Greg Lobban joins Alan Clyne in Windy City Open main draw
By NATHAN CLARKE – PSA Correspondent
Scottish duo Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban, the World No.36 and No.53 respectively, moved into the first round of the Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company after securing impressive victories during a day of upsets at the University Club of Chicago.
Clyne, the highest ranked Scottish player on the world tour, ensured his place in the main draw with a huge upset victory over number one seed Adrian Waller.
The 28-year-old Clyne (right) took out the English left-hander in a tightly fought 3-2 encounter to set up a first round match-up with Egyptian World No.7 Tarek Momen.
Lobban, the 22-year-old from Inverness, was equally as impressive as he dispatched another Englishman, former World No.12 Tom Richards, to reach the first round of the Windy City Open for the first time in his career where Australian No.1 Cameron Pilley awaits him.
Former World No.9 Laurens Jan Anjema, the Dutchman returning to the tour following an injury enforced absence, was another casualty as he fell to a shock 3-0 defeat to Finland’s Henrik Mustonen.
There were also victories for Mohamed Abouelghar, Zahed Mohamed and Cesar Salazar over higher-ranked opposition, while Omar Abdel Meguid and Gregoire Marche also triumphed to earn their places in the first round of competition.
Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, Chicago, USA:
Men’s Qualification Finals:
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-2: 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (80m)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 3-2: 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (69m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Mazen Hesam (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (30m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 3-2: 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 (65m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Shaun Le Roux (RSA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 14-12 (61m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 3-1: 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 (69m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 3-1: 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (70m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 3-0: 11-1, 11-3, 14-12 (27m)
2015 Windy City Open: PSA Main Draw
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Fares Dessouki (EGY)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Max Lee (HKG)
Nicolas Muller (SUI) v [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO)
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Borja Golan (ESP)
Daryl Selby (EGY) v [WC] Chris Hanson (USA)
James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[8] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Simon Rosner (GER)
Alister Walker (BOT) v [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO)
[2] Greg Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN)
The 2015 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company gets underway from the University Club of Chicago on Thursday February 26 with all the action being streamed live via SQUASHTV: www.psaworldtour.com/tv
Pictures from Squash Mad archive  (main image by KIM ROBERTS)