Campbell stuns top seed Salazar after Mexican marathons
By Squash Mad Reporter
New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson survived a 95-minute Las Vegas Open final marathon to upset top seed Cesar Salazar and win the PSA Challenger 10 squash event in its second year at Life Time Athletic Club in Las Vegas, USA.
Incredibly, while Mexico’s top seed Salazar cruised to a straight games win over defending champion Julian Illingworth in one semi-final, second-seeded Kiwi Grayson needed more than 100 minutes to overcome fourth-seeded Mexican Alfredo Avila in five games in the other.
“Still feeling the effect from his semi-final game, he managed again to get past Cesar – who spent half the time on court as Campbell did in the tournament,” said tournament promoter Andre Maur (pictured below flanked by Grayson, right, and Salazar). “Every rally was won hard fought and at the end it was a lucky Campbell who edged out Salazar 11-9 in the fifth.”
Grayson’s 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 victory brings up the New Zealander’s eighth Tour title triumph – but his first of the year.
“All the hard training over the last few months is paying off,” said champion Grayson later. “I am looking forward to retaining the title next year.”
PSA Challenger 10 Las Vegas Open, Las Vegas, USA:
1st round:
[1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
[7] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7
[6] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
[3] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [WC] Christopher Binnie (JAM) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [Q] Tom Pashley (ENG) 16-14, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8
Todd Harrity (USA) bt [8] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-8, 11-2 ret.
[5] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Joe Chapman (IVB) 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
[2] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 11-3, 11-5, 1-11, 9-11, 11-3 (90m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [7] Zac Alexander (AUS) 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8
[3] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [6] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9
[4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5
[2] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [5] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8
Semi-finals:
[1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [3] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
[2] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [4] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12 (105m)
Final:
[2] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 (95m)
Picture courtesy of PSA