Anjema, Walker Into Twin Cities PSA Final
by Howard Harding

7 October 2013 - In what was an upset according to the seedings, but not according to the latest PSA world rankings, Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema beat second-seeded Englishman Tom Richards to reach the final of the Indian Summer Benefiting Beyond Walls, the inaugural PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the Commodore Squash Club in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.

But to justify his higher-ranking, world No18 Anjema had to fight back from a game down to overcome Richards, now ranked 22 in the world, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 in 63 minutes.

"Even though I lost the first game, the tone was set from the beginning of the match," explained the eight-time Dutch champion (pictured below, right, with Richards) after the win which takes him into his 31st Tour final.

"We had long rallies in the beginning, and it was always going to be brutal. After the first game, I cut out the errors, but they were still long rallies, and it was always going to be tough physically."

Anjema will now face top seed Alister Walker for the title.

"Alister and I played earlier this year at the World Teams and in Hong Kong," Anjema continued. "I lost in HK and won in the World Teams, so it should be an interesting match."

Walker, the world No15 from Botswana, is enjoying one of the best spells of his career and now has his sights on a third PSA Tour title this year.

The US-based 31-year-old took out Swiss star Nicolas Mueller, beating the No4 seed 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 in 46 minutes.

"I managed to win big points," said Walker. "I nicked game ball in the first, and the second game was really close as well. Nicolas could have easily won one of the first two, but it's always tough to come back when you're down two.

"I was hard and steady in the third, so the 3/0 score probably flatters me a bit, but I'm happy," added the former world No12 who is now in the 15th Tour final of his career.

In his view of the up-coming final, Walker said: "LJ and I have had some tough matches in the past. He probably has a winning record over me. If I play like I did today, I think I could have a good chance."

In fact, Walker and Anjema's career Tour head-to-head record is 5-3 in the Dutchman's favour - but Walker was successful in the pair's two most recent encounters.

RESULTS: PSA International 25 Benefiting Beyond Walls Indian Summer Tournament, St Paul, Minnesota, USA

Semi-finals:

[1] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 (46m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [2] Tom Richards (ENG) 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (63m)