[Q] Adam Perkiomaki (Usa)
11/8, 12/10, 11/6 [2] Arthur Gaskin (Irl)
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Stratos Seattle Open,
Seattle, USA
Hinds Scores Seattle Open Success
England's top-seeded Joel Hinds nearly squandered a commanding
two-game lead in the final of the Stratos Seattle Open when
Ireland's Arthur Gaskin, the No.2 seed, stormed back before
succumbing to pressure - and what appeared to be a groin strain - in the
deciding game of the climax of the PSA World Tour Challenger 5
squash event at Seattle Athletic Club Downtown in Seattle,
USA.
It was
the first since the 1988 U.S. Open - when Pakistan's Jahangir
Khan captured the title over Australia's Chris Dittmar - that
a Professional Squash Association tour event returned to the city
in the US state of Washington, and the host Seattle Athletic Club.
"The
capacity crowd, starved for men's professional squash to return to
Seattle, surrounded court one with its glass side wall, and cheered on
both players as Hinds played the more controlled first two games,"
reported US Squash Magazine editor Jay Prince. "Play was steady
and methodical as both players sought to control the court with length
before taking the ball short but, when Hinds did put his drop shots
down, Gaskin seemed to have few answers.
"That
is until the third game when he wrested control from Hinds who, late in
the game, became distracted by a ball called down that he was certain
was good. Gaskin tried to confirm for Hinds that the ball was in fact
down, but rather than letting it go, Hinds lost his way and made three
errors in the last four points to open the door for Gaskin.
"It
would prove to be a door that Hinds probably wished he had slammed shut
as Gaskin gladly ran through it to draw the match even after four games.
"But
just two points into the fifth, Gaskin began stretching his right leg
and massaging what appeared to be an injured groin muscle," Prince
continued. "Hinds took advantage of Gaskin's dilemma and jumped out to
an easy six-love lead - only to watch Gaskin climb his way back into the
game, leaving Gaskin grasping for answers. It was an answer he found,
however, as a brutal backhand drop off a Gaskin boast proved to be the
crusher for Gaskin as he never scored again."
The
11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7 triumph in 60 minutes gives Hinds, the
world No.75 from Birmingham, his fourth PSA World Tour title.
Hinds
(centre) pictured with runner-up Gaskin and tournament promoter
Zarak Jahan Khan
