From two games down in the final of the Chicago Open, Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman staged the biggest fight-back of his career to win the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event atLife Time Athletic in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Third see Zaman, from Peshawar, faced 30-year-old Mexican Eric Galvez, the No4 seed.
Galvez, who survived three consecutive tie-break games to see off unseeded Frenchman Joan Lezaud in the semi-finals, took the opening two games.
But 20-year-old Zaman came back to draw level – and was leading 8-4 in the fifth when Galvez shook his hand, unable to compete after suffering a hamstring injury in the previous round.
“It was 55 minutes of gruelling squash and Farhan looked delighted to win his second title of the year – and is looking forward to playing the Phoenix Open, the fifth tournament of the Life Time Grand Prix Series,” said Life Time Squash Tour Director Andre Maur.
“What a great moment for Farhan as he had the great Legend Jahangir Khan watching the final and winning the Chicago Open,” added Maur.
The 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 8-4 (ret.) triumph marks the third Tour title of Zaman’s career.
Zaman, kneeling right, and Galvez are pictured with (standing) Franz Schwerer (Tournament Director), Tuey Connell, Anil Gidwaney (Sponsor), Jahangir Khan, Danielle Maur (National Squash Director for Life Time Fitness) and Andre Maur.
Final:
[3] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [4] Eric Galvez (MEX) 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 8-4 ret. (55m)