Hedrick Takes NSW Open After Marathon Final
by Howard Harding
30 July 2012 - Australian Rex Hedrick survived an epic five-game New South Wales Open final against fellow countryman Aaron Frankcomb to win the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash event at the Willoughby Squash Centre in Sydney.
The pair battled it out for 91 minutes before top seed Hedrick triumphed 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-1 for his fourth PSA Tour title of the year.
It was a significant win for the 23-year-old from Melbourne who finally cracked the world top 100 this time last year in his fourth year on the Tour.
"I set myself the goal of breaking into the top 60 in 2012," Hedrick said. "I am now ranked 71 and this win should put me into the 60s."
Frankcomb was ranked inside the top 40 this time last year before a persistent knee problem forced him to quit the tour full-time.
"Aaron was a top 40 player six months ago and he's still playing really good squash so I knew it was going to be a tough match," Hedrick said.
"I was just sticking to my game plan and grinding it out. He started cramping in the fifth game and I was able to take advantage."
Hedrick now has two week break before the Australian Open, where he will play compatriot Zac Alexander in the first round.
"I grew up in the same age group as Zac, but I haven't played him for a year and a half, two years," he said. "It's going to be tough, he will be hard to beat, especially on the glass court."
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 New South Wales Open, Sydney, Australia
1st round:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [Q] Andrew Fraser (AUS) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
[Q] Brett Hyland (AUS) bt Sunil Seth (AUS) 11-2, 13-11, 8-11, 11-4
Kevin Moran (SCO) bt Tarek Salah Shehata (EGY) 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5
Jack Jago (ENG) bt [8] Florent Pontiere (FRA) 11-9, 17-15, 11-7
[7] Jamie McErvale (AUS) bt [Q] Alexandre Baruzzi (BRA) 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
[Q] Simon Carruthers (AUS) bt Arthur Moineau (FRA) 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5
Courtney West (AUS) bt Marc Dussault (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
[3] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [Q] Joshua Larkin (AUS) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7
[4] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt T J Rarere (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2
Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt Matthew Bridle (AUS) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Joshua Southwell-Nobbs (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
[6] Alex Phillips (ENG) bt Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 14-12
James Earles (ENG) bt [5] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7
Ravi Dixit (IND) bt [Q] Rohan Toole (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Cedric Kuchen (SUI) 13-11, 11-4, 13-15, 10-12, 11-1
[2] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt [Q] Rob Staunton (IRL) 11-8, 11-0, 15-13
2nd round:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [Q] Brett Hyland (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
Jack Jago (ENG) bt Kevin Moran (SCO) 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7
[Q] Simon Carruthers (AUS) bt [7] Jamie McErvale (AUS) 11-9, 11-3, 11-5
[3] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
[4] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Cameron Stafford (CAY) 9-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-4
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt [6] Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5
James Earles (ENG) bt Ravi Dixit (IND) 11-6, 11-2 ret.
[2] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Jack Jago (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 11-2
[3] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [Q] Simon Carruthers (AUS) 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-1
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt [4] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-7, 0-11, 11-7, 11-7
[2] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt James Earles (ENG) 11-4, 3-11, 11-9, 11-1
Semi-finals:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [3] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8
[2] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
Final:
[1] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [2] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-1 (91m)
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