Grant and Simpson keep home hopes alive
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Contributor
LONDONER Adrian Grant and Guernsey’s Chris Simpson kept home hopes of success alive in the Coronation London Open after prevailing in contrasting quarter-finals at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club.
Simpson, the Harrogate-based No.4 seed, took just 30 minutes to see off Australian Rex Hedrick 11-0, 11-7, 11-9.
But third seed Grant (above), the 33-year-old former World No.9 making his debut in the event, had to battle for 77 minutes to overcome 21-year-old Egyptian qualifier Zahed Mohamed 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9.
The London left-hander will now face South African Stephen Coppinger, the No.2 seed bidding to make the final for the second time in three years. The Cape Town 29-year-old, ranked 20 in the world, defeated US champion Christopher Gordon 11-4, 11-8, 11-2.
Simpson, the World No.25, takes on fast-rising Egyptian star Fares Mohamed Dessouki for a place in the final. The 19-year-old from Alexandria pulled off a mighty upset in the first round when he removed top seed Alister Walker, the World No.17 from Botswana.
The teenager, ranked 81 in the world, continued his giant-killing London run by beating Frenchman Lucas Serme – ranked five places higher – 3-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 in 61 minutes.
Quarter-finals:
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (Egy) 3-1 Lucas Serme (Fra) 3-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 (61m)
[4] Chris Simpson (Eng) 3-0 Rex Hedrick (Aus) 11-0, 11-7, 11-9 (30m)
[3] Adrian Grant (Eng) 3-1 [Q] Zahed Mohamed (Egy) 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 (77m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (Rsa) 3-0 Christopher Gordon (Usa) 11-4, 11-8, 11-2 (39m)
Semi-final Draw:
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (Egy) v [4] Chris Simpson (Eng)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (Rsa) v [3] Adrian Grant (Eng)