North Americans Illingworth, Razik and Salazar Advance to US Open Qualifying Finals
from DailySquashReport.com

October5, 2012 -Top-American Julian Illingworth cruised past US junior champion Dylan Murray, top-Canadian Shahier Razik survived a blow to the face to straight-set Pakistan's Yasir Butt, and top-Mexican Cesar Salazar upset Marwan El Shorbagy of Egypt by an electifying 11-9 in the fifth last night, as all three advanced to the US Open men's qualifying finals in Philadelphia.

In other matches, Princeton's Todd Harrity jumped on Scotland's Alan Clyne to win the first game 11-2, but Clyne steadied his play and dominated the ensuing three games.

And Montreal's gritty Shawn Delierre saved several match points against Egypt's Omar Abdel Aziz to knot the score at 10-all in the fourth, but fell in overtime.

US Open Media files this report:

Day One: Men’s Qualifying

The wait is over and the 2012 edition of the Delaware Investments U.S. Open is under way today with sixteen first round Men’s qualifying matches at four locations in Philadelphia.

Drexel University:
MARTIN KNIGHT (Nzl) beat Jamie Macaulay (Sco)  11-6, 11-1, 11-3 (37 mins)
SIDDHARTH SUCHDE (Ind) beat Joe Russell (Eng) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2  (27  mins)
MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ (Col) beat John White (Sco) 11-8, 12-10, 12-10 (48 mins)
STEVE COPPINGER (Rsa) beat Adrian Waller (Eng) 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7

Racquet Club of Philadelphia:
SHAHIER RAZIK (Can) beat Yasir Butt (Pak)  11-9, 11-8, 11-7
GREGOIRE MARCHE (Fra) beat Christopher Hanson (Usa) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (34 mins)
MAX LEE (Hkg) beat Graham Bassett (Usa) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (29 mins)
MATTHEW KARWALSKI (Aus) beat Zac Alexander (Aus) 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (55 mins)

Merion Cricket Club:
RYAN CUSKELLY (Aus) beat Alex Stait (Eng) 11-7, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3 (36 mins)
KARIM ABDEL GAWAD (Egy) beat Campbell Grayson (Nzl) 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7 (53 mins)
ALAN CLYNE (Sco) beat Todd Harrity (Usa) 2-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (39 mins)
OMAR ABDEL AZIZ (Egy) beat Shawn Delierre (Can) 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10 (73 mins)

Germantown Cricket Club:
JOE LEE (Eng) beat Chris Simpson (Eng)  11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (1hr 51mins)
JULIAN ILLINGWORTH (Usa) beat Dylan Murray (Usa) 11-3,11-8, 11-6 (25 mins)
CESAR SALAZAR (Mex) beat Marwan El Shorbagy (Egy) 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 4-11, 11-9 (75 mins)
AAMIR ATLAS KHAN (Pak) beat Henrik Mustonen (Fin) 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (53 mins)

Live from the courts…

Drexel :  Macaulay errors led to Knight win in the first, 11-6.  Second game to Knight 11-1, thanks to his dominating touch and moving his opponent all over the court.  Knight 11-3 takes the clean sweep, barely breaking a sweat.  Next up local Joe Russell takes on India’s Siddharth Suchde. Suchde has taken the first two games.  Hitting deep balls and wearing Russell out.  Cashing in on Russell’s short balls by taking them early.  Suchde much too quick around the court, winning the third game 11-2.  Warming up now, Rodriguez and local Drexel favorite White. White down 2 games, but heavy crowd support from local fans and students. Nail biting 10-all in the third…but Rodriguez takes it 12-10.    Coppinger 11-4 takes the first game, Waller committed several unforced errors.  Waller wins the second game 11-7.  Lots of lets and stokes, roughly played game by both sides.  Game three play picked up.  Long, tough rallies…Coppinger nicked out at last point to win 11-9. Waller visibly tired.  Coppinger wins 11-7 on Waller tin.

Racquet Club of Philadelphia : So far a tight match with long points.  A few calls by referee have increased intensity.  Razik has just been hit in the nose with the follow through of Butt and has an injury.  Time out for bleeding at 10-5 to Razik.  While Razik is recovering, Hanson and Marche match has started.  Marche too strong for Hanson, winning in three.  The Aussies battling it out at RCOP now. 

Merion :  Cuskelly wins in 4, but a big Merion crowd cheered loudly for their club pro, Alex Stait.  Next on court, Karim Abdel Gawad from Egypt against Campbell Grayson of New Zealand.  Gawad wins in just under an hour, in four games.  Next up USA star Todd Harrity.  Harrity fought valiantly in front of a home crowd, but Clyne’s speed and movement eventually fatigued Harrity and won the day.  Aziz up 6-2 in the first game, both players playing more aggressive attacking style than in the last match.  Aziz wins second game 12-10.  Very tight finish, both players fighting for space in mid-court.  Delierre surges back to win the third game 11-5.  Found his shotmaking and was able to take the initiative.  Delierre came back from 10-6 down in the fourth to tie at 10-10 with incredible retrieving and endless points.  But Abdel Aziz was able to stop the momentum and took the match 12-10 winning crosscourt flick volley on match ball.

Germantown :  Joe Lee looking strong in the first, wins 11-4.  Simpson retaliating, and starting to get comfortable, takes second game 11-6. Lee climbs to a three nil win, 11-7, after a tour de court. Battle at 5-all in the fourth game.  Simpson had a tough fall, but he’s now leading 8-6. Two all now…into the fifth. 10-7 match ball.  Joe ends 11-7 on a dead drive.  Illingworth and Murray on court now, Julian up 6-3.  First game to Illingworth 11-3. Marwan leads 6-8.  Game to Cesar.  Drive on an awesome dive by Marwan to win the point.  7-6 Cesar leads.  10-All now.  Firing back and forth…awesome squash…game to Cesar 12-10.  Up 2-0, possible upset.  Third game to Marwan 11-7.  Into the fourth, Cesar up 2-1.  Marwan not happy, 4-2.  Game to Marwan 11-4.  Fifth game, 1-0 to Cesar on a tin. 2-0 Cesar on a backhand hold forecourt slam.  Marwan fakes it back on a backhand nick, 2-1.  10-8 match ball to Cesar.  Two dives by Cesar but Marwan gets back to 10-9.  Injury time out for Cesar, getting ice…at 10-9 in the fifth. Game ends on a ‘no let’ call to Cesar, earning him the match in five.  On to Aamir Atlas Khan and Henrik Mustonen match now, a killer drop from Aamir takes the score to 7-3 with him in the lead.

Complete Qualifying Draw

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