyptian youngster,
but in the end was unable to match the creative and
attacking play of the British Junior Open 2011 champion.
Farag won 10-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3.
The final between Bennett and Farag proves to be a cracking
affair, with the Dutch player looking for his 6th
PSA Tour title, and the talented Egyptian eager to extend
his unbeaten run in 2011. The final will be played later on
Sunday at 5pm.
Dutch
Finalist Guaranteed In Hoofddorp
A Dutch finalist is guaranteed during the ‘MeerSquashHeroes
Open 2011 after Dylan Bennett and Sebastiaan Weenink made it
through to the semi finals of the PSA Challenger 5
tournament in the Dutch city of Hoofddorp.
25-year old Bennett, the event’s top seed, was made to work
hard by Germany’s Andre Haschker before securing his
expected place in Sunday’s semi’s. The world number 72 had
to come back from 4-6 down in the decisive fifth game,
reeling off 6 unanswered points, before finishing the match
on his second match point.
Weenink, the 23-year old from The Hague, also came through a
gruelling encounter with compatriot Piedro Schweertman. The
both of them traded point for point for the first two games
with Weenink coming out on top on both occasions. The third
went to Schweertman, but Weenink took charge again from half
way the fourth to upset his higher ranked fellow countryman.
The second semi final, between James Snell (2) from England
and Egypt’s Ali Farag (3), also promises to be an
interesting affair. Recently crowned British Junior Open
champion Farag displayed his immense talent with a
exhibition style win over Rene Mijs from the Netherlands,
whilst Snell survived a match ball against yet another Dutch
youngster Bart Ravelli in a nail-biting final match of the
evening.
Earlier in the day all first round matches went according to
script when five Dutch players moved into the quarter
finals. Sunday’s semi finals will be played at noon with the
final being scheduled for 5pm.
Palmer Progresses In Vancouver
Australian squash star David Palmer
was in impressive form in the opening round of the
Comfort Inn Open in Vancouver, Canada, where he
is seeded to win his 27th Tour title in the PSA World
Tour International event in its seventh year at the
Evergreen Squash Club.
The US-based 34-year-old dominated his match
against Chris Simpson, defeating the 23-year-old
Englishman 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 in 35 minutes.
"The big man moves like a cat and seems to
know where the ball is going before it's even struck," said
event spokesman Paul Marley. "It was a treat to watch."
Two of the seeds, Canadian Shahier Razik
and Finland's Olli Tuominen, were forced to stay on
court for 60 and 90 minutes, respectively, as their
opponents provided stiff competition.
Martin Knight,
the 2010 champion from New Zealand, took the opening game
against Razik - but the Toronto-based fourth seed struck
back to win 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.
Julian Illingworth
took the Finn the full distance in his bid to provide US
interest in the next round - but third seed Tuominen
triumphed 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-13, 11-6.
But the longest match of the evening saw
Miguel Angel Rodriguez prevail over Canadian hope
Shawn Delierre in 101 minutes. Delierre overcame a 2/1
deficit to force a fifth game, but the hard work of two days
of qualifying may have taken its toll as Colombian Rodriguez
took the match 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5.
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