RESULTS: National Capital Squash Open, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Quarter-finals:
[6] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 12-10, 12-10, 12-10 (78m)
[3] Martin Knight (NZL) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (47m)
[4] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [8] Bernardo Samper (COL) 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (66m)
[2] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [7] Yasir Butt (PAK) 11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 (70m)
Sixth-seeded Australian Ryan Cuskelly caused a notable upset in the National Capital Open when he beat top seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez to reach the semi-finals of the $16,875 PSA World Tour squash event at Bethesda Sport & Health Club in Bethesda in the US state of Maryland.
Rodriguez, the world No26 from Bogota, dropped the first two games – but rediscovered his form in the third to lead 10-6.
But 22-year-old Cuskelly, ranked 25 places lower, recovered the deficit and went on to win 12-10, 12-10, 12-10 in 78 minutes.
The New York-based Aussie now goes on to face New Zealander Martin Knight for a place in the final. The third seed from Wellington needed 47 minutes to overcome unseeded Canadian David Phillips 11-7, 11-3, 11-7.
There will be Kiwi interest in the other semi-final where fourth seed Grayson takes on Canada’s No2 seed Shahier Razik.
Grayson, the world No46 from Auckland, had to fight back from two games down to beat eighth-seeded Colombian Bernardo Samper 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in 66 minutes.
Semi-final line-up:
[6] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [3] Martin Knight (NZL)
[2] Shahier Razik (CAN) v [4] Campbell Grayson (NZL)