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Morris Group Northern Ontario Open 2015
20-25 Apr, Sudbury, Canada, $25k |
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25-Apr, Final:
[5] Ryan Cuskelly
(Aus) 3-0
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
12/10, 11/7, 11/8 (78m)
Cuskelly claims biggest win in Sudbury
Mike McCue reports
Ryan Cuskelly claimed the biggest PSA
tour title of his career today, beating higher seeded LJ Anjema 3-0
in the final of the Northern Ontario Open.
 Anjema was favoured coming into the match, having reached the final
without dropping a game or spending more than an hour on court.
However, Cuskelly came out with the same pace and dogged retrieving
that saw him through two toug matches against Alister Walker and
Cesar Salazar.
This was a rare all-lefty battle, which meant play was primarily
happening down the right wall; an odd sight in pro squash! Both
players deserve credit for maintaining a relatively free-flowing
brand of squash, which is sometimes difficult when two southpaws
face off.
The capacity crowd of over 100 expected the Dutchman to overcome a
first game deficit, as he had done in every one of his previous
matches. However, after trading lucky winners to reach 10-all,
Cuskelly hit a crisp backhand drop and converted his second game
ball when Anjema tinned an ambitious drop of his own.
 The Australian maintained a small lead throughout the second game,
neutralizing Anjema with lobs and counterdrops. LJ was earning
himself good positions by hitting penetrating length, but could not
find the required severity in attack to get Cuskelly out of rhythm.
At 9/6 up, Ryan took a short break for a blood injury to his knee.
This seemed like an opportune time for Anjema to make his move, but
he was still unable to unseat Cuskelly and soon the underdog was 2/0
up.
Sensing a possible 3/0 final (for the fourth consecutive year!),
spectators got behind Anjema in the third game. Although he was left
flat-footed several times, LJ finally began to mount a comeback at
4/7 down.
 The action became even tighter and more deliberate as he tried to up
the pace and test Cuskelly physically. With both players beginning
to fatigue slightly, Cuskelly held strong and eventually closed out
a lengthy final game without ever letting Anjema within striking
distance.
An extremely impressive performance from the 27 year old Australian,
who showed a marked improvement from last year's quarterfinal loss
here. Clearly intent on taking the ball earlier, harder and with
more attacking intent, he beat three quality opponents in convincing
fashion.
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Photos by
Meghan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash |
  Northern
Ontario Open 2015
20-25 Apr, Sudbury, Canada, $25k |
Round One
22 Apr |
Quarters
23 Apr |
Semis
24 Apr |
Final
25 Apr |
[1] Marwan Elshorbagy (Egy)
11/7, 11/8, 11/9 (35m)
Chris Gordon (Usa) |
Chris Gordon
11/6, 11/7, 11/9 (55m)
[8] Shawn Delierre |
[8] Shawn Delierre
11/8, 12/10, 11/9 (58m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema |
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema
12/10, 11/7, 11/8 (78m)
[5] Ryan Cuskelly |
[8] Shawn Delierre
(Can)
11/5, 1/11, 11/6, 11/7 (61m)
Todd Harrity (Usa) |
[7] Campbell Grayson (Nzl)
11/2, 11/6, 11/7 (28m)
[Q] Joe Chapman (Bvi) |
[7] Campbell Grayson 11/9, 11/5, 11/9
(60m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema |
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
11/8, 11/3, 11/4 (38m)
[Q] Shahier Razik (Can) |
Harinderpal Sandhu (Ind)
7/11, 11/7, 11/5, 11/4 (72m)
[4] Cesar Salazar (Mex) |
[4] Cesar Salazar
6/11, 11/7, 6/11, 11/9, 12/10 (102m)
[6] Diego Elias |
[4] Cesar Salazar
11/2, 9/11, 12/14, 11/9, 11/3 (83m)
[5] Ryan Cuskelly |
[Q] Arturo Salazar (Mex)
11/4, 11/1, 11/6 (34m)
[6] Diego Elias (Per) |
[wc] Mike McCue (Can)
11/3, 11/5, 11/8 (40m)
[5] Ryan Cuskelly (Aus) |
[5] Ryan Cuskelly
9/11, 11/4, 11/8, 11/7 (61m)
[2] Alister Walker |
[Q] Chris Binnie (Jam)
11/7, 11/7, 11/6 (32m)
[2] Alister Walker (Bot) |
22-Apr, Qualifying Finals:
Shahier Razik (Can) 3-0 Albert Shoihet (Can)
11/8, 11/2, 11/3 (35m)
Arturo Salazar (Mex) 3-2 Chris Hanson (Usa)
5/11, 9/11, 11/5, 11/8,
12/10 (71m)
Chris Binnie (Jam) 3-0
Matthew Serediak (Can)
11/2, 11/3, 11/5 (22m)
Joe Chapman (Bvi) 3-0 David Clegg (Aus)
11/5, 11/6, 11/5 (32m)
21-Apr, Qualifying, Round One:
Albert Shoihet (Can) 3-0 Dave Morris (Can)
11/4, 11/4, 11/5 (22m)
Chris Hanson (Usa) 3-0 Trevor Beange (Can)
11/3, 11/6, 11/4 (23m)
David Clegg (Aus) 3-0 Ryan Abresch (Can)
11/7, 11/3, 11/4 (30m)
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24-Apr, Semis:
LJ is back, Salazar not far off ...
Mike McCue reports
 LJ Anjema continued his
clinical path through the draw tonight with another 3-0 victory,
this time over Canadian Shawn Delierre.
True to the form of his previous two matches, the Dutchman started
tentatively and played primarily straight drives.
Making a few
unsettled errors, he found himself down 6-8 to the Canadian #1, who
was once again playing very tough squash. For the third night in a
row, LJ rose to the occasion, increasing the pace and pressure to
take five consecutive rallies and the game.
 This constant intensity
led to some uncharacteristic errors from Shawn in the second game,
who must have felt like he needed to produce something special just
to win a rally.
The capacity crowd were looking to get behind the
Canadian, but time and again saw their hopeful come out on the
losing end of tough rallies. Shawn forced a second game tiebreak but
never held gameball and was soon down 2-0.
 The squash was very contained and thoughtful, neither player taking
any undue risks. Sensing his tournament run nearing an end, Shawn
found some extra energy in desperation while matchball down.
But a
No Let decision after Anjema had passed him with a straight drive
from the front right marked the end. LJ has been entirely composed
all week, maintaining a stoic disposition even in the most critical
situations.
Having not dropped a single game and spending less than
3 hours on court, he will feel confident before tomorrow's final.
Cesar Salazar produced a Herculean effort in the second semi,
pushing Ryan Cuskelly to the brink. The Mexican scored a
massive 100+ minute victory over Diego Elias last night, and was
clearly feeling the effects as he went down 11/2 and 6/1 before even
featuring in an extended rally.
 However, as often happens, the first wall of fatigue is the hardest
to push through. As his body seemed to loosen up, Salazar began
covering Cuskelly's sharp attacks more effectively, playing some
excellent counters and flicks. This clearly took Ryan by surprise,
as he had been on cruise control until this point.
 Cesar leveled at
6-all, and we had a match on our hands. Switching demeanour from
defeated to focused, Salazar found the motivation to accept the
pressure Cuskelly was applying. Every inch of court was utilized and
covered, with one player often ending up well out of position at the
end of a rally.
 Winning the second game on a No Let, Salazar was a new man and
looked a real threat to win the match.
The Aussie continued to
control 80% of points in the third, but couldn't quite put the ball
out of Cesar's reach. Relishing this defensive roll, Salazar waited
for errors and asked for any Let referee Shawn Delierre would give
him. After exchanging game balls, Cesar somehow won the third
despite barely being able to stand.
Understandably frustrated, Cuskelly look like he may be running out
of ideas. He went down 1-5 in the fourth before finally breaking
Salazar's spirit and legs.
 The remainder of the match was
essentially a painful pressure session, with Cuskelly dispatching
attacks to all areas of the court for Salazar to lift back to the
front wall.
At 7/2 in the decider, Cesar unfortunately cramped and
the final points were a formality.
Massive credit must be given to
both players. They covered every corner of the court hundreds of
times, never letting a single point go. Their efforts show that the
mind will always break down long before the body.
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Photos by
Meghan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash |
24-Apr, Quarters:
Delierre carries home hopes
Mike McCue reports
Tonight's quarterfinal
matches lasted a whopping five and a half hours, ending well after
the Sudbury YMCA's usual 10pm closing time.
 Chris
Gordon was unable to build on his huge first round win,
succumbing to Shawn Delierre in straight games. The American
once again took the attacking initiative, playing countless volley
drops on the first opportunity. However, the shots that were going
for winners last night were either finding the tin or coming back
with interest tonight.
The Canadian did an excellent job of depending in the front left
corner, playing tight counterdrops or straight lobs to neutralize
pressure. Gordon stayed competitive in every game, but was tinning
out at crucial points. Delierre was content playing safe squash and
waiting for these errors, eventually closing out the match with a
tense 11/9 third game victory.
 Dutchman
LJ Anjema progressed with another 3/0 win over Campbell
Grayson. The Kiwi controlled many rallies early in the first
game, but LJ found his range to take the crucial opener 11/9. The
physicality began to take the sting out of Grayson, who slowly ceded
control of the middle. LJ closed points out with some fine backhand
volley drops and crosscourt nicks.
Grayson competed very well and summoned all of his tactical and
physical reserves, but could not establish enough pressure to
unsettle Anjema. Worth nothing that LJ seems to be moving with total
freedom and inhibition again after his recent injury layoff.
South America's #2 and 3 ranked players produced an absolute classic
in the third match. Crowd favourite Diego Elias beat Cesar
Salazar here last year, and twice more in the intervening twelve
months.
 Diego
won the first game comfortably by closing down Cesar's open play and
not engaging the athletic Mexican in the diagonal-sprints he so
enjoys. After trading the second and third games, Elias looked
poised to notch another victory.
But Salazar is relentless, and the frequent flicks and change of direction
began to fatigue the Peruvian. The action became more conservative
and length-based towards the end of the fourth game, and referee
Campbell Grayson was being grilled in Spanglish on nearly every
point. Cesar converted a lead to level at 2-all, and surged ahead to
8-5 in the decider. Elias was no longer as quick on the ball or
incisive in attack, but bared down to hit four winners and lead 9-8.
 He
began to show signs of cramping and went down matchball at 10-9, but
Salazar tinned an easy forehand drop to send us to a tiebreak!
However, having sensed Diego's body failing, Cesar upped the pace
and played two conservative rallies to lock down his first PSA win
over the young Peruvian.
The crowd thinned out before the nightcap, but the remaining
diehards were treated to a dynamic, high-paced affair between
Ryan Cuskelly and Alister Walker.
Cuskelly came out with outrageous pace, lasering straight targets
and cutting drops down severely toward the nick. The experienced
second seed Walker played a counter-attacking game to good effect,
pushing in tight counterdrops and anticipating Cuskelly's hard
crosscourts from the front.
 Winning
several points with the aforementioned pattern, Walker took a 1-0
lead. Ryan committed to playing straight out of the front corners
for the rest of the match, which turned out to be the tactical
turning point. Ali continued to anticipate the crosscourt, but was
leaving himself stranded as the Aussie passed him down the wall.
Cuskelly grew in confidence and aggression as the match wore on,
applying serious pressure by jumping on any loose ball early. He
consistently worked Walker out of position and earned a 3/1 victory.
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Photos by
Meghan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash
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23-Apr, Round One:
Top seed toppled by Gordon
Chris Gordon caused a
massive upset in tonight's first round with a straight games win
over top seed Marwan El Shorbagy.
 The American dominated
early proceedings with a sharp, aggressive style that saw him
slotting in drops off weak crosscourts and loose straight balls.
Shorbagy seemed edgy but was not showing any signs of injury or
illness.
Wasting no opportunity, Gordon surged to a 2-0 lead and was serving
at 7-4 in the third when the Egyptian began to mount a comeback.
Gordon wavered slightly with a few nervous tins as Shorbagy upped
his intensity. However, the American regrouped at 9-all and played a
perfect backhand volley drop to setup match ball, which was
converted on a quick tin from Marwan. A career-best win for the
American #1.
Elsewhere, the seeds prevailed with relative ease. Shawn Delierre
and Cesar Salazar dropped solitary games, but their opponents
couldn't maintain that winning structure as the match wore on. LJ
Anjema looked particularly impressive, clinically defeating
Shahier Razik 3-0.
The Dutchman, on a comeback after foot surgery,
surged ahead from 8-all in the first and was never in danger after
that. Taking the ball extremely early and slotting volley drop
winners, LJ simply applied too much pressure to the Canadian legend.
Every quarterfinal matchup promises quality and drama; Delierre and
Gordon, the top two North American players, facing off for an
unexpected place in the semis ... accurate Campbell Grayson taking on
the Dutch Robocop Anjema ... South American numbers two and three in a
rematch from last year's event ... and seasoned Alister Walker against
a keen and aggressive Ryan Cuskelly.
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Photos by
Megan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash |
22-Apr-15
Qualifying Finals - Contrasting Matches
 2011 Northern Open champion Shahier
Razik qualified for the main draw in relatively comfortable
fashion, dismissing young Canadian Albert Shoihet in straight games.
Razik's trademark immaculate width, fading length and soft counters
were on full display tonight, as he slowly squeezed the energy out
of his countryman. Shahier seems to be in good condition physically
ahead of next week's Canadian Nationals. His reward is a matchup
with LJ Anjema tomorrow, familiar foes after over a decade on tour
together.
 The only tightly-contested qualifying final saw Arturo Salazar
edge Chris Hanson in a fifth game tiebreak. Salazar came out with a
clear impetus to attack shot, and managed to make Hanson work hard
with a variety of boasts and drops from the back. However, this
strategy does give your opponent openings, and leaves only a small
margin for error. The American took advantage with crisp
counter-attacks and a steadiness that lead to tins from Arturo.
The third game finally saw signs of fatigue from Chris, who was
slightly slow in and out of the corners after being under pressure
for 30 minutes. Salazar took the third and fourth comfortably,
eventually leading 7-4 in the fifth before taking an injury timeout.
The three minute break served Hanson's interests though, and he came
out with renewed vigour for the final sprint. Salazar tinned two
easy winners at 9-8 and 10-9 up to send the match to a tiebreak. In
spite of his brave effort throughout, Hanson lost his way in these
final moments, conceding a tin of his own and a stroke to lose the
match.
 Major kudos to Chris Hanson for stepping on court with
Robert, a local junior who is volunteering at the tournament,
immediately after losing 12-10 in the fifth. An absolutely class
move by Chris, who made the young man's week despite going out in
the most devastating fashion only moments before.
Chris Binnie eased through against a recovering Matt Serediak,
who has been essentially out of squash for nearly two months with a
mystery toe injury. Binnie will be looking to continue in the form
that lead him to the final of Rochester last week when he takes on
Ali Walker.
In the nightcap, Joe Chapman also smoothly navigated his path
into the main draw over the Aussie Sniper, David Clegg. He will take
on Campbell Grayson.
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Photos by
Megan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash
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21-Apr:
Qualifying First Round - Great Atmosphere
 Due
to a series of late withdrawals, three of Sudbury's top squash
players were given the
opportunity to test themselves against world tour pros in tonight's
first qualifying round. Local fans turned
out en masse to watch the players usually seen dominating the YMCA
courts under the constant pressure applied by PSA players.
 Dave
Morris and Trevor Beange both took some time adjusting to the
pace against Albert Shoihet and Chris Hanson, respectively.
But the Sudburians both settled in and managed a handful of points
in each game. Ryan Abresch provided the toughest resistance
to his PSA opponent, keeping it tight with David Clegg until
7-all in the first game. From there, Abresch began to falter
slightly while Clegg remained steady.
All three matches were played in great spirit, and the three locals
were all hugely appreciative of this opportunity.
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Photos by
Megan McCue
Twitter: @sudburysquash
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