Scots Star Clinches Debut Place In $50K Canary Wharf Classic
by Alan Thatcher
March 17, 2013 - Scottish number one Alan Clyne claimed a place in the first round of the Canary Wharf Classic after beating two English rivals in the qualifying competition, and was then drawn against England’s No.4 seed Peter Barker.
Clyne clinched his berth in the main draw after beating Jonathan Kemp in four games, a day after receiving some assistance from the referee as he beat Joel Hinds.
The 25-year-old Hinds suffered a conduct game penalty after taking more than five minutes to repair a broken shoelace.
Clyne squeezed home 12-10 in a fourth-game tiebreak against Kemp and was pleased with his results in his debut appearance in this PSA International 50 tournament, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
He said: “This is my first time in the tournament and I’m very pleased to get through to the first round.
“I have played Jonathan a few times in the past and I know he likes to attack. I knew I had to punish any loose balls and I was happy with the way it worked today, but it could be a different on the glass court.”
Rising Egyptian star Ali Anwar Reda overcame South African Shaun Le Roux in an ill-tempered five-setter and then urged his fellow professionals to mind their manners if squash succeeds in its’ bid to be granted Olympic status later this year.
After Le Roux had received a conduct stroke for comments to the referee, Reda said: “I thought the referee did well on most decisions and it was a shame there were some incidents.
“The crowd come here to watch the squash, not to listen to players arguing with the referee.
“Sometimes it can be funny, and that’s OK, but if there is too much talking it gets in the way of the squash.”
Reda, who faces world No.12 Tom Richards in the first round, added: “If we are serious about squash being in the Olympics then the players should not argue. It just doesn’t look good."
Finland’s Henrik Mustonen upset the rankings with a solid performance to see off volatile Frenchman Gregoire Marche.
After beating Kristian Frost Olesen in a Baltic battle on Saturday, the 22-year-old world No.53 produced another display of solid, intelligent, controlled squash to beat a player 31 places above him in the PSA rankings.
Mustonen’s reward is a place in the first round against England’s world No.17 Adrian Grant, one of several Londoners looking for success on home soil.
The final qualifying spot went to another Londoner as tall left-hander Adrian Waller, from Enfield, overcame Surrey’s Joe Lee to line up a mouthwatering clash with No.3 seed Mohamed El Shorbagy, who was runner-up to Ramy Ashour in the World Championship final in Qatar in December.
Canary Wharf Squash Classic qualifying finals, Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club
Alan Clyne (Sco) beat Jonathan Kemp (Eng) 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (43 mins)
Henrik Mustonen (Fin) beat Gregoire Marche (Fra)11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4 (46 mins)
Ali Anwar Reda (Egypt) beat Shaun Le Roux (England) 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 7-11, 11-6 (80 mins)
Adrian Waller (Eng) beat Joe Lee (Eng) 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 (62 mins)
Revised First Round draw (top half Tuesday; bottom half Monday):
(1) Nick Matthew (Eng) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col)
Alister Walker (Bot) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Tom Richards (Eng) v (Q) Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (Egy)
(4) Peter Barker (Eng) v (Q) Alan Clyne (Sco)
(3) Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egypt) v (Q) Adrian Waller (Eng)
Adrian Grant (Eng) v (Q) Henrik Mustonen (Fin)
Daryl Selby (Eng) v Simon Rosner (Ger)
(2) James Willstrop (Eng) v Charles Sharpes (Eng)
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