26-Sep, Final:

[3] Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt [2] Shahier Razik (Can)
      11/5, 11/8, 4/11, 6/11, 11/9 (90m)

Pilley Takes Tennyson West
Title In San Francisco ...
 
In the longest match of the tournament, Australia's Cameron Pilley collected his seventh PSA tour title with a five-game victory over Canadian Shahier Razik.

Pilley started the match in aggressive mode, attempting more winners than in previous matches, and the tactic paid off as Razik, continuing his mainly defensive play, was caught out as Pilley raced to a two-love lead.

Than Canadian stepped up the pace in the third, drawing errors from Pilley which allowed him to peg a game back and then draw level after a fourth game that started with long rallies but saw Pilley make errors going short as the game progressed.

Razik continued to dominate a tired-looking Pilley in the fifth, opening up an 8/5 lead, but the Australian found the energy from somewhere to claw his way back into the match, reaching match-ball at 10-9 with another great forehand drop shot winner. 

After six lets Pilley finally took it 11/9 with a cross-court nick into the forehand corner to become the first Fog City Open champion.  
 

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Cameron Pilley
photo from Squash Australia

11/5, 11/8, 4/11, 6/11, 11/9 (90m)

Shahier Razik

Qualifying Finals:
Jose Angel Becerril (MEX) bt Ben Gould (AUS) 11-10 (2-0), 11-7, 8-11, 11-5
Sam Miller (ENG) bt Alexandre Muller (FRA) 11-5, 11-10 (4-2), 11-10 (2-0)
Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt Mark Allen (ENG) 6-11, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-1, 11-7
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Beau River (USA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6

25-Sep, semis:

[3] Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt [1] Rodney Durbach (Rsa)
      11/7, 9/11, 11/8, 11/5 (66m)
[2] Shahier Razik (Can) bt [8] Liam Kenny (Irl)
      11/10(4/2), 11/6, 11/4 (53m)

Pilley Pounces on Durbach
In San Francisco
  
Australia's third seed Cameron Pilley took out top-seeded Rodney Durbach in the semi-finals of the Tennyson West Fog City Open at San Francisco's Bay Club.

The pair traded points in a tight first game before Pilley eased away to take the lead. The Australian took a 6/3 lead in the second before Durbach pegged him back to level the match, but Pilley regained control to take the next two games, avenging his defeat by Durbach in January's Virginia Pro championships.


In the final Pilley meets Canada's second seed Shahier Razik, who ended Irishman Liam Kenny's challenge in straight games.

---

25-Sep:
Top Three Through In Tennyson West

The top three seeds all won through to the semi-finals of the Fog City Open in San Francisco, joined by Ireland's eighth seed Liam Kenny.

Top seed Rodney Durbach fought off a spirited challenge from Eric Galvez, saving a game ball to take the first on a tie-break and losing the second before comfortably taking the last two to clinch a semi-final spot. Durbach had played Galvez a couple of times recently, and had his strategy worked out: "Not to play too fast, especially across the court as Eric is very quick and lifting the ball. Playing consistent to the back and wait for Eric's mistakes."

The South African meets Cameron Pilley in the semis, the Australian beating Jean-Michel Arcucci in straight games, benefiting from many errors from the Frenchman's racket. "I was glad to get through in 3," said Pilley. "I was trying to play more attacking shots as I haven't done so in the last few tournaments."

The second semi-final sees Canada's second seed Shahier Razik meet Liam Kenny, both enjoying relatively quick matches to make the semis.

24-Sep:
Walker Bows Out In San Francisco

England's veteran Chris Walker, the former world number four, failed to make an impact on his return to PSA action, going down to a four-game defeat to Australia's third seed Cameron Pilley at the Bay Club in San Francisco.

"Chris hasn't played PSA for a while so I tried to keep the ball tight and keep him moving to tire him out, but slowed the game down too much, losing the third game. Increasing the pace again in the forth gave me the forth game and the match," Pilley told Dominique Chiquet after the match.

Pilley meets Frenchman Jean-Michel Arcucci in the quarters.

Top seeds Rodney Durbach and Shahier Razik made it safely through to the quarters, although Razik was made to work hard as he squeezed past Brazilian qualifier Jose Becerril in four close games.

The USA's top junior Chris Gordon failed to improve on his qualification success, losing out in straight games to Liam Kenny. "I was shooting short too often from the back of the court without preparing the rallies long enough and was too slow on the ball," said Gordon.

Christopher Gordon's squash education continues at the Berkshire Open in October.

23-Sep:
Gordon Leads Local Interest In San Francisco

New York-born teenager Christopher Gordon gave a boost to the Tennyson West Fog City Squash Open in San Francisco by becoming the only American to reach the first round of this new PSA Tour event in the USA.

The 18-year-old, who led the USA undefeated in the recent World Junior Team Championships, beat higher-ranked fellow American Beau River 11-6 11-9 11-6 in the qualifying finals and now takes on Ireland's eighth seed Liam Kenny in the first round.

19-Sep:
Bay Area looks forward to top squash ...

The newest event on the PSA circuit, the $10,000 Tennyson West Fog City Open, to be held at the San Francisco Bay Club from Sept. 22-26, will bring top players to compete in the Bay area for the first time.

“San Francisco’s appearance as a venue on the PSA tour is long overdue,” said Mark Allen, SF Bay Club head squash coach. “The players want to come here and this September I hope we can offer them a fantastic tournament experience.”

Chris Walker, former World #4 and current US national boys’ team coach, will be among the top players showcased in the championship. Top seed is South Africa's world number 28 Rodney Durbach, with Canada's Shahier Razik, ranked 31, seeded to meet him in the final.

Organizers believe that hosting a successful PSA squash tournament could result in bringing the North American Open to San Francisco in 2005.

100 percent of proceeds from the Tennyson West Fog City Open will be donated  to select Bay Area nonprofit organizations that support disadvantaged youth, as part of the “Giving on the T” philanthropy program. The program, established by SF Investment Bank Tennyson West, in partnership with the San Francisco Bay Club, has generated commitments of more than $100,000 in donations that will be given to the East Bay College Fund, Joy of Sports Foundation and Save the Children literacy programs in the Central Valley.

 alanbrz@yahoo.com