Illingworth
Triumphs In Northern Ontario Championship
Less than 24
hours after surviving the longest match of his professional career, US number
one Julian Illingworth dashed home hopes of success in the Northern
Ontario Championship in Canada when he beat Shawn Delierre in the
final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event in its third year
at the Sudbury YMCA in Sudbury, Ontario.
"Julian had a
mammoth 123-minute battle with Chris Simpson in the semis and there were
questions as to how well he would recover before the final," explained
tournament spokesman Michael McCue. "Delierre was also stretched to five
games but did not have his fitness sternly tested.
"The theme of
the week - long rallies interspersed with explosions of offense - won out again
today. Canadian Delierre is known for his lengthy matches, but Illingworth has a
more attacking reputation. The American was hitting the ball cleaner than his
previous match, especially to the front, which forced Shawn into outstretched
lobs."
After
surviving a crucial second game, coming back from 8-9 down, top seed Illingworth
went on to close out the match 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 in 63 minutes.
"Illingworth
sensed the importance of the moment and strung together three excellent
rallies," added McCue. "He remarked afterward that this was the key point of the
match."
It was the
ninth Tour clash between the pair - all of which had been on North American soil
- with Illingworth easing ahead 5/4 in their head-to-head tally.
The win also
marks Illingworth's sixth PSA World Tour title - and comes just a month after
the 28-year-old from New York won a record eighth US national crown.
Sharpes Shifts
Shahier In Sudbury Shake Up
Unseeded
Englishman Charles Sharpes produced the best win of his career in the
Northern Ontario Championship in Canada when he upset second seed Shahier
Razik, the title-holder, to reach the last four of the PSA World Tour
Challenger 15 squash event in its third year at the Sudbury YMCA in
Sudbury, Ontario.
Canadian
number one Razik is a seasoned professional. The 29-year-old from Toronto won
his sixth Canadian national title last year, and the 22nd PSA World Tour title
of his career - and currently sits at 29 in the world rankings.
But Sharpes is
making rapid strides at the beginning of his career. The 20-year-old from Surrey
leapt over 100 places in the world rankings since the beginning of last year to
a career-high No80 last month.
"Sharpes was
on the attack for the whole match, staying in front of Razik and consistently
hitting severe low kills," said tournament spokesman Michael McCue. "Razik
does revel in this defensive role, but Sharpes never faltered mentally or
physically.
"Charles held
leads at 9-4 in both the second and third, and this gap proved too much for
Razik to peg back. This was certainly the best win (ranking-wise, at least) of
Charles' young career."
Sharpes was
quick to comment on his 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 victory on Twitter: "Big result for me
tonight - got a 3-0 win against Shahier Razik. Thought I played really
well and can't wait for the semis tomorrow."
The only
unseeded player in the semi-finals, Sharpes will now face another Canadian
Shawn Delierre, the runner-up in 2010. Fourth seed Delierre, from Montreal,
beat English qualifier Ben Coleman 12-10, 11-9, 11-6.
The other
semi-finals will also be an Anglo/North American affair - between Julian
Illingworth, the top seed from New York, and third-seeded Englishman
Chris Simpson.
Both recovered
from first-game set-backs - Illingworth overcoming South African qualifier
Clinton Leeuw 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 and Simpson taking 72 minutes to quash
Welsh champion Peter Creed 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.
Qualifiers
Excel In Ontario
Qualifiers
Ben Coleman and Clinton Leeuw claimed unexpected places in the
quarter-finals of the Northern Ontario Championship in Canada after
upsetting higher-ranked opponents in the opening round of the PSA World Tour
Challenger 15 squash event in its third year at the Sudbury YMCA in
Sudbury, Ontario.
It was only
shortly after the day's play got underway that the club had to be evacuated due
to a gas leak in the kitchen. "Play was halted and everyone was herded outside
while the fire department did an inspection," explained tournament spokesman
Michael McCue. "The delay was only temporary though, and after 15 minutes
players were back on court."
Englishman
Coleman, the lowest-ranked player in the draw, despatched Dutchman Dylan
Bennett, the world No93, 11-5, 11-5, 12-10 in 37 minutes.
The
21-year-old world No 136 from Chelmsford will now be the second English opponent
for Canadian hope Shawn Delierre. Fourth seed Delierre, from Montreal,
recovered from 5-9 down in the first game to defeat Lewis Walters 13-11,
11-5, 11-9.
South African
Leeuw dashed local hopes of three players through to the last eight by beating
Toronto-based Dane Sharp 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 - and moves forward to
face top seed Julian Illingworth, the record eight-time US national
champion.
"Made it a
tough game today in Sudbury for myself," said the Cape Town-born 30-year-old
later on Twitter. "Glad to get through US num1 2mro - gota be stronger, faster."
In the
shortest match of the day, England's third seed Chris Simpson progressed
to the next round after fellow countryman Jaymie Haycocks retired with an
ankle injury after just 13 minutes and seven points.
An Englishman
also survived the longest: Unseeded Charles Sharpes battled for 72
minutes to overcome experienced Australian qualifier Scott Arnold 7-11,
11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9.
"Won a tight
3-2 against Scott Arnold tonight," tweeted the 20-year-old from Surrey
later. "Really happy to get through and looking forward to the quarter finals
tomorrow."
Sharpes will
take on second seed Shahier Razik after the defending champion from
Toronto beat wild card Michael McCue 11-5, 11-3, 11-6.
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