June 19, 2011-New
Zealander Kashif Shuja edged out home favourite Mike Corren in the
final of the Chateau Tanunda South Australian Open to win the PSA World
Tour Challenger 5 squash event at the South Adelaide Squash Centre in
Adelaide.
Corren, the South Australian-born second seed in his fourth final in
five years, was looking for his third successive title as he celebrated
his 51st appearance in a PSA Tour final - and his fourth this year.
Shuja and Corren entertained the big crowd with some squash of the
highest quality before the Kiwi claimed the fifth game in a tiebreak to
take the title 11-7, 4-11, 13-15, 11-5, 12-10 after 75 minutes.
"I knew it was going to be very, very hard, even though Mike had a
tough semi-final yesterday," said Shuja, the 31-year-old top seed from
Auckland.
"He worked so hard today, it was hard physically and I was just pleased to get home - there was nothing between us."
It was Shuja's 10th title on the men's tour, achieving a goal he set
himself when he quit his job at the University of Auckland six years
ago to go on the tour full time.
"It was very special for me to win my 10th tournament," added Shuja
after extending his unbeaten record against the 37-year-old Australian.
"It's also special for me to win here. I've been coming to Australia
for many years now and I really appreciate the great squash history in
this country."
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Chateau Tanunda South Australian Open, Adelaide, Australia
1st round:
[1] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew Wise (AUS) 11-7, 11-0, 11-2 (24m)
[Q] Lance Beddoes (NZL) bt [Q] Jonathan Geekie (SCO) 11-3, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6 (53m)
Owais Khan (PAK) bt Luke Sims (AUS) 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6 (40m)
[7] Justin Beard (AUS) bt Frank Hartkoren (NED) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (36m)
[8] Josh Cardwell (AUS) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (27m)
Rory Pennell (ENG) bt Chris Lloyd (NZL) 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (32m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-4, 11-9, 11-8 (23m)
[4] Nathan Stevenson (AUS) bt Kevin Moran (SCO) 13-11, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-9, 11-7, 11-2 (22m)
[Q] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [Q] Paul Coll (NZL) 10-12, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (51m)
[Q] Jason Mudge (AUS) bt Sunil Seth (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (33m)
[6] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Ben Marschall (AUS) 11-1, 11-7, 11-3 (17m)
[5] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-8, 15-13, 11-8 (44m)
Chris Ferguson (SCO) bt [Q] Walter Koteka (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (21m)
Jamie Mcervale (AUS) bt Ben Werchon (AUS) 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 (24m)
[2] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Christopher Lark (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-9 (26m)