Squash News

Azlan fails to enter last eight of the US Open

NEW YORK: Malaysian number one Mohd Azlan Iskandar failed to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open squash tournament at the Roseland Ballroom here on Monday.

Azlan, who is seeded 15th, went down to a tame 9-11, 9-11, 3-11 defeat by fifth seed James Willstrop of England in a 48-minute second round match.

There were no real surprises in other second round matches with top seeds Egyptians Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour making it to the quarter-finals. But world number one Shabana had to slog for a 11-9, 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7 victory over 13th seed Peter Barker of England.

“I didn't play my best. It was scrappy squash. I think he (Peter) was suffering an injury,” said Shabana.

“I tried to get used to the glass court but I could only play well in patches. It's not easy to play against a player who is a left-hander. My next match is against team-mate Karim (Darwish) and he is a good player.”

Ashour had a much easier time getting into the quarter-finals.

He ousted Olli Tuominen of Finland 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

Defending champion Gregory Gaultier of France also did not face much resistant in a 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 win over Adrian Grant of England.

RESULTS

Second round: Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Peter Barker (Eng) 11-9, 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7; Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Wael El Hindi (Egy) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8; Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Adrian Grant (Eng) 11-7,11-5, 11-9; James Willstrop (Eng) bt Mohd Azlan Iskandar (Mas) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3;

Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Mohammed Abbas (Egy) 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7; Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt Stewart Boswell (Aus) 11-6, 6-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-9; Lee Beachill (Eng) bt Omar Mosaad (Egy) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8; Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt Olli Tuominen (Fin) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.