Paul Coll
(Nzl)
11/5, 11/4, 7/11, 11/7 (29m)
Joseph Watts (Nzl)
Paul Coll
9/11, 11/9, 13/11, 11/7 (58m) Leo Au (Hkg)
[Q] Paul Rawden (Eng)
11/9, 11/5, 11/13, 11/7 (34m) [2] Leo Au (Hkg)
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers
New Zealand International Squash Classic, Palmerston North, New
Zealand
Clyne Clinches NZ Classic Crown
Alan
Clyne
clinched the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International
Squash Classic title today in Palmerston North - but the Scot
had to survive one of the longest matches of his career to see off local
hero Martin Knight in the final of the PSA World Tour
Challenger 10 event at SquashGym.
"In
front of a large crowd at the SquashGym courts and being 'streamed' live
around the world, Clyne showed why he is number 33 in the world and one
of the fittest players on tour in an epic five-game victory," said event
spokesman Michael Williams.
"Clyne
got off to a fast start, gaining a 5-1 lead early. Knight began the
match with a number of loose shots and he was punished by Clyne who did
not need a second invitation. In typical fashion Knight fought hard but
eventually went down 11-9."
After
the second went to top seed Clyne (pictured above, right, with
Knight), the newly-crowned New Zealand champion fought back to draw
level and force the match into a decider.
"The
match had turned into a battle of attrition and had been going 75
minutes by the start of the fifth," Williams continued. "Clyne got off
to a good start leading 2-0. The next rally ultimately decided the match
as both players traded blows up and down the backhand wall in a rally
that seemed to last forever. It finally came to an end when Knight lost
patience and went for a shot from the back of the court that resulted in
a tin.
"Knight looked particularly tired and maybe his 85-minute semi-final
against Leo Au the night before was catching up with him."
Clyne
extended his lead to 6-1 before closing out the match 11-9, 12-10, 7-11,
8-11, 11-6 after 91 minutes to collect the fifth Tour title of his
career.
In his
winners speech, Clyne said he hoped to be back to defend his title next
year.
Clyne
Claims Classic Final Berth
Scotland's
Alan Clyne claimed his first PSA World Tour final
appearance for more than a year when he defeated Pakistan's Nasir
Iqbal in the semi-finals of the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New
Zealand International Squash Classic, the PSA Challenger 10
event at SquashGym in Palmerston North.
"Clyne
dominated from the outset," reported event spokesman Michael Williams.
"The experience of Clyne showed throughout the match with his ability to
stay cool under pressure and make very few mistakes."
The
top-seeded Scot was pleased with the performance which earned him an
11-4, 11-6, 11-7 victory after 36 minutes: "I played really well today
and the game plan was to work him hard from the start."
Now in
the 11th Tour final of his career, Clyne faces local hero Martin
Knight, the newly-crowned New Zealand champion who upset Hong Kong's
No2 seed Leo Au 11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 13-11 in 85 minutes.
"I was
very happy with how I played tonight and the back half of the third set
seemed to take forever, but I knew that it was vital that I got through
it as it was crucial for the overall result of the match," said Knight,
the third seed.
Of his
prospects in the ninth PSA final of his career, the 29-year-old from
Auckland added: "I played Alan in Malaysia earlier this year and he beat
me 3/1 so I need to get on the pace early in the match tomorrow and then
attack when I get opportunities.
"No
one has managed to pressure Alan at the tournament so far so I need to
get on top early."
It's
Knight's Day In Palmerston North
Martin
Knight
carried home interest into the semi-finals of the Fitzherbert Rowe
Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic after dismissing
fellow Kiwi Kashif Shuja in today's quarter-finals of the PSA
World Tour Challenger 10 event at SquashGym in Palmerston
North, New Zealand.
"I was
happy with my defensive lobs tonight and I was conscious of not giving
Kash too many chances as he is too good a player and eventually one will
be a winner," said third seed Knight (pictured below, left, with Shuja),
the reigning New Zealand national champion, after his 11-3, 11-6, 12-10
victory in 50 minutes.
"We
know each other's games very well and I knew it would be tough tonight
with Kash playing in front of his home crowd."
Knight, ranked 53 in the world, will now face Leo Au, the No2
seed from Hong Kong ranked six places higher. Au was pushed hard by New
Zealander Paul Coll in the longest quarter final of the night.
Aucklander Coll got the first game and stretched Au in the next three -
but went down 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7 in 58 minutes.
Top
seed Alan Clyne of Scotland defeated Finland's Matias Tuomi
in straight games and now plays Pakistan teenager Nasir Iqbal who
beat Australia's Justin Beard.
Kiwi Trio Through In Palmerston North
A trio
of New Zealanders dominate the lower half of the Fitzherbert Rowe
Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic draw after today's
first round action in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at
SquashGym in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
New
national champion Martin Knight, the third seed leading the Kiwi
attack, was taken to four games by young compatriot Lance James
Beddoes before winning 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4 in 47 minutes, the
longest match of round one.
The
29-year-old world No53 will now take on Palmerston North-based fellow
countryman Kashif Shuja in a repeat of their semi-final clash in
the national championships a month ago. Shuja looked in control of his
match against compatriot Chris Lloyd but had a third game slip up
before beating the qualifier 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9.
Alongside Shuja in the draw is Paul Coll, the New Zealand No3 who
ended the other Palmerston North player's interest in the event when he
beat wild card Joseph Watts 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7.
Coll,
from Auckland, will now face Leo Au, the No2 seed from Hong Kong
who was pushed to four games by Pablo Rawden before overcoming
the English qualifier 11-9, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7.
Top
seed Alan Clyne secured his anticipated place in the
quarter-finals - but had to do so at the expense of fellow Scot
Douglas Kempsell. The world No33 from Edinburgh beat 20-year-old
Kempsell - also from the Scotland capital, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9.
