Teen Elias Elicits Victory, Serme Soars and Beng Hee Bounces into 2nd Qualifying Round at JP Morgan Tournament of Champions by Beth Raisin New York, NY – Jan. 14, 2015.
A mix of veterans and new faces advanced in first round qualifying
matches for the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, the world’s
largest spectator squash event,
On his very first visit to New York City, Lucas Serme enjoyed a day of
sightseeing before earning a hard fought four-game victory over
American Chris Gordon. With the partisan crowd at the Harvard
Club cheering him on, Gordon snagged the first game 11-7. The second
game was nip and tuck the whole way, as both players pushed each other
to the four corners of the court. After Gordon couldn’t convert two
game balls at 12-11 and 13-12, Serme closed out the game at
15-13. “I think the difference in the end was fitness,” said the
22-year-old Frenchman who closed out the match 11-6, 11-1. Serme’s next
opponent will be Scotsman Alan Clyne who eliminated Faraz Khan in
straight games.
In a 90-minute epic encounter, Peru’s 18-year-old Diego Elias, the 2014
World Junior Champion, fought back three match balls in the fourth game
to defeat 22-year-old Greg Lobban of Scotland. Elias’ next
opponent will another ToC newcomer, 20-year-old Mazen Hesham of Egypt,
who attacked his way to victory as he defeated Malaysia’s
Muhd Asyraf Azan in straight games, in just 24 minutes. Playing error
free squash punctuated by deceptive holds, Hesham prevented his
opponent from scoring a single point in the second game, and kept Azan
constantly guessing as to where the ball might end up.
Veteran Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia, who won the 1998 World Junior title,
played what he called “jet lagged squash” to defeat American Chris
Hanson in four games. He will next take on Mohamed Reda who
dropped the first game 14-16 to Shawn Delierre of Canada before winning
the next three games in a 74-minute-contest. “The difference in
the end was my shooting, “said Reda, who recently moved to Philadelphia
from Egypt with his wife Engy and three month old son.
Englishmen Tom Richards and Joe Lee both advanced, with Richards next
slated to play ToC first-timer Mahesh Mangaonkar of India while Lee
takes on New Zealand’s Martin Knight. Cesar Salazar of Mexico
meets Aussie Zac Alexander; Egyptian Mohd Abouelghar plays Aussie Ryan
Cuskelly and Alfredo Avila of Mexico goes up against Grayson Campbell
of Australia.
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) def. Chris Hanson (USA) 11-8, 11-6, 10-12 53 mins
Mohamed Reda (EGY) def. Shawn Delierre (CAN) 14-16, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 74 mins
Lucas Serme (FRA) def. Chris Gordon (USA) 7-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-1 69 mins
Alan Clyne (SCO) def. Faraz Khan (USA) 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 29 mins
Zac Alexander (AUS) def. Leo Au (HKG) 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 74 mins
Cesar Salazar (MEX)def. Ahmed Kalek (EGY ) 7-11,11-6, 11-3, 11-6 48 mins.
Martin Knight (NZL) def. Mike Lewis (USA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 31 minshd Abouelghar (EGY) def. Bradley Ball (ENG) w/o
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) def. Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9 64 mins
