[Q] Ahmad Alzabidi (Jor) 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 78m
[7] Matthew Serediak (Can)
Ahmad Alzabidi
11-1, 11-5, 11-8 19m Zac Alexander
[Q] Chris Hanson (Usa)
12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 67m
[2] Zac Alexander (Aus)
RESULTS:
PSA Challenger 5Greenwich Challenger,
Greenwich, USA
Zac
Defeats Diego For Greenwich Glory
#PSAWorldTour
Australian Zac Alexander secured his second straight
title on the PSA World Tour when he won the inaugural
Greenwich Challenger at the Greenwich Country
Club in Greenwich, USA.
But the US-based second seed from Brisbane did so at the expense of
Diego Elias, a 17-year-old qualifier from Lima who made
history 24 hours earlier when he stormed through an experienced field in
the PSA Challenger 5 squash event to become the first
Peruvian ever to reach a PSA Tour final!
After surviving two round of qualifying, the promising teenager made his
mark in the opening round of the main draw when he ousted Muhd
Asyraf Azan, the top seed from Malaysian, in four games.
Elias went on to take out the No.8 seed before dismissing England's
fourth seed Lewis Walters in the semi-finals.
"The final began at a ferocious pace with both players playing high up
on the T line trying their best to gain the first game advantage,"
reported event spokesman Luke Butterworth. "What a
first game it was: 37 minutes in duration and some intense tiebreaker
rallies were a joy for all to see. Diego’s natural glide to the ball and
rapid racket head speed versus Zac’s high paced attacking variety was a
match made in heaven for the Greenwich locals.
"It was Zac who prevailed under the pressure to take an excellent and
vital first game 16-14.
"After the confidence brewing first game, the momentum was all with Zac.
He came out firing in the second and despite Diego playing a little
looser, Zac nullified any sort of attack with excellent drives and
precise counters. He went on to take this game 11-5.
"Zac raced to a 10-0 lead in the third. Diego’s movement was laboured
and his route from the qualifying was evidently hampering his third game
revival."
After his 16-14, 11-5, 11-3 title triumph in 58 minutes – the 13th of
his career – Alexander said: "Thank you ever so much to Phil (Barker)
and Chris (Hanson) for making this event so enjoyable.
"It truly means a lot to be able to play a tournament on your doorstep
so thank you to all the sponsors and families that made it happen.
"Thanks to Diego for a great final and good luck with your squash in the
future.”
Picture: Tournament promoter Phil Barker flanked by Elias (left) and
Alexander
