All-England final as Simpson beats Selby in Weybridge
By NATHAN CLARKE
Chris Simpson collected the biggest PSA World Tour title of his career to date when he overcame compatriot Daryl Selby, the former World No.9, in the final of the CLIC Sargent St George’s Hill Open 2015, PSA M25 tournament in Weybridge.
The 28-year-old Simpson prevailed 3-1 over Selby, who is ranked five places ahead of him at No.18, to record his first PSA victory over the 32-year-old and win his ninth World Tour title.
After coming through a narrow quarter-final encounter with Kristian Frost Olesen 3-2, Simpson swept past Tom Richards 3-0 in the semis and maintained his impressive form to see off Selby, edging a close opening game before establishing a comfortable 2-0 lead with a dominant performance in the second game.
Selby mounted a comeback in the third but it took its toll on the talented Essex man and Simpson pounced in the fourth, restricting Selby to a solitary point and he surged to the victory and the title.
“This is definitely the best I played all week. I saved my best squash for the final,” said Simpson.
“I really enjoyed the match, it was a very fair contest and I think it was a good reflection of squash as a sport. I beat Daryl a few weeks ago in an unofficial tournament and that gave me confidence that I could beat him and I’m delighted to do so today.”
Semi-Finals: Selby sinks Serme to set up Simpson showdown
Daryl Selby and Chris Simpson will go head-to-head in the final of the CLIC Sargent St George’s Hill Open, PSA M25 event after claiming respective victories against Lucas Serme and Tom Richards.
Selby’s clash with Serme was an engaging affair with very little to choose between both players in the opening two games but World No.18 Selby, nine years Serme’s senior, used his immense experience to take the vital points towards the latter stages of each game, claiming a 2-0 lead in the process.
The third game was also a close affair but Selby yet again managed to pull away at the end to book his place in the final with a hard-fought 12-10, 14-12, 11-8 triumph.
“Lucas was playing very well for the first two games,” said Selby.
“I had a very hard match [against George Parker] and he played very well in the first two rounds so I knew it was going to be tough and I could have easily lost the first two games. They were the closest ones and that’s where he played his best squash, although I thought I’d played well too. It was as tough as I expected, Lucas moves exceptionally well and varies his shots beautifully.
“I’m really delighted to have a chance to win my first PSA World Tour title in three years. I have lost a few finals in that time so a win would be nice.”
Simpson faced a difficult tie against long-time adversary Richards but, after just edging the opening game, dominated the rest of the encounter. A fast start from Richards in game three looked to have breathed life into the tie but Simpson recovered to seal the win in three.
The 28-year-old from Guernsey goes into his final clash with Selby looking to win his ninth PSA World Tour title – against a man he has lost to in all three of the pair’s PSA World Tour encounters.
$25,000 Men’s CLIC Sargent St George’s Hill Classic 2015, St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club, Weybridge, England:
Final:
[2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [1] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 11-1 (67m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [4] Lucas Serme (FRA) 12-10, 14-12, 11-8 (62m)
[2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [3] Tom Richards (ENG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (48m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] George Parker (ENG) 12-14, 11-6, 14-12, 11-5 (68m)
[4] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Charles Sharpes (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (33m)
[3] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 3-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1 (52m)
[2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 5-11, 11-2, 12-14, 11-4, 11-4 (82m)
1st round:
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (51m)
[Q] George Parker (ENG) bt [8] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (40m)
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt [7] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 16-14 (80m)
[4] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt [WC] Charlie Lee (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-9 (35m)
[3] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 (51m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [6] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 (66m)
[Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [5] Raphael Kandra (GER) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (61m)
[2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6 (57m)
Qualifying finals:
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Angus Gillams (ENG) 12-14, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5 (96m)
George Parker (ENG) bt James Earles (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 13-15, 13-15, 11-9 (88m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Tom Ford (ENG) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (37m)
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (63m)
1st qualifying round:
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
Angus Gillams (ENG) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (73m)
George Parker (ENG) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-8, 11-4 ret. (24m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 4-11, 12-10, 8-1 ret. (31m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Tristan Eysele (RSA) 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (33m)
Tom Ford (ENG) bt Matthew Broadberry (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-2 (27m)
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Stuart Hadden (IRL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (28m)
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Alex Ingham (ENG) 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)
Pictures from Doug Sheperdigian