WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: US Open Squash Championship, Boston, Mass, USA

1st round:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Lee Beachill (ENG) 6-15, 17-15, 15-11, 15-5
[Q] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [7] Karim Darwish (EGY) 15-10, 3-15, 7-15, 15-11, 15-5
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Joseph Kneipp (AUS) 15-8, 15-8, 15-7
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Amr Shabana (EGY) 15-13, 15-6, 15-8
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Martin Heath (SCO) 15-14, 10-15, 15-11, 15-12
[3] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Adrian Grant (ENG) 15-11, 15-14, 15-12
[Q] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 15-11, 15-12, 17-15
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 15-9, 15-9, 15-13

Ryding & Matthew In US Open Upsets

Egypt's seventh seed Karim Darwish and the eighth-seeded Malaysian Ong Beng Hee made early exits from the US Open Squash Championship after upsets inflicted by qualifiers Graham Ryding and Nick Matthew, respectively on the opening day's play at the Symphony Hall in Boston.

Matthew, the world No24 from Sheffield in England, pulled off one of the best wins of his career when he beat Ong Beng Hee, the former world junior champion now ranked eight in the world, 15-11 15-12 17-15 in 93 minutes. 

The 23-year-old Yorkshireman, the seventh-placed Englishman in the world rankings, is clearly marking his cards for a place in the England squad for October's World Team Championships.  This first-time appearance in the last eight of the US Open follows Matthew's triumph in his hometown in June when he also defied the seedings to reach the quarter-finals of the Prince English Open.

Matthew now faces No2 seed David Palmer, the Australian seeking to become the first player to retain the US Open title.  Palmer beat Finnish qualifier Olli Tuominen 15-9 15-9 15-13.

Canada's world No19 Graham Ryding is arguably enjoying his best run of form for four years since reaching a career-high world top ten ranking.  The Torontonian had to fight back from 2-1 down to topple Darwish 15-10 3-15 7-15 15-11 15-5 to earn his unexpected place in the quarter-finals where will meet top seed Peter Nicol.

The English favourite is on course to become the first player to win the title four times after beating compatriot Lee Beachill 6-15 17-15 15-11 15-5 in what he conceded wasn't a pretty win.  "I was a bit nervous and struggled when Lee buried balls in the corner, but I knew if I stepped up my physical game I could take him," explained the world No1.

Canada's twice US Open champion Jonathon Power, the fourth seed, exhibited good length and moved well throughout his 51-minute match against Joseph Kneipp before claiming his 15-8 15-8 15-7 win over the Australian.  "I played solid and didn't have too many mental lapses.  I feel good," said Power.

The world No4 from Montreal now faces fifth seed Thierry Lincou.  Impending fatherhood seems to be agreeing with the Frenchman who defeated Egypt's world No12 Amr Shabana 15-13 15-6 15-8.  "I knew it might be a difficult match, so I figured if I could start strong with a couple of good volleys I might take it," said Lincou after the match.

The other quarter-final match will be a repeat of the English Open clash at the same stage between Scotland's third seed John White and Australia's sixth seed Anthony Ricketts.  White ended English qualifier Adrian Grant's run in a 15-11 15-14 15-12 defeat while Ricketts needed four games to overcome Scotland's Martin Heath 15-14 10-15 15-11 15-12.