Clyne Claims Classic Final Berth
by Howard Harding

7 September 2013 - Scotland's Alan Clyne claimed his first PSA World Tour final appearance for more than a year when he defeated Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal in the semi-finals of the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic, the PSA Challenger 10 event at SquashGym in Palmerston North.

"Clyne dominated from the outset," reported event spokesman Michael Williams. "The experience of Clyne showed throughout the match with his ability to stay cool under pressure and make very few mistakes."

The top-seeded Scot was pleased with the performance which earned him an 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 victory after 36 minutes: "I played really well today and the game plan was to work him hard from the start."

Now in the 11th Tour final of his career, Clyne faces local hero Martin Knight, the newly-crowned New Zealand champion who upset Hong Kong's No2 seed Leo Au 11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 13-11 in 85 minutes.

"I was very happy with how I played tonight and the back half of the third set seemed to take forever, but I knew that it was vital that I got through it as it was crucial for the overall result of the match," said Knight, the third seed.

Of his prospects in the ninth PSA final of his career, the 29-year-old from Auckland added: "I played Alan in Malaysia earlier this year and he beat me 3/1 so I need to get on the pace early in the match tomorrow and then attack when I get opportunities.

"No one has managed to pressure Alan at the tournament so far so I need to get on top early."

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Semi-finals:
[1] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
[3] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [2] Leo Au (HKG) 11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 13-11 (85m)