Golan Stuns Walker To Take Dayton Title
11 November 2012
RESULTS: PSA International 35 EBS Dayton Open, Dayton, Ohio, USA
Final:
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [2] Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (44m)
Despite a marathon two-hour semi-final battle less than 24 hours earlier, Spaniard Borja Golan stunned title-holder Alister Walker in straight games to win the EBS Dayton Open, the PSA World Tour International 35 event in its ninth year at the Dayton Squash Center in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
“After last night’s two-hour marathon match to defeat world No11 and top seed Omar Mosaad of Egypt, everyone in tonight’s packed gallery knew that world No18 Golan was focused on the ultimate prize: champion,” said tournament promoter Charlie Johnson.
“Last year’s EBS Dayton Open champion and current world No12 Walker, of Botswana, found out the hard way how truly focused the Spaniard was when he went down in three straight games in 44 minutes.
“The enthusiastic crowd thought they were in for a long evening when the first rally of the match was a 50+ exchange that ended with Walker hitting the tin. Golan went on to run off five straight long rallies to take a 6-0 lead and Walker seemed like he couldn’t find an answer to the Spaniard’s quick anticipation and attacking style of play.
“Walker finally won a rally off a brilliant forehand crosscourt nick kill shot to get in the match at 1-6 but if it was going to take 10 more of those to win this first game, with the way Golan was playing the odds were not good,” explained Johnson.
Golan went on to win the match 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 to take his career PSA World Tour title haul to 27 – two more than bothNick Matthew of England and Ramy Ashour of Egypt!
After the match, both players were gracious in wishing each other the best for the rest of the season and thanking the sponsors and tournament promoter Charlie Johnson of cjsquash.com. Last year’s champion passed off the EBS Dayton Open trophy to the 2012 champion and Golan will have his name added to an illustrious list of winners for this 10-year-old event.
Golan was delighted with his success: “I tried to play tight and put pressure on him, moving the ball around the court – and that worked well.
“I felt comfortable in that court from the first day, but yesterday with Mosaad I had to be focused all the time and after 200 lets finally I went through!! Really happy for that,” added the 29-year-old from Santiago de Compostela.
“I want to congratulate Ali for a great tournament and say thanks to Charlie and all his team for making such a great tournament.”
Walker responded: “Borja was too strong on the night. He was incredibly tight and played at a high tempo. There were not many opportunities for me to get in front and dictate.
“He is a deserved winner of the Dayton Open title this year.”
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