Illingworth Joins Top Seeds In Berkshire Semis
by Howard Harding
14 April 2012 - Home hope Julian Illingworth will join the top three seeds in the semi-finals of the Berkshire Open after the unseeded 28-year-old continued his unexpected run in the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event in its eighth year at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA.
It was after upsetting fourth seed Stephen Coppinger in the first round that the world No36 from New York faced Pakistan's Yasir Butt, ranked 64th, in the quarter-finals.
"There were rumours that Julian had hurt his back at the end of his match the night before against Steve Coppinger, and it certainly looked as if that was the case as the first game went quickly to Butt (without opposition) and at the same minimum level of resistance to put Julian down 9-2 to Yasir in the second," explained tournament organiser Zafi Levy, the college's Head Squash Coach.
"And then—suddenly and without warning—Julian came alive and won the next 14 points in a row! The transformation was exhilarating to witness!"
Illingworth went on to delight the partisan crowd by winning 2-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 to set up a semi-final meeting with second seed Tom Richards.
The Englishman outplayed Miguel Angel Rodriguez to beat the Colombian number one 11-8, 11-8, 11-7.
The semi-final in the top half of the draw will be the one predicted by the draw, with favourite Alister Walker talking on third-seeded Spaniard Borja Golan.
Walker, the world No18 from Botswana, got off to a slow start against English qualifier Olivier Pett, but recovered from 8-10 down in the first game to win 12-10, 11-8, 11-6.
Golan, a former world No10, dashed Canadian hopes of success in the event by despatching Shawn Delierre 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 in just 27 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Berkshire Open, Williamstown, Mass, USA
Quarter-finals:
[1] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 (38m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 (27m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Yasir Butt (PAK) 2-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (41m)
[2] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Alister Walker (BOT) v [3] Borja Golan (ESP)
[2] Tom Richards (ENG) v Julian Illingworth (USA)
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