Alexander Wins Biggest Title At GoodLife
17 October 2011
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 GoodLife Open, Ottawa, Canada
Final:
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 11-6, 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 (68m)
Australian Zac Alexander won the biggest PSA World Tour title of his career when he upset top seedMark Krajcsak in the final of the GoodLife Open, the PSA Challenger 10 squash event in its seventh year at Goodlife Fitness in Ottawa, Canada.
The 22-year-old from Brisbane reached the final after surviving an 83-minute last four marathon – while Hungarian Krajcsak also needed almost an hour to overcome his opponent in the other semi-final.
And the 27-year-old from Budapest moved 2/1 ahead and built up a 4-2 in the fourth game. Queenslander Alexander dug deep, however, to salvage the game to force a decider.
“At the start of the fifth game, bets were flying around the crowd on who was going to take the fifth – with no clear favourite,” said tournament organiser Heather Wallace. “It was a tight game with long rallies, with Krajcsak at the beginning of the game being more creative to take an early lead.
“But Alexander answered with some deception of his own, to regain the lead 7-4 – which caused Krajcsak to tighten up and make some quick errors.”
Alexander capitalised on these errors to take the fifth game and the match 11-6, 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 after 68 minutes.
“I’m so happy to get over the line today,” said Alexander after claiming the ninth Tour title of his career.
“It’s been a tough week and to win 3-2 tonight in the final was really tough.
“This is my biggest tour win to date. Hopefully, I can continue this form into the World Open in Rotterdam in two weeks.”
Alexander clearly enjoyed his stay in Ottawa, telling the crowd: “I will definitely be back next year.”
He also paid tribute to his coach Rodney Martin, with whom he has been working in the US. “My win is a result of all the work Rodney did with me and I thank him for that.”
Semi-finals:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Peter Creed (WAL) 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10 (57m)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 5-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-8 (83m)
The top two seeds will contest the final of the GoodLife Open in Canada after Hungarian Mark Krajcsak and AustralianZac Alexander survived lengthy semi-final battles in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its seventh year at Goodlife Fitness in Ottawa.
Favourite Krajcsak ended Peter Creed‘s brave run, beating the unseeded Welshman 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10 in 57 minutes.
The win takes the 27-year-old from Budapest into the 13th Tour final of his career – but his first this year.
Alexander prevailed against third seed Andrew Wagih Shoukry “in a much-anticipated match which did not live up to expectation,” according to tournament organiser Heather Wallace.
The Brisbane-born 22-year-old recovered from a game down to beat the Egyptian 5-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-8 in 83 minutes.
The marathon triumph sees Alexander through to his second PSA Tour final of the year – but the 14th of his career.
Earlier news:
1st round:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Chris Truswell (ENG) 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 (39m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 (38m)
[4] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (23m)
[3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (24m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (59m)
Robin Anthony Clarke (CAN) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 11-7, 11-2, 13-11 (27m)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10 (60m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (39m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt [4] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-9, 14-12, 11-8 (59m)
[3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (49m)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Robin Anthony Clarke (CAN) 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 (21m)
Welshman Peter Creed claimed a surprise place in the semi-finals of the GoodLife Open in Canada when he upset fourth-seeded Englishman Joel Hinds in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its seventh year at Goodlife Fitness in Ottawa.
“The match was a close affair with long rallies,” explained tournament organiser Heather Wallace. “Hinds was steady and Creed was the more aggressive, attacking the ball which won him points but also cost him through clipping the tin. Each game was tight all the way through and had contentious officiating calls in the late stages making each player rather nervy.
“That is the life of squash, much like soccer, dependent upon the human element of officiating! The calls went against Creed in the first game, yet he prevailed to win it 11-9.”
Creed saved a game-ball in the second before extending his lead – then survived another close third game to beat world No79 Hinds 11-9, 14-12, 11-8 after 59 minutes.
The 24-year-old from Caerphilly, ranked 124 in the world, now faces top seed Mark Krajcsak for a place in the final. The world No54 from Hungary overcame Australian Scott Arnold 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 in his second straight games win in the event.
But there was disappointment for local hero Robin Anthony Clarke when the 2008 champion from Ottawa went down 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 to second seed Zac Alexander.
The Australian, ranked 65 in the world, will now face Andrew Wagih Shoukry after the third seed from Egypt also ousted a Canadian when he despatched Dane Sharp, from Toronto, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5.