Monday Report: Campbell Conquers Promoter Razik In New York, Illingworth & Gordon Advance
by Howard Harding
16 April 2013 - New Zealander Campbell Grayson ditched event promoter Shahier Razik in five games in the first seeding upset in the Oliver NY Metro Open 2013 - Squash Revolution, the new PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event being staged across four venues in Metropolitan New York in the USA.
Fourth seed Razik, the six-time Canadian champion who is the driving force behind this inaugural championship, recovered from losing the first game to build up a 2/1 lead over the Kiwi at the New York Sports Clubs.
"The crowd at the New York Sports clubs saw it all tonight," said club spokesman Pete Avitable. "Everything from mega rallies, come backs, dives, slips, time outs, and all kinds of excitement on display.
"In the first match, Campbell got off to a quick start in the first when he looked to tire in the second and third. Razik looked like he had an edge when his pace seemed to slow down, and Campbell took full advantage to get himself in back in control and win a close decider."
Another comeback marathon followed at the club when Australian Matthew Karwalski beat Mexican Eric Galvez - runner-up at the Rochester Pro-Am championship at the weekend - 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10.
"Galvez was going for his fifth match in five days," explained Avitable. "He was up 2/1 when his shoulder seemed to be bothering him. In the decider Eric, with a 7-4 lead, needed a three-minute injury time out.
"He came back to give himself match-ball with a few decisive winners, but Karwalski tied it up at 10-10 with a spectacular winner to win a thrilling rally and eventually closes it out 12-10 in fifth."
At Pyramid Squash in Tuckahoe, eight-time US champion Julian Illingworth survived an 86-minute battle with German Jens Schoor to win 17-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 and lead home interest into the quarter-finals.
At StreetSquash in New York, reigning US champion Christopher Gordon also booked his place in the last eight with an 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 win over Canadian David Letourneau.
While second seed Illingworth, the world No41 from New York, takes on South African Shaun le Roux in the lower half of the draw, Hartford-based world No54 Gordon will line up against third-seeded Canadian Shawn Delierre in the top half.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Oliver NY Metro Open, Metropolitan New York, USA
1st round:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (47m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (34m)
[3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [WC] Ramit Tandon (IND) 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 (97m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [4] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (65m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 17-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 (86m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Zac Alexander (AUS)
[3] Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Christopher Gordon (USA)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Shaun le Roux (RSA)
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