Farag Flourishes In Tournament Of Champion Qualifiers
16 Jan 2014
Harvard University senior Ali Farag scored the biggest upset in the first qualifying round of the 2014 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions when he defeated Australia's Ryan Cuskelly in three games at the Princeton Club in New York to secure a place in the qualifying finals of the first PSA World Series squash event of the year.
It was a tense, hard-hitting match from the very start, marked by physical play. As 26-year-old Cuskelly, the World No.33 from Australia, grew increasingly frustrated, young unranked Egyptian Farag capitalised to win 11-7, 11-7, 11-9.
Farag, a 21-year-old from Cairo, now lines up against Cesar Salazar. The Mexican's attacking game proved too much for the less experienced Princeton University senior Samuel Kang as World No.43 Salazar clinched an 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 victory over the 23-year-old from Singapore.
Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller needed just 20 minutes to overpower American Bradbury Thompson and send the 23-year-old from Philadelphia packing. Leo Au of Hong Kong, on the other hand, had his hands full with Canadian veteran Shahier Razik in a 74-minute battle that ended in Au's favour after four games.
Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan despatched his fellow countryman Muhd Asyraf Azan to set up a qualifying final match with Alan Clyne, the top-ranked Scot who eliminated Pakistan's Farhan Zaman.
US champion Christopher Gordon dominated compatriot Mike Lewis in straight games at the Harvard Club and will next play Omar Abdel Meguid of Egypt, who eliminated American Adrian Leanza.
Three other Egyptians moved into the second round at the Harvard Club: Marwan Elshorbagy, whose brother Mohamed is the tournament's No.3 seed, defeated Joe Chapman of the British Virgin Islands in three quick games - while Omar Abdel Aziz battled back from two games down to overcome England's Eddie Charlton.
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda, a former World No.23 now languishing outside the top 40, earned a confidence-boosting 11-8, 14-12, 11-3 win over rising compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar.
At the New York Athletic Club, the highest-ranking American Julian Illingworth was forced to retire due to injury after two games, leaving England's Charles Sharpes with the win and a second round match against France's Gregoire Marche.
New Zealand's Campbell Grayson and Pakistan's Yasir Ali Butt were neck and neck until midway through each of their games until the steady and resolute Grayson pulled away to record a 3/0 victory. Grayson next plays England's Adrian Waller, whose power and experience overwhelmed his younger American opponent Faraz Khan.
Qualifying finals line-up:
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Leo Au (HKG)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Ali Farag (EGY) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Christopher Gordon (USA) v Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
Max Lee (HKG) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Charles Sharpes (ENG)
Official event website: www.tocsquash.com
1st qualifying round:
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Bradbury Thompson (USA) 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (20m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-6, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9 (74m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (34m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Farhan Zaman (PAK) 12-10, 11-5, 11-2 (33m)
Ali Farag (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (44m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Samuel Kang (SIN) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Mike Lewis (USA) 11-3, 11-2, 11-5 (24m)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Adrian Leanza (USA) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Joe Chapman (IVB) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (29m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 (74m)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-8, 14-12, 11-3 (38m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-1, 13-11, 11-9 (31m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (28m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (36m)
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-2, 11-5 ret.
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (29m)