Anjema Masters Mosaad In NetSuite Open
11 October 2011
RESULTS: PSA International 35 NetSuite Open, Stanford, California, USA
Final:
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 14-12 (100m)
The longest match of the championship brought the inaugural NetSuite Open to a close when Laurens Jan Anjema held off Egyptian challenger Omar Mosaad in a tie-break decider to win the PSA World Tour International 35 squash title at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University in California, USA.
“Omar came out of the blocks fast,” said Stanford University Squash Coach Richard Elliott. “He was very aggressive and jumping on any of LJ’s loose shots.”
The third-seeded 23-year-old from Cairo soon opened up a two-game lead against Dutchman Anjema, the world No12 ranked just a single place higher.
The third game was tight, level up to four-all before the rallies began to lengthen as Anjema seemed to be working the tall Egyptian with his boasts.
The six-time Dutch champion pulled away to reduce the deficit, then drew level after the fourth following a game characterised by errors from Mosaad.
“The fifth was nip and tuck all the way through – with tons of lets,” continued Elliott. “The scores were level up to three-all, then Omar pulled away with some typical trademark nicks and got to an 8-5 and 9-6 lead.”
But Anjema battled back to earn his first match-ball at 10-9. Mosaad saved this and proceeded to earn two further match-balls of his own – at 11-10 and 12-11.
And the drama continued as Anjema again levelled the match before gaining his second championship-ball which – after numerous long rallies that ended in lets – he finally won a stroke after 100 minutes!
The 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 14-12 triumph gives Anjema the 11th PSA World Tour title of his career – and his fourth in the USA.
SEMI-FINALS: Mosaad stuns Selby
RESULTS: PSA International 35 NetSuite Open, Stanford, California, USA
Semi-finals:
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [1] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-1, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 (82m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (50m)
Omar Mosaad upset the seedings at the inaugural NetSuite Open in the US state of California when he defeated favourite Daryl Selby to reach the final of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.
Mosaad, one of the tallest players on the Tour, reproduced the form he showed at last month’s PSA World Series ROWE British Grand Prix in Manchester – where, unseeded, he reached the quarter-finals.
The third seed twice led Selby, and both times the world No11 from Essex fought back to draw level.
But the 23-year-old from Cairo, ranked just two places lower, was in no mood to lie down – and regained the upper hand in the decider to record his second career victory over the Englishman, winning 11-1, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 in 82 minutes.
A disconsolate 28-year-old Selby said later, via Twitter: “Need to sort my body out, feel about 70 years old right now!”
Celebrating the 15th PSA Tour final of his career, and the fourth this year, Mosaad will now meet Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the No2 seed.
Left-hander Anjema, the world No12, ended Alister Walker‘s run – beating the unseeded world No20 from Botswana 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 in 50 minutes.
The semi-final success takes Anjema into the 28th Tour final of his career – and his third this year.
QUARTER-FINALS: Walker whacks Wael
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (48m)[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2 (70m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [4] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4 (90m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 (30m)
Alister Walker produced the only upset on the second day of action in the inaugural NetSuite Open in the US state of California when he battled to a 90-minute win over fourth seed Wael El Hindi to reach the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.
Botswana-born Walker and El Hindi, from Egypt, are both based in New York. But Walker, a former England international but now a Motswana, took the early upper hand against the world No18 from Cairo to take a two-game lead.
El Hindi, however, regained control in the next two games to draw level, before Walker – ranked two places below – refocused in the decider to record his 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4 upset.
“It’s great to come to Stanford and get the ball rolling this season,” sad a delighted 29-year-old Walker after his win. “Tonight was a very tough match and I knew it would be as both Wael and I needed to find form and results this season.
“It got ugly after the third game but I managed to halt his comeback in the fifth and get the win.”
Walker, who achieved a career-high world No12 ranking in 2009, now takes on second seed Laurens Jan Anjema, currently ranked 12 in the world.
The top-ranked Dutchman needed just 30 minutes to see off Mexican Arturo Salazar 11-2, 11-1, 11-4.
“LJ is looking strong, had a great start to this season and barely been on court an hour in his first two rounds here,” added Walker of his next opponent. “Despite that backing up tomorrow is the main goal to continue going in the right direction this season.
“It’s been a great atmosphere in the venue and the players are enjoying the town and campus. Despite being second fiddle in sporting terms to the college American football game today with the 50,000 capacity stadium we are all thoroughly enjoying the event.”
The other semi-final will feature top seed Daryl Selby and Omar Mosaad, the No3 seed.
In an all-British clash, Englishman Selby, the world No11, beat Scot Alan Clyne 11-9, 11-4, 12-10, while Egyptian Mosaad recovered from a game behind to beat Canadian Shahier Razik 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2 in 70 minutes.
FIRST ROUND: Walker ends US hopes
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (65m)Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 (73m)
Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 (33m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 6-11, 11-4, 11-2 (50m)
[4] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [Q] Kamran Khan (MAS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (50m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (29m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (95m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (31m)
Botswana-born Alister Walker dashed hopes of home success in the inaugural NetSuite Open in the US state of California when he despatched seven-time US champion Julian Illingworth in the opening round of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.
Walker, the world No20 based in New York, took just 29 minutes to see off Illingworth, ranked eight places lower, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2.
Walker will now line up against another New York-based international Wael El Hindi. The fourth-seeded Egyptian defeated Malaysian qualifier Kamran Khan 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in 50 minutes.
There were contrasting successes for Mexico’s Salazar twins, competing in their first Tour event since being involved in a motor accident.
Arturo Salazar battled back from two games down to overcome higher-ranked Australian Ryan Cuskelly 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 in a 95-minute marathon.
And qualifier Cesar Salazar took the opening game against top seed Daryl Selby before the world No11 from England regained control of the match to win 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 after 65 minutes.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Shahier Razik (CAN)
[4] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Alister Walker (BOT)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)