Serme Scores PSA Ottawa GoodLife Semi
by Howard Harding
27 October 2012 - Unseeded Frenchman Lucas Serme secured a surprise place in the semi-finals of the GoodLife Squash Open after ousting Australian title-holder Zac Alexander in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event in its eighth successive year at GoodLife Fitness in Ottawa.
"Lucas was very steady against No1 seed Alexander, losing the first game easily and hanging in the second game coming from two game balls down to win it," said tournament organiser Heather Wallace.
"Alexander squandered his two game balls with errors and Serme punished him with a couple of nicks to win it. Serme calmly played his way through the third game taking it, before Alexander took the fourth. Again in the fifth, Serme calmly handled everything Alexander did. With Alexander ultimately making errors, Serme took the fifth game easily."
The Paris-born 20-year-old's 5-11, 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 in 67 minutes takes Serme through to face Canadian Shawn Delierre. The No4 seed from Montreal continues to lead home hopes after beating Englishman Olivier Pett 4-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-1 in 60 minutes.
There was also an upset in the lower half of the draw where South African Clinton Leeuw removed England's No2 seed Chris Simpson 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.
"Leeuw dominated the T, putting Simpson under extreme pressure," explained Wallace. "Leeuw was on to the ball fast, attacking the volley and moving extremely well. Simpson managed to get one game ball in the second game, but could not convert it."
Cape Town-born Leeuw will now face Martin Knight for a place in the final. The No3 seed from New Zealand beat Austrian Aqeel Rehman 11-9, 13-11, 12-10 in 55 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 GoodLife Open, Ottawa, Canada
Quarter-finals:
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt [1] Zac Alexander (AUS) 5-11, 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 (67m)
[4] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Olivier Pett (ENG) 4-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-1 (60m)
[3] Martin Knight (NZL) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-9, 13-11, 12-10 (55m)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [2] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 12-10, 11-9 (39m)
Semi-final line-up:
Lucas Serme (FRA) v [4] Shawn Delierre (CAN)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) v [3] Martin Knight (NZL)
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