RESULTS: PSA International 25 True North Berkshire Open, Williamstown, Mass, USA
1st round (lower half of draw):
[4] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [Q] David Phillips (CAN) 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (50m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (ENG) 13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3 (37m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 (44m)
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 (68m)
Kemp Dashes Home Hopes In Berkshire Open
England’s Jonathan Kemp celebrated his second US win in a month over Julian Illingworth in the first round of the True North Berkshire Open – but the record seven-time US champion again took Kemp to five games before the second seed claimed his anticipated place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event in its seventh year at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
“As predicted, beautiful squash it was,” said Williams College Head Squash Coach Zafi Levy. “Similar styles of play, long rallies, beautiful movement, intensely competed – but barely a let called in the five-game marathon.
“In the end, it was the ever-so-slightly more accurate racquet-work of Kemp that made the difference in 68 minutes,” added Levy after world No21 Kemp clinched his 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 victory.
Kemp, winner of the Berkshire title two years ago, will now meet Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan after the Malaysian defeated Canadian qualifier Shawn Delierre 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 on the glass court in Williams College’s Chandler Gymnasium.
There will be Canadian interest in the quarter-finals, however, after Toronto-based fourth seed Shahier Razik edged out Montreal qualifier David Phillips 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.
Unseeded Englishman Tom Richards also came through a clash with a fellow countryman when he beat qualifier Shaun le Roux 13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3.
Richards now faces world No33 Razik – though, while the Canadian is seeded to win the encounter, Richards has now climbed to 28 in the world and will be keen to prove that his superior ranking is appropriate!
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Borja Golan (ESP)
[4] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Tom Richards (ENG)
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)