English Qualifiers Prevail In Edmonton
by Howard Harding
Declan James
30 November 2012 - English qualifiers Declan James and Ben Coleman led a flurry of upsets in the opening round of the ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open in Canada which will leave only two seeds contesting the quarter-finals of the PSA Challenger 15 squash event in its fifth successive year at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton.
James defeated local hope Andrew Schnell 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, while in the other half of the draw Coleman needed only three games to despatch Argentina's Gonzalo Miranda 11-5, 11-3, 11-3.
"Very pleased to get a 3-1 win tonight, miles better than yesterday," tweeted James later. "Looking forward to the quarters now tomorrow!"
However, there was surprise local success when wild card Dane Sharp took out second-seeded Mexican Arturo Salazar 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-1.
"What a great start of the main round of the ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open!" exclaimed the club's Head Squash Professional Jeff Williams after Sharp's upset.
An all-Australian clash saw the exit of fourth seed Rex Hedrick. In an 81-minute battle at the end of the day, Steven Finitsis emerged victorious 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3.
"The final match of the evening between Finitsis and Hedrick was a great finale to the round of 16," added Williams.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1st round:
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [2] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-1 (32m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 13-11, 11-5, 11-8 (44m)
[Q] Declan James (ENG) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9 (41m)
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt [4] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3 (81m)
[3] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8 (47m)
[Q] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Fred Reid (CAN) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (22m)
[1] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7 (54m)
Quarter-final line-up:
Dane Sharp (CAN) v Shaun le Roux (RSA)
Steven Finitsis (AUS) v [Q] Declan James (ENG)
[3] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) v [Q] Ben Coleman (ENG)
[1] Zac Alexander (AUS) v Farhan Zaman (PAK)
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