Graham Grabs Maiden PSA Title In Costa Rica
by Howard Harding
16 September 2012 - England's Anthony Graham recorded his maiden title success on the PSA World Tour after surviving a five-game final of the Tour De las Americas Costa Rica Open, the PSA Challenger 5 squash event in its third year at the Costa Rica Tennis Club in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The 22-year-old from Gloucestershire reached the final without conceding a game - then dropped the first two games as Arthur Gaskin, the No2 seed from Ireland, dominated the early play.
But Graham, the top seed ranked just four places above his 27-year-old opponent, began to reclaim the advantage - drawing level after two close games before romping to victory in the decider to record his historic 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 triumph after 77 minutes.
The success marked the first Costa Rica Open win by an Englishman and Graham's first Tour title triumph in the third final of his career.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Tour De las Americas Costa Rica Open, San Jose, Costa Rica
1st round:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Micah Franklin (BER) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5
Michael McCue (CAN) bt Bryan Bonilla (GUA) 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
[Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
[4] Thomas Brinkman (CAN) bt Andres Echeverria (CRC) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8
[3] David Letourneau (CAN) bt [Q] Sergio Lopez (MEX) 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 9-11, 11-9, 11-1, 10-12, 11-5
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
Quarter-finals:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt Michael McCue (CAN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt [4] Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 (62m)
Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt [3] David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4 (88m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-5, 12-10, 11-4 (48m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (69m)
Final:
[1] Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 (77m)
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