American #1Julian Illingworth To Face Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller
Today In Australian Open First Round
from DailySquashReport.com

August 8, 2011 - Top American Julian Illingworth of New York City will take on 21-year-old Swiss star Nicolas Mueller today in the first round of the Australian Open in Canberra.

The match-up is intriguing in that Illingworth is ranked  #32 by the PSA and Mueller, of Hirzel, Switzerland, is ranked #33.

Mueller turned pro in 2005 at the age of sixteen. His 2011 results have been uneven, as out of nine events he has suffered four first-round knock-outs plus a first-round qualifying loss in the January Detroit Motor City Open.

Mueller did reach the semis, however, of his most recent event, the European Individuals in May, where he lost in four to Frenchmen Thierry Lincou.

Illingworth has had 2011 first-round struggles as well, having endured six first-round knock-outs in ten PSA events. In the other four events, Julian reached a semi and three finals.  As with Mueller, he performed well in his most recent tournament, capturing the late-July $10,000 Salt Lake City Open title.

Illingworth is the only North American player in the draw.

The $150,000 Australian Open is the third of eight designated PSA World Series events for 2011.

Complete First Round Matches:

[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)

Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v [Q] Martin Knight (NZL)

Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Julian Illingworth (USA)

[7] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)

[8] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v David Palmer (AUS)

Tom Richards (ENG) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)

[Q] Max Lee (HKG) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)

[3] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [Q] Zac Alexander (AUS)

[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Chris Ryder (ENG)

[Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) v [Q] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)

Adrian Grant (ENG) v Simon Rosner (GER)

[5] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)

[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)

Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v [Q] Dick Lau (HKG)

Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)

[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Q] Ivan Yuen (MAS)








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