Pett Flies International Flag In Alexandria by Howard Harding
June 5, 2011-Unseeded
Englishman Olivier Pett became the only overseas player to make the
quarter-finals of the Egyptian Circuit No2 in Alexandria when he upset
third seed Ali Farag in the opening round of the PSA World Tour
Challenger 10 squash event at the Egyptian city's Sporting Club.
Pett, a 22-year-old from Sussex
ranked outside the world top 100, survived two tie-break games to
overcome the world No79 from Cairo 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6 in 44
minutes.
But there was unexpected local
success further down the draw where 16-year-old Fares Dessouki pulled
off a major upset by removing the second seed in his maiden Tour
appearance since becoming a member of the PSA.
Joe Lee, the 21-year-old world No67
from England, was making his return to the Tour after undergoing
treatment for a back injury.
But in a punishing 75-minute battle,
Dessouki emerged triumphant 11-9, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7 to set up an
all-Egyptian quarter-final clash with Amr Khaled Khalifa, the
18-year-old world junior champion from Cairo who defeated Dutchman Bart
Ravelli 11-9, 12-10, 11-5.