Qualifying Finals:

James Snell (Eng) bt Juan Pablo Rothie (Ven)       v Razik
       11/4, 11/2, 10/12, 11/5 (40m)
Ido Avron (Isr) bt Lewis Walters (Eng)                 v Momen
        11/6, 8/11, 11/6, 3/11, 11/7 (49m)
Neil Hitchens (Eng) bt Rory Pennell (Eng)            v Richards
        11/6, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3 (35m)
John Rooney (Irl) bt Ronan Goldberg (Isr)           v Frankcomb
        11/6, 11/3, 11/5 (23m)

Qualifying complete in Irvine

There was a lot of queuing involved in getting from the UK to the USA yesterday, meaning that I arrived at the Sports Club LA in Irvine just in time to see the end of the last match of qualifying round one.

It had been a good day for the English until then, with Lewis Walters, Neil Hitchens and Rory Pennell all beating locals to join James Snell, who got a bye, in the qualifying finals. The final match saw Tom Pashley, who was struggling with an ankle he'd turned the day before, lose in five to Ido Auron.

The Israeli looked a useful player and proved it today, beating Walters in a see-saw five games.

Snell faced another local in Juan Pablo Rothie (known simply as "JP" in these parts), and won in four, while Hitchens beat Pennell for a place in the main draw.

Last up was top seed John Rooney against Ronan Goldberg, who beat Armando Olguin in straight games yesterday, so the Irishman had to be on his guard, but progress in an entertaining three games to the Los Angeles Athletic Club for the main draw.
  

James Snell (Eng) bt Juan Pablo Rothie (Ven)
       11/4, 11/2, 10/12, 11/5 (40m)

Snell Quells JP

James Snell claimed the first available place in the main draw, overcoming local favourite JP Rothie, the 24-year-old Venezuelan based at the LAAC, in an entertaining four-game match.

The Englishman was in control in the early stages, keeping JP pinned into the corners and working hard - as predicted by the knowledgeable locals - but Rothie fought back strongly in the fourth, benefiting from some low, hard hitting which paid dividends as he pulled a game back.

Duly warned, Snell tightened up in the fourth, pulled out a 7/0 lead and although JP closed, the gap was always going to be sufficient.

"I felt in good shape in the first two, keeping it straight and tight, but he caught me a couple of times early in the third and I became a bit wary about competing for the T and went too much crosscourt.

"He winds up and hits the ball very hard, it can go low and hard or squirt out making it very difficult to play. It's what it must have been like playing Whitey, although he did it better, obviously.

"In between games Lewis told me to keep it straighter, I did that in the fourth and got back in front of him.

"Pleased to qualify, whoever I get it will be a tough match .."

"I didn't get into my game quickly enough, in the first two I was overhitting and made so many mistakes, he wasn't really doing anything, just not hitting the tin.

"Hitting low and hard is my game and I managed to get on top of it in the third, whenever I got him behind me he didn't have any weapons on me, but then I slowed down again in the fourth.

"He played well though, he's very consistent. It's my first PSA event, a good way to get my feet wet!

Ido Avron (Isr) bt Lewis Walters (Eng)
        11/6, 8/11, 11/6, 3/11, 11/7 (49m)

Ido ousts Lewis

He looked rather useful last night in beating Tom Pashley, did Ido Auron, but with Tom carrying an injury we couldn't be sure. Ido did it again tonight though, ousting another Englishman in another five-game tussle.

The Israeli, 20 years old and currently in the second of a three-year stint in the army, started well, keeping up a fast pace and threatened to take a two game lead at 8/4 in the second.

Lewis Walters, after his customary slow start, then picked it up and reeled off seven points in a row to level the match. If he thought he soon found out he was wrong as a determined Ido rediscovered his touch to take the lead again.

The Englishman dominated the fourth, reeling off a series of quick points after a tough opening few rallies, but again couldn't capitalise as Ido pulled away from 5-all in the decider to establish a winning lead.

At 10/5 Lewis's body language suggested a comeback wasn't likely, and although he saved a couple of match balls it was soon enough all over.

"It was a bit like yesterday, I started well then eased off the pace a little and let him back into it. Maybe I was tired, I don't know, but I knew I had to play like I did in the first, keeping the pressure on and the pace up, and make no mistakes.

"It's my second PSA tournament after Odessa in August. The Army support me, I get 90 days a year to go abroad and play, but at home it's not like here, there aren't the training partners or facilities.

"I'm ranked #1 in Israel and won the nationals for the second time in December. I hope to play a few more tournaments in the coming months, coming here and qualifying gives me motivation ..."

Neil Hitchens (Eng) bt Rory Pennell (Eng)
        11/6, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3 (35m)

Neil nabs it

An English qualifier was guaranteed in the third match of the evening, and it was Neil Hitchens who prevailed in the all-Essex matchup.

After a cagey opening, Hitchens pulled away from 5-all in the first, and looked in good control as he opened up a two game lead, Rory Pennell coming off court looking decidedly the more tired of the two.

But Rory fired in a few winners from the middle of the third, opening up a winning lead to pull a game back.

That was as good as it got though, as Neil reasserted in the fourth to move into the main draw.

"It's always difficult when you're mates and know each other's games so well, we train together every day in Lexden.

"I felt in control in the first couple, kept him off the volley and stopped him firing in his nicks.

"I fired in a few winners at the start of the third, then just tried to slow it down, I knew I wasn't going to be able to run too much today.

"I lost my length in the third and gave him the front of the court. I was confident my fitness would see me through though, I wasn't too worried.

"That was our first PSA match, and we'll probably end up playing each other in the Essex closed final in a few days' time!"

John Rooney (Irl) bt Ronan Goldberg (Isr)
        11/6, 11/3, 11/5 (23m)

Rooney romps home

Ronan Goldberg knew he was unlikely to win tonight against the qualifying top seed, but he made sure he had some fun on his way out.

True, Rooney worked him hard, but Ronan has lots of skill and some lovely shots, and he used them as much as he was allowed to.

Rooney was alyawys in control though, and always the likely winner.

"He has some great shots - I talked to Andre Maur a few days ago and he told me he was a tricky player, to be very careful - thanks Andre!



"I've not played in the US for a few years, and never on the West coast. We've been here since New Year's Day, and it's just awesome ..."