Kent hero beats Piedro Schweertman in Bexley final
By Squash Mad Reporter
Josh Masters certainly rises to the occasion when he plays on home soil in Kent.
He beat top seed Jens Schoor of Germany after being awarded the wild card into the Select Gaming Kent Open at The Mote in June, and last weekend he overcame Dutch top seed Piedro Schweertman to win the Bexley Open.
It was a special occasion for Josh, as he and his brother Bradley have honed their skills at the Bexley club under the tutelage of Bexley coach Ben Ford over the past few years. Another of Ben’s pupils, Gina Kennedy, was runner-up to Victoria Temple-Murray in the women’s final.
Ben wites:
In the women’s final, Tory was playing at a high tempo early on, volleying as much as possible and Gina was flustered and making lots of errors. This continued for first two games as Tory built up a 2-0 lead.
Tory led 8-3 in the third and it looked all over but after a couple of tough rallies Tory looked tired. Gina took the game, and the fourth, to take us to a decider. It was close all the way but Tory closed out the fifth game 11-9 for the title.
In the men’s final, Piedro was hot favourite but Josh was lifted by the home support. The game started with both players just feeling their way in but from 7-7 Josh found his range with some trademark winners to take the game 11-7.
The second was tight but Piedro looked uncomfortable as Josh sneaked it 11-9. Josh was getting more confident and the winners were flowing in the third. It finished 11-5 to Josh as he beat the world No.68 to claim his first PSA title at the club where he has learned his trade over the last seven years! A very proud day for all concerned.
$5,000 Men’s MB Air UK Bexley Open 2015, Bexley, England
Final:
[4] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt [1] Piedro Schweertman (NED) 11-7, 11-9, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt [3] Mark Fuller (ENG) 11-2, 11-4, 11-6
[4] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Tristan Eysele (RSA) 11-4, 3-11, 11-3, 11-5
Quarter-finals:
[1] Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt [7] Michael Harris (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
[3] Mark Fuller (ENG) bt [6] Ben Ford (ENG) 14-12, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10
[4] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt [WC] Bradley Masters (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-3
Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt [Q] Chris Tomlinson (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-1
1st round:
[1] Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt Mark Broekman (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
[7] Michael Harris (ENG) bt Nick Mulvey (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
[6] Ben Ford (ENG) bt [Q] Patrick Rooney (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 15-13
[3] Mark Fuller (ENG) bt [Q] David Haley (WAL) 11-8, 11-3, 11-8
[4] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt [Q] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8
[WC] Bradley Masters (ENG) bt [5] Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-5, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6
[Q] Chris Tomlinson (ENG) bt [8] Ismail Rauf (PAK) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt [2] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 11-5
Qualifying finals:
Chris Tomlinson (ENG) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 (52m)
David Haley (WAL) bt Miles Jenkins (ENG) 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10 (71m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Robert Dadds (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 11-0
Ondrej Uherka (CZE) bt Matthew Broadberry (ENG) 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 (59m)
1st qualifying round:
Steven London (ENG) bt Connor Sheen (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5 (65m)
Chris Tomlinson (ENG) bt Joeri Hapers (BEL) 9-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (59m)
Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt Sam Ellis (ENG) 11-3, 6-3 ret.
David Haley (WAL) bt Antonio de la Torre (GUA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Pablo Rawden (ENG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (33m)
Robert Dadds (ENG) bt Gary Nisbet (ENG) 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 (23m)
Matthew Broadberry (ENG) bt Phil Nightingale (ENG) 11-6, 14-12, 8-11, 12-10 (40m)
Ondrej Uherka (CZE) bt Charlie Lee (ENG) 14-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6 (60m)
This weekend Josh’s brother Bradley will be hoping for more success on home soil as the Maidstone Open gets under way after a 10-year absence from the calendar.
News reaches Squash Mad that top seed Steve London has withdrawn because of a clash of commitments with his Sussex League club, Crowborough.