Simpson leads the way as English representation is boosted in the Windy City main draw
English trio Chris Simpson, Joe Lee and Adrian Waller will make their debuts in the main draw of the Windy City Open after easing through the qualifying finals of the second PSA World Series event this year in Chicago, USA.
Simpson, the world number 22, lived up to his billing as the top ranked qualifying seed after overcoming Mexican number one Cesar Salazar 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 in 35 minutes.
The 26-year-old from Guernsey, who will meet German number one Simon Rosner in the first round on Wednesday, said: “I’m pleased to qualify for the main draw, especially with a relatively comfortable 3-0 against speedy Cesar Salazar.”
“I play Simon in the main draw, who I have grown up playing against throughout the junior ranks, so I’m looking forward to renewing the rivalry.”
World number 29 Adrian Waller and Joe Lee joined their fellow compatriot in the last 32 with comfortable straight game victories over Hong Kong duo Leo Au and Max Lee respectively.
Lee, who won the biggest Tour title of his career at the Oregon Open in Portland last week, faces the daunting task of overcoming second seed and joint world number one Gregory Gaultier for a place in the second round, while Waller meets fellow left-hander and former world number one Amr Shabana.
Elsewhere, home hopes were dashed when Julian Illingworth and Christopher Gordon – both from New York – failed to advance into the main draw.
American number one Illingworth suffered a 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 defeat in just 24 minutes to Australian Ryan Cuskelly, before Gordon fell in four games to Henrik Mustonen of Finland 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10.
North American interest was boosted, however, after Canadian Shawn Delierre upset Scotland’s world number 38 Alan Clyne 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 in 59 minutes. Delierre, the lowest ranked player to qualify for the £115,000 event, will play world number 13 Omar Mosaad for a spot in the last 16.
Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi and Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan completed the list of eight qualifiers, after battling past Frenchman Gregoire Marche and Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry respectively in four games.
Qualifying Finals Results:
Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-0 Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 (35m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-0 Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (24m)
Joe Lee (ENG) 3-0 Max Lee (HKG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (63m)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) 3-0 Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (59m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 3-1 Gregoire Marche (FRA) 4-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (73m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 3-1 Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10 (65m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-1 Christopher Gordon (USA) 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10
Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0 Leo Au (HKG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (33m)
First Round Draw:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN)
Alister Walker (BOT) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) v Adrian Grant (ENG)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Amr Shabana (EGY) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
Tom Richards (ENG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[4] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [WC] Peter Creed (WAL)
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Simon Rosner (GER) v [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
Pictures by Michael Catling