Razik Rallies To Second Vancouver Final
13 November 2011
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 BC Honda Open, Vancouver, Canada
Semi-finals:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)
[2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [4] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-6, 12-10, 11-3 (54m)
Four years after becoming the last home winner of the title, Shahier Razik is back in the final of the BC Honda Open in Canada after beating unseeded Dane Rasmus Nielsen in the semi-finals of the established PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at Jericho Tennis Club in Vancouver.
The 33-year-old from Toronto eased into the 36th PSA World Tour final of his career after overcoming Nielsen 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 in 34 minutes – ending the brave run of the 28-year-old from Odense who made his breakthrough in the first round where he upset third seed Jan Koukal.
Top seed Razik, the reigning Canadian national champion celebrating his second Tour final appearance of the year, will faceRyan Cuskelly, the No2 seed from Australia.
New York-based Cuskelly, from New South Wales, battled for 54 minutes to defeat England’s No4 seed Joe Lee 11-6, 12-10, 11-3.
The Australian is marking the 11th Tour final of his career.
For all the latest Tour news: www.psaworldtour.com
Quarter-Finals: Nielsen Makes Vancouver Semis
12 November 2011
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 BC Honda Open, Vancouver, Canada
Quarter-finals:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-3, 14-12, 11-7 (49m)
Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11 (55m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-3, 12-10, 13-11 (22m)
[2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10 (67m)
After upsetting the third seed in the opening round, Denmark’s Rasmus Nielsen continued his fine form in the BC Honda Open in Canada by becoming the only unseeded player to make the semi-finals of the established PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at Jericho Tennis Club in Vancouver.
The 28-year-old from Odense despatched Germany’s Jens Schoor 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11 to set up a surprise clash with top seed Shahier Razik.
The world No31 from Toronto prevailed against fellow Canadian Dane Sharp 11-3, 14-12, 11-7.
But, according to tournament organiser Shauna Flath, the “match of the night” was the see-saw 67-minute battle between second seed Ryan Cuskelly and young Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar.
“Mohamed was down 2/0 and battled back with unbelievable shot-making from everywhere off his racquet – and the speed was the best this crowd has ever seen,” said Flath.
“Up 7-3 in the fifth, Mohamed looked on course for the upset – but Ryan dug in and battled back. At ten-all, Mohamed called a double bounce on himself – a first class move by a first class player. Ryan took the next point and the match 12-10.”
Australian Cuskelly, winner in an 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10 scoreline, was himself stunned by his 18-year-old opponent’s performance. “It was unbelievable .just like Ramy!” said the 24-year-old from New South Wales.
“I felt tentative at times because if I hit it loose he was attacking everything.”
Cuskelly will face fourth seed Joe Lee for a place in the final. Lee took just 22 minutes to see off fellow Englishman Eddie Charlton 11-3, 12-10, 13-11.
“I played him just at the World Open and felt I played pretty well,” said Charlton afterwards. “Joe was good today and I wasn’t. It was unfortunate – I would’ve liked to have had a better performance.”
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Rasmus Nielsen (DEN)
[2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [4] Joe Lee (ENG)
Nielsen Knocks Out Koukal In Vancouver
11 November 2011
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 BC Honda Open, Vancouver, Canada
1st round:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [Q] Fred Reid (CAN) 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 (26m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [Q] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-7, 11-1, 11-7 (28m)
Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt [3] Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-2, 11-2, 11-3 (19m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10 (50m)
Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [Q] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-1, 11-7, 13-11 (54m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Charles Sharpes (ENG) 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 (47m)
[2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [Q] Declan James (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (33m)
Denmark’s Rasmus Nielsen claimed an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the BC Honda Open in Canada when he crushed third seed Jan Koukal in the opening round of the established PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event atJericho Tennis Club in Vancouver.
It was an out-of-sorts Koukal, the Czech number one who reached the semi-finals in 2010, who went down 11-2, 11-2, 11-3 to the Odense-based Dane in just 19 minutes.
Nielsen progresses to meet Germany’s Jens Schoor, an 11-7, 11-1, 11-7 winner over French qualifier Geoffrey Demont.
But Canada are assured of interest in the semi-finals after both Shahier Razik and Dane Sharp recorded first round wins. Top seed Razik, the world No31 from Toronto, beat fellow countryman Thomas Brinkman 11-4, 11-3, 11-4, while Sharp, also from Toronto, despatched Canadian qualifier Fred Reid 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9. The pair will meet in the quarter-finals.
Fourth seed Joe Lee came through in a tight fourth game against promising Canadian Andrew Schnell and was relieved that he closed it out.
“Andrew got some of the momentum but I was happy to close it out and didn’t have to go to five,” said the 22-year-old Englishman after his 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10 victory in 50 minutes.
Tournament organiser Shauna Flath added: “Andrew is coming up and started to get the belief in his match and put in a great effort. There’s lots to come from him as far as the future of Canadian squash.”
Mohamed Abouelghar became the youngest player to make the last eight when he beat England’s Charles Sharpes. The 18-year-old Egyptian entertained the crowd with his 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 win over 19-year-old Sharpes.
“Charles put in a fantastic effort but just fell short in the end,” said Flath.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Dane Sharp (CAN)
Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) v Jens Schoor (GER)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) v Eddie Charlton (ENG)
[2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)