RESULTS: PSA International 50 Bluenose Classic, Halifax, Canada
1st round:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (49m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 3-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6 (69m)
[Q] Gilly Lane (USA) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-3 (75m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt [4] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (73m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Chris Ryder (ENG) 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (58m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 8-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-5 (101m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 (23m)
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-1 (41m)
Quarter-finals:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (49m)
[Q] Gilly Lane (USA) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-7, 14-12 (65m)
US Stars In Bluenose Breakthrough
US squash stars Julian Illingworth and Gilly Lane pulled two of the best results of their careers in the Bluenose Classicin Canada to claim unexpected places in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 50 event in its sixth year atSt Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Unseeded Illingworth, winner of a record six US national titles, had never before beaten Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the event’s top seed and 2008 champion, in four previous Tour meetings.
But the 27-year-old from New York played the game of his life to beat world No11 Anjema 11-7, 11-7, 14-12.
And Gilly Lane, a qualifier from Philadelphia and the lowest-ranked player in the draw, earned the first semi-final slot after upsetting Egypt’s Mohammed Abbas. The 30-year-old from Giza, a former world No13, is mounting a major comeback drive after being out of action for almost a year with a foot injury.
It was the pair’s first Tour clash, but after the first game was nip-and-tuck through to six-all, Lane pulled away and ultimately clinched his surprise 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 win after 33 minutes.
Lane, ranked 66 in the world, now faces Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the No2 seed from Malaysia who defeated fellow countryman Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.
Third seed Hisham Mohd Ashour, a 28-year-old from Cairo who is making rapid strides up the world rankings, claimed his anticipated place in the last four after conquering Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7.
Ashour will face Illingworth in the pair’s third Tour meeting since December 2006 – with the head-to-head tally currently standing at one-all.
Semi-final line-up:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v [Q] Gilly Lane (USA)
Julian Illingworth (USA) v [3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)