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 Suburban
Collection Motor
City Open 2015
22-27 Jan, Bloomfield Hills, Usa, $70k |
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27-Jan, Final:
[6] Miguel Rodriguez
(Col)
3-2
Steve Coppinger (Rsa)
9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (112m)
Rodriguex claims MCO crown
By James Hawkins
After a week filled with stunning upsets, dramatic comebacks, and
five-game thrillers, it seemed only fitting Tuesday’s final at the
16th Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection would end
with another five-game epic.
 In
front of a standing-room only crowd at the Birmingham Athletic Club,
World #8 Miguel Angel Rodriguez won his first-ever PSA International
70 event after rallying from a game down to beat World #22 Stephen
Coppinger in a grueling, 112-minute championship match.
The victory came on the heels of Rodriguez’s semifinal run in last
week’s Tournament of Champions in New York when he downed World #2
Greg Gaultier and #6 Peter Barker.
“This is like a dream come true. This is one of my favorite
International 70 tournaments not only for the prizes, but for the
squash community here. We always stay and they take care of us very
well,” Rodriguez said. “I’m really happy because this is one of my
best months in my entire career. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
“I worked so hard to win this tournament,” the 29-year old
Columbian continued. “My goal of being Top 5 . . . is going be
complete next month.”
In addition to the title, Rodriguez took home a Rolex Oyster
Perpetual Datejust II watch — courtesy of Greenstone’s Jewelers —
and $11,732 in earnings. He became the first South American player
to hoist the MCO trophy and cement his name on the championship
banner alongside such greats as David Palmer, Jonathon Power,
Gregory Gaultier, Karim Darwish, Amr Shabana and Mohamed Elshorbagy.
“I’m making history now not only in Colombia but in South America
being the first Latin American to reach the Top 10,” Rodriguez said.
“Winning this game and seeing my name on that wall with all those
champions and former No. 1s, I’m speechless. It’s a dream I always
wanted to achieve as a kid and it’s happening right now.”
 In
the first game, Coppinger dictated the pace and kept the Columbian
retrieving in the back corners. Neither player was able to build
much of a lead until Coppinger pulled away late for an 11-8 win with
two winners and an unforced Rodriguez error.
The second game was just as close as Coppinger continued to pin
Rodriquez in the back court, denying him the opportunity to utilize
his front game and speed up the pace.
“We’ve seen what he can do when it’s a fast-paced, frantic
match,” Coppinger said. “The whole world knows how spectacular his
movement is, so I was trying to control as much as I could and wait
until I got a real opening before I attacked.”
But Rodriguez eventually made a late run, breaking a 7-all tie with
four straight points on a pair of tins by Coppinger and two winners
to even the match, 1-1.
In the third game Rodriguez appeared poised to take a 2-1 match lead
after leading 8-5, but Coppinger stormed back with six straight
points to steal the game and the momentum.
But the tide turned again in Rodriguez’s favor midway through the
fourth. Down 3-5, Rodriguez went back on top after Coppinger nicked
the tin twice and was called for a stroke. The Columbian speedster
never trailed again, sealing the game with a nifty drop shot.
 Game
Five was all Rodriguez as he raced out to a 7-1 lead on a
combination of unretrievable rail shots, masterful drop shots and
more unforced errors. At 10-3 match ball, Coppinger fired a shot
into the tin and Rodriguez collapsed in celebration.
“I think that at 5-3 down in fourth game I handled it well. I was
patient in that game and he made a lot of mistakes. I was pushing
and retrieving all of the balls, and had some excellent winners in
the fourth,” Rodriguez said.
“In the fifth, I had to start pushing again and building that lead.
Once I was up 7-2 I didn’t want to leave it like that. I had to push
again and push again because Coppinger is playing very well right
now and he will be Top 10 soon.”
Indeed, in a week that Coppinger beat three higher-ranked opponents
– World #14 Marwan Elshorbagy, World #6 Peter Barker, and World #16
Max Lee – the 30-year old South African had nothing to hang his head
about.
“What a week. How close was I to going home with my tail between
my legs after the first match?” said Coppinger, who earned $8,027 in
prize money. “Having the three match balls down in Round One, what a
difference it is to make the final. I’m thrilled with the big
picture for sure.”
The match was the biggest PSA Tour final in both men’s careers,
marking the first time either had reached the championship match of
an International 70 event.
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Draws &
Results
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  Motor
City Open 2015
22-27 Jan, Bloomfield Hills, Usa, $70k |
Round One
24 Jan |
Quarters
25 Jan |
Semis
26 Jan |
Final
27 Jan |
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (Egy)
12-14, 11-4, 11-7 rtd (39m
Cameron Pilley (Aus) |
Cameron Pilley
6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 (80m)
[6] Miguel Rodriguez |
[6] Miguel Rodriguez
7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 (96m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet |
[6] Miguel Rodriguez
9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (112m)
Steve Coppinger |
[6] Miguel Rodriguez (Col)
11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5 (97m)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (Ind) |
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra)
11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (62m)
[Q] Alan Clyne (Sco) |
[8] Mathieu Castagnet 11-7,
11-8, 11-6 (61m)
[4] Borja Golan |
[4] Borja Golan (Esp)
11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (42m)
[Q] Cesar Salazar (Mex) |
Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (31m)
[3] Peter Barker (Eng) |
[3] Peter Barker
7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (85m)
Steve Coppinger |
Steve Coppinger
9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7 (79m)
Max Lee |
Steve Coppinger (Rsa)
8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (62m)
[7] Marwan Elshorbagy (Egy) |
[Q] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
[5] Omar Mosaad (Egy) |
[5] Omar Mosaad
9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (88m)
Max Lee |
Max Lee (Hkg)
11-6, 11-5 rtd (11m)
[2] Amr Shabana (Egy) |
23-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Alan Clyne (Sco) 3-0 Mahesh Mangaonkar (Ind)
11-9, 117, 11-7 (62m)
Olli Tuominen (Fin) 3-2 Ali Farag (Egy)
11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 3-11, 11-7 (77m)
Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-0 Grégoire Marche (Fra)
11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
Saurav Ghosal (Ind) 3-1 Ryan Cuskelly (Aus)
13-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 (71m)
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26-Jan, Semis:
Rodriguez & Coppinger survive in five
By James Hawkins
One week after becoming the first South American squash player to
reach the semifinals of a PSA World Series event, World #12
Miguel Angel Rodriguez can check another personal milestone off
the list.
The 29-year-old Colombian advanced to his first ever PSA final by
wearing down World #15 Mathieu Castagnet in Monday’s
semifinals at the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban
Collection: 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2.
Rodriguez will battle World #21 Stephen Coppinger in Tuesday’s
championship match at 6:30 p.m. for the champion’s share of the
$70,000 purse and a Rolex watch courtesy of Greenstone’s Jewelers.
 “I
always wanted to win this tournament. It’s my fourth time here and I
need to push one more match,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to be hard
with Stephen because we know each other’s game since we train
together in Orlando.”
Rodriguez got off to a slow start in Game One as Castagnet
controlled the pace on the way to a 6-2 lead. But Rodriguez began to
pick up the tempo in Game Two – jumping on four unforced errors by
Castagnet to even the match at 1-all.
“It’s difficult to win a point against him especially in the
beginning of games because he’s accurate,” Rodriguez said
afterwards. “The last two matches I played him, I lost on a glass
court and I wasn’t patient.”
 Rodriguez
continued to suck Castagnet into his fast-paced style of play,
mounting an 8-5 lead in the third game. Yet two Rodriguez’ unforced
errors gave Castagnet new life, and the Frenchman stole Game Three
with six straight points. Rodriguez bounced back in the fourth and
fifth, roaring out to 7-2 leads behind his lightning speed and quick
reflexes.
“Each game was crucial. I thought it was good for me to get the
third, but he was too good in the fourth and fifth games. He was too
fast for me,” Castagnet said. “He picks up every ball and it’s a
nightmare to finish points.”
In the other semifinal, 30-year-old Coppinger recorded his third
straight five-game upset as he knocked off World #16 Max Lee: 9-11,
11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7.
 Coppinger
and Lee split the first four games but the match took a turn for the
worse when Lee began cramping severely early in the deciding fifth
game.
After hitting a backhand winner to take a 2-1 lead, Lee started
limping and grabbing at his left knee. Barely able to stand, Lee
fought bravely through the excruciating pain – extending his lead to
5-3. In the end, though, the pain was too much to overcome as
Coppinger took eight of the next 10 points to secure the win.
“I started cramping in the fourth around 4-2. Between the fourth
and fifth I pressed my muscles to not make them tight, but at 2-1 in
the fifth I started cramping again until the end,” Lee said. “It’s a
shame to lose this game. It’s the first time I really cried on the
court. I could hardly stand, I could hardly move and I could hardly
serve. My hands and arms was cramping, as well. My whole body was
cramping.”
 Nobody
was as impressed with Lee’s gutsy effort than his regular training
partner Coppinger.
“What a performance (by Lee) and he still almost won it. I
couldn’t believe it,” Coppinger said. “I sympathize with him hugely
but at the same time I couldn’t because I knew what he was still
capable of. I had to stay focused on my own game because he was
dangerous even in that state.”
Coppinger admits he’s been a bit lucky to get to the final as he
hasn’t quite hit his stride.
“I’ve been hanging in every step of the way kind of limping
through the draw rather than slicing and dashing my way,” Coppinger
said. “Hopefully I’m saving the best for tomorrow.”
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Draws &
Results
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25-Jan, Quarters:
Seeds scattered in Motor City Quarters
By James Hawkins
The Egyptians’ recent dominance at the Motor City Open came to a
surprising end Sunday at the Birmingham Athletic Club.
One day after defending MCO champ and World #1 Mohamed Elshorbagy,
World #4 Amr Shabana, and World #14 Marwan Elshorbagy all lost in
the opening round, the last Egyptian hope – fifth-seeded World #11
Omar Mosaad – was bounced in Sunday’s Quarters. Hong Kong’s Max
Lee rallied to defeat Mosaad in an upset-riddled day at the 16th
Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection.
South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger and France’s Mathieu
Castagnet added their own shockers. Coppinger recorded his
second straight come-from-behind win over third-seeded World #6
Peter Barker – and Castagnet rolled fourth-seeded World #7 Borja
Golan in straight games.
 Egyptian
players have won four of the past five titles while claiming seven
of the 10 spots in the championship match since 2010. Yet Mosaad
suffered the same fate as his compatriots when World #16 Lee staged
a gusty comeback to prevail in five games: 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6,
11-9.
After falling behind 1-2, Lee used a long runs in the fourth and
fifth games to turn the tide in his favor. Trailing 3-4 early in
Game Four, Lee tallied five straight points — three on unforced
errors by Mosaad — to assume control and even the match at 2-all.
Down 5-9 in the deciding Game Five, Lee fought through leg cramps
and willed his way to steal the next six points and the match.
“Being 7-3, 8-4 and then 9-5 down in the fifth and comeback while
cramping, it’s unbelievable,” Lee said afterwards. “I didn’t
think about losing mentally – but physically I’m really hurting
because his pace is unbelievably high. From the first game to the
end I stuck to my plan to just hang in there and run. Against those
top guys I can’t always get my shots and beat them because they’re
very good. I have to be patient and try my best all the time.”
 Coppinger
(World #18) was the first to book a spot in the semifinals with an
epic five-game victory over 2014 finalist Parker: 7-11, 11-4, 5-11,
11-7, 11-5. Down 1-2 in games, Coppinger bounced back – using a trio
of skillful drop shots to take a commanding 5-1 lead in Game Five.
“I think it was always going to be about the beginning. Every
single game whoever got the better start went through and won,” said
Coppinger, who advanced to the semis for the first time since 2012.
“I came out with a lot of purpose in the beginning of the fifth and
thankfully it paid off.”
On the other side of the bracket, Castagnet spoiled 2009 champ
Golan’s run to join Mohamed Elshorbagy and retired Canadian legend
Jonathon Power as the only two-time MCO winners. The Frenchman
scored a convincing 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 decision, ensuring that a new
champion will be crowned.
 Both
Castagnet (World #15) and Golan entered the quarterfinal match with
plenty of momentum after dominate first-round victories, but
Castagnet’s strategy for the Spaniard worked to perfection.
“I know his strength is his boasts,” Castagnet said. “My plan was
to play lob on his boasts just to have more time, go back to the T,
get ready for the next shot, try to keep the ball tight to the wall
and then wait for his mistakes.”
Castagnet will square off against sixth seed and World #12 Miguel
Angel Rodriguez in the semis, which begin at 6 p.m. Monday. The
little Columbian beat big Aussie Cameron Pilley (World #18) in four
games.
The quarterfinal wins are breakthroughs for Castagnet, Lee and
Rodriguez, who will all be making their first MCO semifinal
appearances.
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Draws &
Results
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25-Jan, Quarters:
Seeds scattered in Motor City Quarters
By James Hawkins
The Egyptians’ recent dominance at the Motor City Open came to a
surprising end Sunday at the Birmingham Athletic Club.
One day after defending MCO champ and World #1 Mohamed Elshorbagy,
World #4 Amr Shabana, and World #14 Marwan Elshorbagy all lost in
the opening round, the last Egyptian hope – fifth-seeded World #11
Omar Mosaad – was bounced in Sunday’s Quarters. Hong Kong’s Max
Lee rallied to defeat Mosaad in an upset-riddled day at the 16th
Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection.
South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger and France’s Mathieu
Castagnet added their own shockers. Coppinger recorded his
second straight come-from-behind win over third-seeded World #6
Peter Barker – and Castagnet rolled fourth-seeded World #7 Borja
Golan in straight games.
Egyptian
players have won four of the past five titles while claiming seven
of the 10 spots in the championship match since 2010. Yet Mosaad
suffered the same fate as his compatriots when World #16 Lee staged
a gusty comeback to prevail in five games: 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6,
11-9.
After falling behind 1-2, Lee used a long runs in the fourth and
fifth games to turn the tide in his favor. Trailing 3-4 early in
Game Four, Lee tallied five straight points — three on unforced
errors by Mosaad — to assume control and even the match at 2-all.
Down 5-9 in the deciding Game Five, Lee fought through leg cramps
and willed his way to steal the next six points and the match.
“Being 7-3, 8-4 and then 9-5 down in the fifth and comeback while
cramping, it’s unbelievable,” Lee said afterwards. “I didn’t
think about losing mentally – but physically I’m really hurting
because his pace is unbelievably high. From the first game to the
end I stuck to my plan to just hang in there and run. Against those
top guys I can’t always get my shots and beat them because they’re
very good. I have to be patient and try my best all the time.”
Coppinger
(World #18) was the first to book a spot in the semifinals with an
epic five-game victory over 2014 finalist Parker: 7-11, 11-4, 5-11,
11-7, 11-5. Down 1-2 in games, Coppinger bounced back – using a trio
of skillful drop shots to take a commanding 5-1 lead in Game Five.
“I think it was always going to be about the beginning. Every
single game whoever got the better start went through and won,” said
Coppinger, who advanced to the semis for the first time since 2012.
“I came out with a lot of purpose in the beginning of the fifth and
thankfully it paid off.”
On the other side of the bracket, Castagnet spoiled 2009 champ
Golan’s run to join Mohamed Elshorbagy and retired Canadian legend
Jonathon Power as the only two-time MCO winners. The Frenchman
scored a convincing 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 decision, ensuring that a new
champion will be crowned.
Both
Castagnet (World #15) and Golan entered the quarterfinal match with
plenty of momentum after dominate first-round victories, but
Castagnet’s strategy for the Spaniard worked to perfection.
“I know his strength is his boasts,” Castagnet said. “My plan was
to play lob on his boasts just to have more time, go back to the T,
get ready for the next shot, try to keep the ball tight to the wall
and then wait for his mistakes.”
Castagnet will square off against sixth seed and World #12 Miguel
Angel Rodriguez in the semis, which begin at 6 p.m. Monday. The
little Columbian beat big Aussie Cameron Pilley (World #18) in four
games.
The quarterfinal wins are breakthroughs for Castagnet, Lee and
Rodriguez, who will all be making their first MCO semifinal
appearances.
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Draws &
Results
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24-Jan, Round One:
Top seeds Elshorbagy, Shabana fall
By James Hawkins
Less than 24 hours after conquering the J.P. Morgan Tournament of
Champions in New York City, World #1 Mohamed Elshorbagy was
back on court Saturday outside Detroit, Michigan looking to defend
his title at the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban
Collection.
 But
his unprecedented run at a third title at the Birmingham Athletic
Club was dashed in the opening round. Elshorbagy retired at the end
of Game Three to Aussie World #18 Cameron Pilley: 12-14,
11-4, 11-7 (rtd).
After a string of brutal ToC matches and little to no rest, the top
seed looked spent after a pair of long rallies in the first game
left him hunched over and breathing heavily. Yet Elshorbagy dug deep
and executed an array of brilliant shots to take Game One.
In stanza two, trying to conserve energy after he fell behind 5-2,
the Egyptian star conceded the game. But in Game Three Pilley's plan
of working Elshorbagy back-to- front began to take its toll.
“I think (Game One) took a lot out of him. I wanted to get the
first, but the amount of work we both did was beneficial to me,”
said Pilley, only the second player in MCO history to oust the top
seed in the opening round. “After Game Three he said, 'I'm done. My
body is absolutely wrecked.' I said, 'Yeah, mate you had a good week
last week.' I think his body was in pieces. Every time he lunged I
could hear him grunt.”
A similar fate befell #2 seed Amr Shabana. The 35-year-old
former World #1 lost a brutal, five-game semifinal to Elshorbagy in
New York on Thursday. Paired against World #16 Max Lee of
Hong Kong in the MCO first round, Shabana looked out of sorts from
the get-go, then began grimacing late in Game Two. He retired giving
Lee his forst win over the World #4: 11-6, 11-5 (rtd).
“My back hit the wall in my quarterfinal match at ToC. I came
here yesterday and did the best I could push through but sometimes
the body won't let. My mind was ready but there was no signal to my
muscles,” said Shabana, who also retired in last year's semifinals
due to fatigue. “There is a shooting pain any time I bend too far,
so I don't want to mess up the spine.”
Aside from Elshorbagy and Shabana, the star-studded field battling
for the champion's share of the $70,000 purse and a Rolex watch —
courtesy of Greenstone's Jewelers — featured seven of the top 15
players, three former MCO champions, and a pair of MCO finalists.
Those numbers dwindled further thanks to World #21 Stephen
Coppinger of South Africa. After dropping the first two games,
Coppinger mounted a furious comeback to upset Egyptian World #14
Marwan Elshorbagy in five games: 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6.
Coppinger struggled to find his range early in his match. But his
shots started landing in the fourth and fifth games when he needed
them the most. Tied at 7-all in Game Four, Elshorbagy was on the
verge of moving on after three straight winners. But Coppinger
fought off three straight match balls — highlighted by a gutsy drop
shot — to even it at 10. After Elshorbagy left his next two shots
short, Coppinger evened the match at 2-all.
In the deciding fifth Elshorbagy jumped out to a 4-0 lead Coppinger
battle back to go up 9-5. On match ball Coppinger buried with
another well-placed drop shot.
“I think in the fourth I was really lucky,” Coppinger said
afterwards. “I got my act together toward the end and I think his
energy level dropped off after being so close and not quite getting
there. In the fifth he was looking for the first out. It just wasn't
there.”
The one player who didn't seem to be hampered by a deep run in New
York was Colombian World #12 Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Fresh
off his pair of five-game upsets over World #6 Peter Barker and
World #2 Gregory Gaultier, Rodriguez outlasted World #23 Saurav
Ghosal in yet another epic five-game battle: 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11,
11-5.
Much like last year's opening round match that Rodriguez also won in
five games, the two speedsters wowed the crowd with their quickness
and determination.
“Yesterday I was very tired but I was preparing myself mentally.
When I started the first game my legs were feeling fine and I wasn't
thinking about the pain,” Rodriguez said. “In the fifth, I just had
to pick up the pace a little bit and give it everything I had.”
World #6 Peter Barker, World #7 Borja Golan , World #9
Omar Mosaad and World #15 Mathieu Castagnet all swept
their opponents to advance to the quarterfinals, which begin 4 p.m.
Sunday.
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Draws &
Results
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23-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Final Four advance to Main Draw
By James Hawkins
In his inaugural appearance at The Motor City Open presented by The
Suburban Collection, Mexico's Cesar Salazar continues to
impress. The Mexican World #39 provided the lone upset of the
qualifying finals Friday at the Birmingham Athletic Club.
 One
day after cruising through Ireland's Arthur Gaskin in four games,
Salazar followed up by breezing past World #28 Gregoire Marche of
France in straight games - 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 - to earn a spot in
Saturday's main draw.
Joining Salazar will be Scotland's Alan Clyne, Finland's Olli
Tuominen and India's Saurav Ghosal, who snatched the other three
qualifier spots up for grabs.
Salazar won Game One after storming out to a 9-2 lead, but Marche
bounced back in Game Two by taking an early 6-2 advantage. Salazar
picked up his aggressive play and evened the score at 9-all before
closing the game with the next three points. The pattern repeated
itself in Game Three as Marche maintained an early edge at 7-5
before Salazar broke his spirits with a flurry of six consecutive
points to seal the match.
“In second and third games, I changed a little. I started to play
very quickly with more drop shots, volley drops, boasts,” Salazar
said. “I think in the last game he lost control and his confidence,
and I think that was important.”
Alan Clyne stamped his ticket in convincing fashion by
sweeping India's Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. The win was a
bit sweeter considering Mangaonkar beat Clyne in the Loch Ness
Challenger tournament this past summer when he was the top seed.
Mangaonkar got out to an early lead in the first two games, but
Clyne (World #38) stretched the 20-year-old World #47 all over the
court with a heavy dose of deep rails, lobs and cross court shots to
the back corners.
“He actually beat me at my home club in June when I was expected to
win, so I was out for revenge,” Clyne said. “I was trying to put the
ball in the back. Then when I got the loose ball I wanted to get on
it quick, punish him and it seemed to work. I could feel him getting
a bit more tired as the match went on.”
 Olli
Tuominen (World #29) had his sights set on a sweep after taking
the first two games against World #88 Ali Farag, but dropped the
third game in a tiebreaker and fell behind 7-0 in Game Four. In the
end, the 2007 MCO champ was able to regroup and stave off the
upset-minded Egyptian in five games: 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 3-11, 11-7.
“I was a bit disappointed to lose (Game Three) because I had a good
push coming from behind and catching up. But the next game got a
really bad start in the fourth, so decided it's not going to
happen,” Tuominen said. “I managed to pull my game together in the
fifth...I wanted to play as tight as I can and try to attack quickly
when he goes to the front and counter drop him.”
 Like
Tuominen, Saurav Ghosal (World #23) had to dig deep and grind
out a win over fan favorite Ryan Cuskelly: 13-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6.
In Game One Ghosal led 9-5 but tinned his next three shots to let
his opponent back in the game. At 10-all Cuskelly (World #44) was
able to fight off another game ball before Ghosal used a nifty
backhand drop shot to win it. Ghosal continued to tin shots early in
the second game but seemed to find his stroke when he needed it
most, rallying from an 8-10 deficit with four straight points to
take Game Three.
“Ryan's got a lethal forehand, chops it very well and he's really
skillful in middle of the court,” Ghosal said. “I knew I had to keep
the pressure and keep coming at him. The more I did that, the more
spaces I'd be able to open on the court.”
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22-Jan, Qualifying Round One:
Mangaonkar, Farag score upsets,
past champ Ong out ...
James Hawkins reports, photos by Bryan Mitchell
When India's Mahesh Mangaonkar booked his airplane ticket to
the 16th Motor City Open, presented by The Suburban Collection, he
made plans to fly out on Friday.
Mangaonkar may have to change his reservation as he picked up his
first career win over a Top-25 opponent with a 11-8, 7-3 (rtd)
decision over England's Chris Simpson in the first round of
qualifying Thursday at the Birmingham Athletic Club.
World #22 Simpson had to bow out of last week's J.P. Morgan
Tournament of Champions in New York after he was bedridden with the
flu - of which Mangaonkar was quite aware.
“I knew he had been sick for a week on tour now, so I had to
prolong the match,” said Mangaonkar, who was playing a U.S.
tournament for the first time. “The idea was to keep him on court as
long as I could and in the end he will give up. It was nothing
spectacular. Just hang in there, don't make mistakes, and pick up
every ball.”
Yet while signs of tiredness set in, Simpson was felled by a
different ailment: The right adductor muscle that hampered him in
last year's qualifying final.
“It's unbelievable. I never had it before coming here last year
and hadn't had it since,” Simpson said. “I come back here and it's
the same thing, but I think it has something to do being in bed for
five days. . . . Detroit doesn't seem to be my place."
Although World #47 Mangaonkar wished for a complete match win over
Simpson, it was still a satisfying and unexpected victory.
“Either way I'm really happy to reach the qualifying finals,” he
said. “It's a tough draw in the qualifying and I was expected to
play any of the top four guys. I'm just glad that I won.”
Another newcomer who picked up an impressive win was Egypt's Ali
Farag, who rolled England's Tom Richards in straight
games, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7.
Playing in his first tournament in six months - and just his third
tournament since graduating from Harvard last May with a mechanical
engineering degree - Farag (World #88) did his homework on Richards
(World #37) before their first head-to-head match. It paid off.
“I watched him play in last week's ToC against Alister Walker. I
knew he could cut the ball very well and wanted to stay away from
his volleys,” said Farag, who won the 2012 and 2014 College Squash
Association individual national championship. “I think I was lucky
the end of the second game when he had a lot of tins at some crucial
times and I think that was the turning point of the match. At that
point, it could've gone either way.”
The two wildest matches of the evening featured a pair of incredible
comebacks as MCO regulars Alan Clyne of Scotland was pushed
to the brink against World #54 Eddie Charlton. Clyne
prevailed in five games: 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3. Meanwhile,
Aussie Ryan Cuskelly upset 2012 MCO champ and World #31
Ong Beng Hee in a five-game thriller: 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7,
11-7.
After dropping 1-2 in games and falling behind 5-8 in the fourth
game, Clyne (World #38) was staring at an early exit. But was able
to rattle off the next six points to keep his hopes alive. In the
final game, Clyne assumed control with a 4-1 lead before closing out
the match with seven straight points.
“We've played each other a lot and it's usually a tough match,”
Clyne said. “I expected him to play nice length, keep it tight and
punish me if I open up too much and that's what he did. He keeps it
really tight to the walls and have to find ways to use my speed
against him.”
Much like Clyne, Cuskelly (World #44) found himself down 2-1 in
games and trailing 5-3 early in the fourth game. But Cuskelly
recorded eight of the next 10 points to stay alive and took
advantage of Beng Hee's numerous mistakes in the deciding fifth
game.
“When he was 2-1 up, I thought I was heading toward a loss,”
Cuskelly said. “The first three games I was playing his game slow up
the wall. I thought I'd change it up, hit it harder and keep him
behind me . . . . He was getting too much time to set up for his
shots in the first three games, so I tried to speed it and it worked
in the end. He started making more mistakes and I started hitting
the ball a bit better.”
Also moving on is Finland’s Olli Tuominen (World #29),
France's Gregoire Marche (World #28), Mexico's Cesar
Salazar (World #39) and India's Saurav Ghosal (World
#23). Tuominen, Marche and Salazar all won in four games, while
Ghosal swept his opponent in straight games.
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Salazar through
Marche beats Elias
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