Top seed Golan moves one step closer to avenging Hong Kong heartache
By MICHAEL CATLING – Squash Mad Reporter
World number seven Borja Golan marched into his second successive PSA Tour final, with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over world number 18 Laurens Jan Anjema at the Alwatan & Asnan International in Kuwait.
Golan, who reached a career-high seventh in the December world rankings, avenged his European Championships defeat to the eight-time Dutch champion by prevailing 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 at the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah International Squash Complex in South Surrah.
Fully exploiting Anjema’s energy expenditure following his quarter-final victory over world number 12 Tarek Momen, the top seed for the $50,000 event recovered from losing the opening game to storm through the next three and secure victory in 74 minutes.
The Spanish number one will contest the final against fourth seed Simon Rosner, after the world number 16 ended home favourite Abdullah Al Mezayen’s challenge with a 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 success.
The 25-year-old Mezayen, ranked 39 in the world, toppled world number 10 Daryl Selby in the first-round but despite the backing of the home crowd, the left-hander was unable to repeat the feat as Rosner’s experience and power eventually told in 40 minutes.
The Paderborn-based 26-year-old now moves one game away from winning his first PSA Tour title since the Santiago Open last year, while Golan will be hoping to avoid a repeat of his final loss at the Hong Kong Open earlier this month.
lost in semi final against @simonroesner happy with my performance in this tournment now relax and enjoy with friends and family 🙂
— Almezayen (@almezayen12) December 21, 2013
Semi-Final Results:
[1] Borja Golan (Esp) 3-1 Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (74m)
[4] Simon Rosner (Ger) 3-0Â Abdullah Al Mezayen (Kuw) 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
Pictures by Steve Cubbins (SquashSite)