Olli Pett (Eng) 11/8, 11/3 rtd (24m)
[5] Chris Fuller (Eng)
Olli Pett
14-12, 11-6, 7-11, 2-11, 11-9 (81m) Declan James
]Q] Josh Taylor (Eng)
11/6, 10/12, 11/4, 11/2 (48m)
[2] Declan James (Eng)
RESULTS:
PSA Challenger 5
MANTIS Fantasysquash.com
Nottingham Open,
Nottingham, England
Home
Hero James Retains Nottingham Open Crown
#PSAWorldTour
Declan James
ended a career-long losing run to former fellow England junior
international
Charles Sharpes
when he upset the top seed in the final of the
MANTIS Fantasysquash.com Nottingham
Open
to retain the
PSA Challenger 5
title at his home
Nottingham Squash & Rackets Club
in
Nottingham,
England.
The Nottingham-born 21-year-old had not previously taken a game from
Sharpes in four meetings over the past four years – on and off the
Tour.
"A final between the two tops seeds always promises a lot and in
Nottingham tonight it didn't disappoint," said event organiser
Mark Fuller.
"Both players came into the match as previous champions and were
clearly eager to win the title again."
World No.65 Sharpes, the 2010 champion, took the opening game and
built up a 10-7 lead in the second.
"Declan did not lie down though and, in what proved to be the
decisive period of the match, won the next five points to level at
one-all," reported Fuller.
James, ranked 13 places behind his opponent, sneaked the third and
maintained a lead throughout the fourth before closing out the match
11-13, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7 after 78 minutes.
"I felt more relaxed than I did yesterday," admitted the two-time
champion afterwards. "I wasn't too worried when I lost the first
game.
"I played well in the second but there were too many mistakes. 10-7
down was the turning point of the match for me - I started to feel
physically good and control the match.
"Credit to Charles - he stuck with me all the way - but I got there
in the end," added James, now with three
PSA World Tour
titles to his name, including two back-to-back after picking up the
Madeira International Open
trophy last month.
"It's been a great week!"
Words were in short supply from Sharpes: "I'm not up for quoting
when I lose," said the London-born 22-year-old.