Selby Scores Canary Wharf Semi Spot from PSA Media
photos Steve Line, squashpics.com
25TH MAR 2015
- Essex’s Daryl Selby will compete in the semi-finals of the Canary
Wharf Classic for the first time in his career, on his tenth appearance
at the PSA International 50 event at London’s East Wintergarden, after
coming past Spaniard Borja Golan 3-2 in a mammoth 125-minute encounter.
The 32-year-old, who had only previously beaten Golan once from six
attempts on the PSA World Tour, came through a roller-coaster encounter
that saw the former World No.5 from Santiago De Compostela level the
match on two occasions and save three match balls before eventually
succumbing to the Chelmsford man.
There was little to separate the pair during the early exchanges as
they cancelled each other out during an attritional battle before the
match descended into chaotic scenes in the fifth game, with the
referees being called into question on over 30 occasions, as both men
squandered match ball opportunities before Selby eventually prevailed
11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 14-12.
“It feels really good to reach the semis for the first time, it feels like it has been a long time coming,” said Selby.
“I seem to always play Nick (Matthew) or James (Willstrop) in the
quarter-finals and they’re the guys who’ve been dominating the wins
here so the draws haven’t ever been easy.
“But I’m delighted to get through – it’s a fantastic tournament and I
have great support here and always enjoying playing in this environment.
“During that fifth game we both wanted to win so badly and there were
maybe a few more decisions than we would have wanted but we both wear
our hearts on our sleeves and wanted to win so much.
“When he came back I was thinking of ways I was going to punish myself,
it’s crazy the thoughts that go through your head when you are in that
scenario, but luckily I managed to hit some good shots at the end and
if he had won I would only have had myself to blame.”
