An outstanding day for New Zealand's top men's squash players at British Open qualifying in Manchester.
All three kiwis have made it through to the main draw, after winning their qualifying finals this morning.
Martin Knight set the ball rolling with a monumental effort against Italian Amr Swelim, battling to an 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10 victory in a gruelling 96 minute thriller.
However, while that was a serious test of Knight's endurance, it paled in comparison to the effort of fellow kiwi Campbell Grayson. For the second day in a row Grayson clawed his way back from two games down to secure victory, this time at the expense of Australian Aaron Frankcomb. The two players went toe to toe for an unbelievable 132 minutes, before the 23-year-old kiwi finally triumphed 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9.
New Zealand number one Kashif Shuja then added the icing on the cake, beating Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman for the first time in his career. Shuja accounted for the former world number 11 in 40 minutes, winning 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5. Zaman had won their previous two encounters at PSA world tour events.
Results...
Stephane Galifi (FRA) def Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 18-16, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9 (74 mins)
Simon Rosner (GER) def Alan Clyne (SCO) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9 (78 mins)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) def Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 (40 mins)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) def Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (132 mins)
Chris Simpson (ENG) def Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 2-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (55 mins)
Yasir Butt (PAK) def Chris Ryder (ENG) 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 (71 mins)
Martin Knight (NZL) def Amr Swelim (ITA) 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10 (96 mins)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) def Robbie Temple (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (48 mins)
|
© Squash NZ
