Ghosal
Grabs Career-Best Windy City Win
India's Saurav Ghosal celebrated the biggest PSA World Tour
title win of his career at the METROsquash Windy City Open, the
PSA International 25 squash event at the University Club of
Chicago in Chicago, USA.
The
top seed from Kolkata faced Pakistan qualifier Yasir Butt, a
23-year-old from Lahore whose giant-killing run in the event included
the scalps of three higher-ranked opponents.
"Yasir
came out firing, with precision short shots catching Saurav a little of
guard, taking early leads in the first three games," explained
tournament spokesman Yoni Ellous. "Saurav knuckled down in each
with some phenomenal retrieving causing Yasir to get frustrated."
Ghosal
recovered to win the first two games, but Butt reduced the deficit after
the third.
The
six-time Indian champion neutralised Butt from the start of the fourth,
quickly establishing a 5-1 lead. The Pakistani was unable to close the
gap as Ghosal powered on to secure his title-winning 11-8, 15-13, 10-12,
11-5 victory.
"Won
3-1 today!" tweeted the world No27 after the biggest win of his career.
"Yasir was really good...he CAN play! Great final! I'm so happy to be
the METRO WINDY CITY CHAMPION! Woohooo"
The
success marks the fifth Tour title of Ghosal's career.
Butt
Battles Into Windy City Open Final
Pakistan qualifier Yasir Butt continued his giant-killing run in
the METROsquash Windy City Open when he beat third seed Mohd
Ali Anwar Reda to reach the final of the PSA World Tour
International 25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago
in Chicago, USA.
The
23-year-old from Lahore saved two match balls in the fourth game before
going on to defeat Egyptian Reda 9-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3.
"Mohd
hurt his hand in the beginning of the fifth and then seemed to lose his
way," said tournament spokesman Yoni Ellous. "He never looked the
same and Yasir never looked back, cruising to an easy close out in the
fifth."
Butt,
now in the tenth PSA Tour final of his career, will face top seed
Saurav Ghosal. The six times Indian champion recorded his first
straight games win in the event when he despatched Scotland's No4 seed
Alan Clyne 11-4, 11-5, 11-6.
Ghosal, the world No27 from Kolkata, is celebrating his eighth Tour
final.
Ghosal
Punishes Pett In Chicago
Top
seed Saurav Ghosal signalled the end of the road for title-holder
Olivier Pett when he beat the English qualifier in four games in
the quarter-finals of the METROsquash Windy City Open, the PSA
World Tour International 25 squash event at the University Club
of Chicago in Chicago, USA.
Ghosal,
the world No27 from India, fought back from a game down to overcome Pett,
ranked almost 40 places lower, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 14-12.
"Both
played beautifully, moving the ball around well, attacking with
precision and getting just about everything back," said tournament
spokesman Yoni Ellous. "But in the end it was Saurav that managed
to outlast Ollie to a standing ovation from the crowd."
Ghosal
tweeted later: "Won 3-1 today! Pett played very well. Definitely one to
look out for. Didn't realise he was defending champion! No wonder he
pushed like mad!"
The
six times Indian champion goes on to meet Scotland's Alan Clyne
following the fourth seed's 8-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-9 win over Australian
Ryan Cuskelly.
But in
the lower half of the draw, Pakistan qualifier Yasir Butt
continued his giant-killing run in the event by upsetting Canada's
Shawn Delierre 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9.
The
23-year-old from Lahore will now face Egyptian Mohd Ali Anwar Reda.
The No3 seed from Cairo ended Mexican interest in the event when he beat
Arturo Salazar 12-14, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8.
"Arturo got the best of Mohd in the first game after a tie-breaker, only
for Mohd to come out flying to take the second," explained Ellous. "Even
though the third and fourth were evenly matched it was Mohd kicking into
a higher gear at the end of each game."
Delierre Downs Razik To Lead Chicago Upsets
Shawn Delierre
overcame second seed and fellow Canadian Shahier Razik in a
93-minute marathon to record the biggest upset on the opening day of the
METROsquash Windy City Open, the PSA World Tour International
25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago in
Chicago, USA.
In the
longest match of the day, the world No56 recovered from a game down to
topple Torontonian Razik, ranked 24 places higher, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8,
11-7.
The
29-year-old from Montreal will now face Yasir Butt after the
Pakistan qualifier sprung a surprise by beating fast-rising Egyptian
Marwan El Shorbagy 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5 in a fast attacking game.
Olivier Pett,
the Englishman who progressed through the 2011 event to win the title as
a qualifier, has continued his Chicago form this week.
The
23-year-old from Sussex again had to battle through the qualifiers -
then faced higher-ranked Ong Beng Hee, the rejuvenated Malaysian
who last month won the Motor City Open in Detroit.
Pett
pulled out all the stops and put Beng Hee away, winning 11-8, 11-6, 11-7
in 39 minutes to secure a place in the last eight.
Another upset seemed on the cards when unseeded Mexican Cesar Salazar
took a two-game lead over top seed Saurav Ghosal in a bid to join
his twin brother Arturo Salazar in the quarter-finals.
But
Indian star Ghosal, the world No27 from Kolkata, reclaimed the advantage
to close out the match 6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6 after 76 minutes.
"Won
3-2 after being 2-0 down!!! Really glad to win that match," tweeted the
UK-based 25-year-old. "Hopefully body will recover for my match
tomorrow!"
|
