Selby’s conqueror reigns again to keep home hopes alive in Kuwait
By MICHAEL CATLING – Squash Mad Reporter
LOCAL favourite Abdullah Al Mezayen continued his fairy-tale run at the Alwatan & Asnan International in Kuwait, with a second successive 3-2 victory to advance into the semi-finals at the expense of Max Lee.
The 25-year-old left-hander, who shocked Daryl Selby in the first-round on Wednesday, shrugged off any lasting fatigue to battle past the Hong Kong number one 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6 at the Kuwait International Squash Centre.
It was a performance that owed much to Al Mezayen’s fitness, as it did his composure, as the Kuwaiti number one recovered from losing a tight fourth game to claim victory in the decider.
The world number 39 (pictured above) will meet German number one Simon Rosner for a place in his fourth PSA Tour final this year, after the fourth seed despatched Alister Walker 3-1.
The world number 16 had failed to make it past the quarter-final stage in his past five PSA events, but the 26-year-old fought-off a third-game fightback from Walker to triumph 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7.
Really happy with my performance today against @alisterWALKER, winning 3:1 – semis tomorrow #kuwait #lastpush pic.twitter.com/XksffPCOf4
— Simon Rösner (@simonroesner) December 20, 2013
In the top half of the draw, third seed Tarek Momen bowed out of the last eight stage, with a surprise 3-1 defeat to world number 18 Laurens Jan Anjema.
Momen, who barely escaped a first-round loss to England’s Joe Lee, looked off-colour from the outset and despite levelling the scores in the second game, Anjema pulled ahead again before closing out victory in 62 minutes.
The Dutchman will next face top seed and world number seven Borja Golan, who eased past qualifier Ryan Cuskelly 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 to advance into his ninth PSA Tour semi-finals this year.
Keep checking our website regularly for more updates from Kuwait.
Semi-Final Draw:
[1] Borja Golan (Esp) v Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) – 18:00pm
[4] Simon Rosner (Ger) v Abdullah Al Mezayen (Kuw) – 18:45pm
Quarter-Final Results:
[1] Borja Golan (Esp) 3-0 [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (Aus) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (50m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) 3-1 [3] Tarek Momen (Egy) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (62m)
[4] Simon Rosner (Ger) 3-1 Alister Walker (Bot) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7
Abdullah Al Mezayen (Kuw) 3-2 Max Lee (Hkg) 11-9, 6-11, 11-10, 9-11, 11-6
Pictures by Steve Cubbins (SquashSite)