[Q] Bradley Masters (Eng)
11-4, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6 (62m) [5] Steven London (Eng)
Steven London
11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (38m) Chris Fuller
George Parker (Eng)
11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (60m) [2] Chris Fuller (Eng)
RESULTS:
PSA Challenger 5
Madeira International Open Squash,
Madeira, Portugal
Declan
James Marks International First In Madeira
England's
Declan James
claimed his first overseas
PSA World Tour
title when he beat compatriot
Chris Fuller
in the final of the
Madeira International Open Squash,
the inaugural
PSA Challenger 5
event at
Onda Revital Club
in
Canico
on the Portuguese island of
Madeira.
Fuller, who was competing in only his third event since suffering an
ankle injury earlier this year, looked a shadow of the player who
had eased into the final without dropping a game, as top seed James
romped to an 11-3, 11-3, 11-1 victory in just 39 minutes.
But while Nottingham-based James celebrated his third win in as many
matches over the World No.119 since the turn of the year, Fuller was
left lamenting the slippery on-court conditions after suffering a
heavy fall during the opening game.
The second seed, who admitted afterwards that he tweaked his
adductor during the slip, was forced to change his footwear twice
during the match.
In contrast, World No.80 James ruthlessly exploited Fuller’s
tentative movement and amassed an impressive winner count to claim
the opening two games 11-3.
Devoid of confidence and facing an uphill task, Fuller suffered
another blow when his request to switch courts failed.
And despite winning the opening point of the third game, the
23-year-old capitulated spectacularly to lose the next 11 points and
end his hopes of avenging his first round defeat at the Kent Open
last month.
“Anyone who has seen Chris play will know that is nowhere near what
he is capable of doing and I just hope Chris didn’t injure himself
during the match,"
said James afterwards.
“We have all struggled slightly on the courts this week but I think
I managed to handle the conditions a little bit better today,"
added the 21-year-old who now boasts a pair of Tour titles after
making his PSA title breakthrough at the
Nottingham Open
at his home club last August.
"I’ve had a lot of bad starts this week, especially in the first
games, so it was crucial to get the early momentum and I think that
made it difficult for Chris to comeback.”
Fuller, who refused to make excuses for his below-par performance,
paid tribute to his younger opponent.
“I’m not sure what was different today. It was a strange match and
I just didn’t feel right and really struggled on court.
“All credit to Declan, he didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t give
me any time to settle. That’s now two finals I’ve lost against him
so it would be great if I didn’t play him in my next one.”
James (pictured below receiving his trophy) will now head to the
Nottingham Open in August to defend his title, where he is seeded to
face Fuller again at the quarter-final stage.
