Ryder Rallies To Kent Open Success by Howard Harding
May 30, 2011-In
the longest recorded match of his career, England's top seed Chris
Ryder overcame Hong Kong's Max Lee in a marathon final to win the Kent
Open title at The Mote Squash Club in Maidstone in the English country
of Kent.
The world No38 from Leamington Spa
won the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event trophy 11-9, 16-18, 11-9,
8-11, 11-4 in a brutal battle lasting 121 minutes.
The second game alone lasted 34
minutes before Lee clinched it 18-16 to level the match at one game all
after almost an hour's play.
Ryder was ahead all the way through
the opening game and held game ball at 10-8 in the second before Lee
launched a phenomenal comeback. The 30-year-old held six game balls but
Lee, 23, responded positively each time to delight the packed gallery
at The Mote Squash Club as he clinched the tiebreak.
Second seed Lee led 4-2 in the third
game and the crowd sensed a surprise was on the cards. But Ryder's
solid technique and fitness helped him to draw level at 6-6 and he
finished strongly to close out the game 11-9.
The fourth game followed a similar
pattern, but in reverse. Ryder led 4-2 and then 8-7, when Lee left the
court for treatment on a cut knee.
When he returned after a nine-minute break he won four points in a row to win the game.
Lee was unsettled by a "No Let" call
early in the fifth game when he felt he should have been awarded a
stroke. His concentration lapsed and Ryder raced through the game to
reach match ball at 10-2. Lee responded with two points but then tinned
a tired-looking drive to give Ryder the title.
This was Ryder's second title at the
club, having won the inaugural Mote Classic two years ago before the
tournament was upgraded to a PSA World Tour event.
"The match lasted more than two
hours and at times it was brutal," explained Ryder after collecting the
sixth Tour title of his career, but his first for a year. "Physically I
felt good all the way through although my left leg was hurting at
times. When Max had to go off to treat his knee that seemed to help it
calm down, so I'm pleased about that.
"I love playing here at The Mote and
still haven't lost here yet. The courts play well and the players all
appreciate the way they are looked after here.
"It's great to hear that the
tournament may be growing next year. I look forward to coming back, as
I am sure all the players do."
Leo Au, the Hong Kong qualifier who
powered his way through the draw to reach the semi-finals, was awarded
the Wonga Mzimba Sportsmanship Shield in memory of the Mote Squash Club
member who died on court during three weeks ago.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Kent Open, Maidstone, England
Final: [1] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [2] Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 16-18, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4 (121m)