10-Oct, Final:

[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (Egy)
             7-11,7-11,11-8, 11-5,14-12 (100m)

LJ comeback clinches Netsuite title in Stanford

A tremendous fightback from Dutch star Laurens Jan Anjema saw him take the title in the $35k Nertsuite Pro Open at Stanford University in California.

Two games down the Egyptian third seed Omar Mosaad, who had beaten top seed Daryl Selby in an 82-minute marathon the previous day, Anjema launched his counter-offensive and after 100 minutes of play emerged on the right end of a 14/12 in the fifth victory - a match described on Twitter by the watching Zac Alexander as "One of the best Squash matches I've seen!"

Richard Elliott reports ...

Omar came out of the blocks fast. He was very aggressive and jumping on any of LJ's loose shots. He soon raced to a 6-1 then 8-2 lead. LJ pegged it a back to 6-8, but Omar closed out the first game 11-7.

The second game continued in the same vein. They are even up until 3-3, but then Omar moves ahead to 8-3. He is controlling most of the rallies.

The courts are not air conditioned and it was humid, both players were sweating profusely, so they were constantly asking (yours truly) to have the floor mopped.

Anyway, Omar closes out the second to take a two love lead.

The third game is tight. The scores were level up to 4-4. The rallies were getting longer and LJ seems to be working the tall Egyptian with his boasts. LJ gradually pulls away and takes the third game 11-8.

In the fourth Omar makes a string of errors and LJ goes into a 6-2 lead. He eventually wins a very disjointed game, punctuated by the players asking me to mop the floor and too many lets, 11-5.

Referee Daryl Selby asked both players to make more effort to clear and run around each other, but nothing changed.

The fifth is nip and tuck all the way through. There are still tons of lets. The scores are level up to 3-all. Then Omar pulls away with some typical trademark nicks and gets to an 8-5 and 9-6 lead. LJ comes back, with the help of a few tins from his opponent. Still numerous lets.

LJ got his first match ball at 10-9. Omar saved it and then got a match ball of his own at 11-10. He could not convert. He then got his second match ball at 12-11, but LJ saved it, 12 all. LJ won the next rally and got his second match ball after a few long rallies that end in lets, LJ finally won it on a stroke call.

14-12. 100 minutes.

 

11-1, 7-11,11-8, 6-11, 11-4 (82m)

[3] Omar Mosaad

[2] Laurens Jan Anjema

11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (50m)

[2] Laurens Jan Anjema

 

06-Oct, Qualifying Finals:

Adrian Waller bt Andrew Wagih                                   13-11,11-6, 11-4 40mins
Kamran Khan bt Zac Alexander                                  11-9, 11-4, 12-10 50 mins
Eric Galvez bt Wade Johnstone                            11-9, 11-2, 7-11, 11-9 57 mins
Cesar Salazar bt Lyall Patterson                                   11-7, 11-7, 11-8 26 mins

05-Oct, Qualifying Round One:

Cesar Salazar bt Armando Olguin                                       11-7, 11-7, 11-8 31mins
Lyall Patterson bt Atif Khan                                               11-6,11-4, 11-7 28 mins
Wade Johnstone bt Tyler Strand                                        11-6,11-4, 11-0 22 mins
Eric Galvez bt Henrik Mustonen                                       14-12, 11-8, 11-9 40 mins
Kamran Khan bt Tom Pashley                                   11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6 52 Mins
Zac Alexander bt Chris Baldock                                         11-4, 11-2, 11-2 17mins
Andrew Wagih bt Matt Kawalski                              14-12, 9-11,11-5, 15-13 72 mins
Adrian Waller bt Alfredo Avilar                                 11-9,12-14,11-8,12-10 75 mins

09-Oct, Semi-Finals:

[3] Omar Mosaad (Egy) bt [1] Daryl Selby (Eng)
                         11-1, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 (82m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt Alister Walker (Bot)
                                 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (50m)

Mosaad Stuns Selby At Stanford

Omar Mosaad upset the seedings at the inaugural NetSuite Open in the US state of California when he defeated favourite Daryl Selby to reach the final at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.

Mosaad, one of the tallest players on the Tour, reproduced the form he showed at last month's PSA World Series ROWE British Grand Prix in Manchester - where, unseeded, he reached the quarter-finals.

The third seed twice led Selby, and both times the world No11 from Essex fought back to draw level.

But the 23-year-old from Cairo, ranked just two places lower, was in no mood to lie down - and regained the upper hand in the decider to record his second career victory over the Englishman, winning 11-1, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 in 82 minutes.

A disconsolate 28-year-old Selby said later, via Twitter: "Need to sort my body out, feel about 70 years old right now!"

Reaching the 15th PSA final of his career, and the fourth this year, Mosaad will now meet Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the No2 seed.

Left-hander Anjema, the world No12, ended Alister Walker's run - beating the unseeded world No20 from Botswana 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 in 50 minutes.

The semi-final success takes Anjema into the 28th Tour final of his career - and his third this year.
 

08-Oct, Quarter-Finals:                        Photos Ma Patapoff

[1] Daryl Selby bt Alan Clyne                 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (48m)
[3] Omar Mossad bt Shahier Razik   9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2 (70m)
Alister Walker bt [4] Wael El Hindi 11-8,11-8,6-11,9-11,11-4 (90m)
[2] Lauren Jan Anjema bt Arturo Salazar  11-2, 11-1, 11-4 (30m)

Walker Overwhelms Wael At Stanford
Howard Harding Reports

Alister Walker produced the only upset on the second day of action in the inaugural NetSuite Open in the US state of California when he battled to a 90-minute win over fourth seed Wael El Hindi to reach the semi-finals of the at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.

Botswana-born Walker and El Hindi, from Egypt, are both based in New York. But Walker, a former England international but now a Motswana [no, not a typo], took the early upper hand against the world No18 from Cairo to take a two-game lead.

El Hindi, however, regained control in the next two games to draw level, before Walker – ranked two places below – refocused in the decider to record his 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4 upset.



"It's great to come to Stanford and get the ball rolling this season," said a delighted 29-year-old Walker after his win. "Tonight was a very tough match and I knew it would be as both Wael and I needed to find form and results this season.

"It got ugly after the third game but I managed to halt his comeback in the fifth and get the win."

Walker, who achieved a career-high world No12 ranking in 2009, now takes on second seed Laurens Jan Anjema, currently ranked 12 in the world.

The top-ranked Dutchman needed just 30 minutes to see off Mexican Arturo Salazar 11-2, 11-1, 11-4.

"LJ is looking strong, had a great start to this season and barely been on court an hour in his first two rounds here," added Walker of his next opponent. "Despite that backing up tomorrow is the main goal to continue going in the right direction this season.

"It's been a great atmosphere in the venue and the players are enjoying the town and campus. Despite being second fiddle in sporting terms to the college American football game today with the 50,000 capacity stadium we are all thoroughly enjoying the event."

The other semi-final will feature top seed Daryl Selby and Omar Mosaad, the No3 seed.



In an all-British clash, Englishman Selby, the world No11, beat Scot Alan Clyne 11-9, 11-4, 12-10, while Egyptian Mosaad recovered from a game behind to beat Canadian Shahier Razik 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2 in 70 minutes.

07-Oct, Round One:
Walker dashes home hopes in Stanford

Botswana-born Alister Walker dashed hopes of home success in the inaugural NetSuite Open in California when he despatched seven-time US champion Julian Illingworth in the opening round at the Arillaga Center for Sports & Recreation at Stanford University.

Walker, the world No20 based in New York, took just 29 minutes to see off Illingworth, ranked eight places lower, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2.

Walker will now line up against another New York-based international Wael El Hindi. The fourth-seeded Egyptian defeated Malaysian qualifier Kamran Khan 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in 50 minutes.

There were contrasting successes for Mexico's Salazar twins, competing in their first event since being involved in a motor accident which prevented them taking their places in the US Open qualifying draw in Philadelphia.

Arturo battled back from two games down to overcome higher-ranked Australian Ryan Cuskelly 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 in a 95-minute marathon.

And qualifier Cesar took the opening game against top seed Daryl Selby before the world No11 from England regained control of the match to win 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 after 65 minutes.