Illingworth Advances, Delierre Upset In $10K Nash Cup
by Howard Harding
20 September 2012 - Clinton Leeuw lasted out the longest match of his career when he ousted defending champion Shawn Delierre in the opening round of the Nash Cup, the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its fifth year at the London Squash Racquets Club in London in the Canadian province of Ontario.
The unseeded 30-year-old from South Africa fought back from a game down, then survived a lengthy tie-break in the fifth game decider before finally clinching victory over the third-seeded Canadian in his fourth match-ball 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11 after 97 minutes.
World No45 Delierre is famous for his marathon encounters - this was his 17th Tour match lasting more than 95 minutes since the PAR-to-11 scoring system was introduced in 2004!
"I feel like a big mop, with only the handle working," explained the 30-year-old from Toronto afterwards. "I had to use the head of the handle because the legs weren't working. I was happy with the B game that I brought. Credit to Clinton for not letting me play my A game tonight."
Leeuw, ranked almost 50 places lower, added: "I have known Shawn for six or seven years, and he has climbed high in the rankings. I have a lot of respect for him and have been psyching up for him all week. I'm very, very, happy with tonight - bit battered and bruised but hopefully will feel OK in the morning!"
Thomas Brinkman kept home hopes alive after beating fellow Canadian Matthew Serediak, a qualifier, 16-14, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7. The 23-year-old from British Columbia will now face Leeuw for a place in the semi-finals.
Further Canadian interest in the quarter-finals will be provided by Andrew Schnell, the 20-year-old world No82 from Calgary who defeated Canadian qualifier Tyler Hamilton 11-5, 11-2, 15-13.
Schnell will face the Czech number one Jan Koukal after the third seed removed Adrian Dudzicki, a qualifier from Ottawa, 12-10, 11-6, 11-4.
Schnell scored his first ever Tour victory over world No47 Koukal in the Bankers Hall Club Pro Am in his home city in January.
"I was a bit shaky in the first game, but settled down after that and found the shots I wanted," said Koukal after the opening match in his 19th PSA Tour event this year.
"My next match is against Andrew (Schnell) - and I'll be looking for revenge!"
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Nash Cup, London, Ontario, Canada
1st round:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (36m)
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (55m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt [Q] Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 11-5, 11-2, 15-13 (30m)
[3] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 12-10, 11-6, 11-4 (30m)
[4] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt [Q] Fred Reid (CAN) 15-13, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (36m)
Yann Perrin (FRA) bt Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-3, 12-10, 5-11, 11-3 (46m)
Thomas Brinkman (CAN) bt [Q] Matthew Serediak (CAN) 16-14, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 (46m)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [2] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11 (97m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Anthony Graham (ENG)
[3] Jan Koukal (CZE) v Andrew Schnell (CAN)
[4] Olivier Pett (ENG) v Yann Perrin (FRA)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) v Thomas Brinkman (CAN)
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