Chris Gordon Into Atlanta PSA Challenger Semis
by Howard Harding
12 May 2012 - US interest in the Atlanta Open was extended into the semi-finals after New York-born Christopher Gordon squeezed past English qualifier Nathan Lake following a tie-break in the decider of the quarter-final clash in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at Life Time Fitness Atlanta in Atlanta, USA.
Third seed Gordon took a two-game lead, but 19-year-old Lake, ranked almost 100 places lower, battled back to draw level before taking the fifth game to a tie-break.
But in a match described by tournament organiser Andre Maur as 'the best of the night', it was Gordon who ultimately prevailed, winning 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 13-11.
The 25-year-old world No73 will now meet Clinton Leeuw after the unseeded South African defeated English teenager Declan James 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8.
There was an upset in the top half of the draw when Mexican Alfredo Avila ousted fourth-seeded Australian Wade Johnstone 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6.
The unseeded 20-year-old will now meet Czech number one Jan Koukal after the top seed dismissed Canadian David Letourneau 11-6, 11-8, 11-4.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Atlanta Open, Atlanta, USA
Quarter-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6
[3] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [Q] Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 13-11
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Declan James (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) v Alfredo Avila (MEX)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) v [3] Christopher Gordon (USA)
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