Alister Walker Into Irish Open Semis
by Howard Harding
27 April 2012 - Former champion Borja Golan survived one of the longest matches of his professional career when he overcame unseeded opponent Mathieu Castagnet to reach the semi-finals of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open, the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event in its tenth year at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
Three times a finalist and winner of the title in 2006, the second-seeded Spaniard twice had to come from behind to beat lower-ranked Frenchman Castagnet 10-12, 11-3, 12-14, 11-6, 11-3 in 110 minutes.
After prevailing in the longest match of the day, world No21 Golan will now face third seed Alan Clyne, winner of the shortest.
The Scotsman despatched Dane Rasmus Nielsen 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 in only 33 minutes.
"Got the 3-0 win today and played some decent stuff," revealed the Scottish champion later on Twitter.
In the other half of the draw, top seed Alister Walker also had a fight on his hands to see off US number two Christopher Gordon. The world No18 from Botswana dropped the first game, but battled back to overcome Gordon, ranked more than 60 places lower, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 in 45 minutes.
In his bid to reach a second PSA Tour final this month, Walker will now take on fourth seed Jonathan Kemp. In a clash between two English left-handers, world No41 Kemp defeated Robbie Temple 11-6, 11-5, 11-8.
RESULTS: PSA International 25 Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open, Dublin, Ireland
Quarter-finals:
[1] Alister Walker (BOT) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 6-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 (45m)
[4] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (33m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 10-12, 11-3, 12-14, 11-6, 11-3 (110m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Alister Walker (BOT) v [4] Jonathan Kemp (ENG)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) v [3] Alan Clyne (SCO)
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