Top-seeded South African Shaun le Roux
triumphed in the inaugural Northumbria Open
when he beat India's Mahesh Mangaonkar
in the first
PSA World Tour
squash event ever to be staged in the north-eastern English city of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The UK-based 27-year-old from Cape Town was in commanding form in the
PSA Challenger
5
event, reaching the final at the Northumberland Club
without dropping a game.
Mangaonkar, the No.3 seed from Mumbai, made his breakthrough in the
semi-finals when he fought back from two games down to upset second seed
Kristian Frost
Olesen
in a 102-minute five-game marathon – the 20-year-old Indian's longest
winning performance on the PSA Tour - to reach his fifth Tour final.
And the fast-rising young Mangaonkar, ranked a career-best World No.74,
earned the distinction of being the first to win a game against the
event favourite when he took the third in the final.
But Le Roux, ranked 55 in the world and celebrating his 14th final
appearance on the PSA Tour, quickly regained control of the match –
taking the fourth to clinch an 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3 victory in 56
minutes.
"I got a good start but he fought back well,” said the triumphant South
African after claiming his ninth PSA Tour title. "I managed to get in
front again in the fourth, I think he was feeling the effects of last
night’s long match.
"I enjoy playing here and it’s good to see this event becoming a full
PSA tournament," added Le Roux. "I hope it continues to grow year on
year.”
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5Northumbria
Open,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
1st round:
[1] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Lance James Beddoes (NZL) 12-10, 11-3,
11-8 (35m)
[6] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 10-12, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6,
11-6 (75m)
[5] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [WC] Liam Gutcher (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
(27m)
[4] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 11-7, 11-4, 6-1 ret.
(42m)
[3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Adam Auckland (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7,
11-3 (51m)
[7] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [Q] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-9, 11-4,
11-8 (61m)
[Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt [8] Alex Ingham (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-9,
11-4 (43m)
[2] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Daniel Hockborn (ENG) 11-7, 11-6,
11-8 (38m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [6] Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (40m)
[5] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [4] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-6, 11-13, 11-4,
14-12 (68m)
[3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [7] Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-8, 14-12, 11-6
(48m)
[2] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) 11-8,
11-9, 11-5 (42m)
