Local Favorite Todd Harrity Advances in J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Qualifying
by Beth Rasin
January 18, 2012 - Reigning US national collegiate squash champion Todd Harrity posted the only upset victory in the first round of qualifying play of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions when he defeated 14th seed Cesar Salazar of Mexico in four games, 11-7,11-4,3-11,12-10. The Princeton University junior will now have to defeat #3 seed Stephen Coppinger of South Africa to make it into the first round of the main draw and onto the glass court in Grand Central Terminal. Coppinger eliminated Yasir Butt of Pakistan in a hard -fought four- game battle during which he eked out two tiebreak game wins to keep his hopes alive for a turn on the iconic Tournament of Champions court under the chandelier in Grand Central.
Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez retrieving style of play wore down Aussie Wade Johnstone who was unable to convert a game ball in the second game to tie the match. After pulling out to a 9-0 lead in the third, Rodriguez claimed victory with an 11-3 win. Rodriguez will next face Amir Khaled Kalifa of Egypt who eliminated India’s Ramit Tandon. Khalifa’s compatriot Mohammed Abbas had his hands full fending off England’s Joe Lee, who was able to retrieve enough of his wily opponent’s crafty shots to win the first game 12-10. Abbas’ experience ultimately carried the day as he closed out the next three games11-8,11-8,11-6. Rounding out the trio of Egyptians who hope to join their seven countrymen in the main draw is Marwan El Shorbagy who was taken to five games by England’s Adrian Waller. The 18-year-old reigning World Junior champion moved one step closer to joining older brother Mohammed in the main draw when he came back after being down 1-2 to win the fourth and fifth games, 11-8,11-7.
El Shorbagy will face New Zealand’s Martin Knight who eliminated Canada’s Shawn Delierre in three games. Also moving on with straight games victories are Ryan Cuskelly of Australia, Max Lee of Kong Kong, Malaysian Ong Beng Hee. Scotland’s Alan Clyne , Frenchmen Gregoire Marche and Mathieu Castagnet , Englishman Chris Ryder and Siddarthe Suchde of india.
Main draw play begins Friday at noon in Grand Central Terminal.
1st Round Qualifying Results:
[1] A. Clyne (SCO) bt F. Khan (USA) 11-3, 11-2, 11-5 25 mins
[12] M. Castagnet (FRA) bt Olivier Pett (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 15-13 46 mins
[10] M. El Shorbagy (EGY) bt. A. Waller (ENG) 11-8, 6-11,3-11,11-8,11-7 71 mins.
M. Knight (NZL) bt. S. Delierre (CAN) 11-8,11-9,11-3
[6] R. Cuskelly (AUS) bt. J. Barrington (ENG) 11-4,11-8,11-6
[9] M. Lee (HKG) bt. G. Bassett (USA) 11-5,11-8,11-4 29 mins
[L] T. Harrity (USA) bt. [14] C. Salazar (MEX) 11-7,11-4,3-11,12-10 50 mins
[3] S. Coppinger (RSA) bt. Y. Butt (PAK) 12-10,11-8,7-11,12-10 68 mins
[4] M.A Rodriguez (COL) bt. Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-8,14-12, 11-3 41 mins
[16] A. Khalifa (EGY) bt. R. Tandon (IND) 7-11,11-6,12-10,11-5 44 mins
[13] Z. Alexander (AUS) bt. K. Khan (MAS) 11-9,12-14,11-8,11-2 81 mins
[8] C. Ryder (ENG) bt. L. Butterworth 11-2,11-1,11-8 49 mins
[5] M. Abbas (EGY) bt. Joe Lee (ENG) 12-14,11-8,11-8,11-6 64 mins
[15] S. Suchde (IND) bt. M. Karwalski (AUS) 11-6,11-5,11-6 44 mins
[11] G. Marche (FRA) bt. A. Burki (PAK) 11-3,11-6,11-4 27 mins
[2] O. Beng Hee (MAS) bt. C. Gordon (USA) 12-10,11-9,11-7 51 mins
Schedule of Play – Thursday, January 19, 2012
At the Princeton Club
5:30 PM [1] A. Clyne (SCO) v. [12] M. Castagnet (FRA)
6:15 PM [10] M. El Shorbagy (EGY) v. M. Knight (NZL)
7:00 PM [6] R. Cuskelly (AUS) v. [9] M. Lee (HKG)
7: 45 PM [L] T. Harrity (USA) v. [3] S. Coppinger (RSA)
At the Harvard Club
6:00 PM [4] M.A Rodriguez (COL) v. [16] A. Khalifa (EGY)
6:00 PM [13] Z. Alexander (AUS) bt. [8] C. Ryder (ENG)
7:00 [5] M. Abbas (EGY) v. [15] S. Suchde (IND)
7:00 [11] G. Marche (FRA) v. [2] O. Beng Hee (MAS)
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