RESULTS: Australian Open, Canberra, Australia

1st qualifying round:
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 (43m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Wesley Cusick (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 (17m)
Gilly Lane (USA) bt Nathan Stevenson (AUS) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Timothy Manning (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt Jamie Mcervale (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-1 (26m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Justin Beard (AUS) 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 (64m)
Amr Swelim (ITA) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (64m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (43m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (32m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Neeraj Aggarwal (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-0 (20m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 7-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 (77m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Steve Finitsis (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (35m)
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Peter Taylor (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (35m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Jeff Bond (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (35m)
Kamran Khan (MAS) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5 (59m)


Hobart's Aaron Frankcomb set up an all-Australian clash with New South Welshman Matthew Karwalski after today's (Sunday) first day of qualifying for the Australian Open Squash Championship, the $142,500 PSA Super Series event in Canberra.

World number 44 Frankcomb looked in great touch as he downed young Queenslander Peter Taylor 11-6, 11-3, 11- 7.

He now faces Karwalski, who sprung a surprise when he beat higher ranked compatriot Steve Finitsis 11-6, 11-4, 11-9, justifying his decision to move to Manchester after the Australian Open in a bid to improve his ranking.

"It's hard being based in Australia like I have been," Karwalski said. "I'm 24 now and have decided to make a real go at squash. Until now I've been part time on the tour - training five days a week but not really playing the tournaments."

Frankcomb and Karwalski were joined in the qualifying finals by Queensland's Zac Alexander, an 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 winner over veteran Jeff Bond, and Scott Arnold, who beat Melbourne's Rex Hedrick 11-8, 11-8, 11-6.

Alexander takes on Malaysian Kamran Khan, an upset 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5 winner over Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller, while Arnold plays classy Egyptian Mohammed Abbas.

It was a good day for the Kiwi contingent as all three New Zealanders in action progressed to the second round.

Martin Knight cruised through his opening match against young Queenslander Jamie McErvale 11-6, 11-8, 11-1, but fellow countrymen Kashif Shuja and Campbell Grayson did it the hard way as they battled their way through five game marathons.

Shuja came from two games to one down and trailing 2-8 in the fourth to overhaul Denmark's Kristian Frost Olesen 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3, while Grayson also came from 2/1 down to beat Christopher Gordon, of the USA, 7-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8.

Shuja admitted later he had to stop making it so hard for himself: "Usually I play a lot better when I'm down but not that far down," he said.

"I knew that if I stayed patient and constructed the rallies well I would have a chance so I just gave it my best. I think I've had the most five-setters out of anyone on the PSA!

"It's a focus thing really and something I've been working on, that I should try and play the same from start to end, but it hasn't quite happened yet."

Shuja plays Italian Amr Swelim for a place in the main draw and Grayson must try and recover in time to take on rising Scottish star Alan Clyne, who demolished Melbourne's Neeraj Aggarwal 11-3, 11-1, 11-0.

"It was quite comfortable so I saved my legs," the Scotsman said. "I only arrived a couple of days ago and it was a long trip -- I'm trying to get over the jetlag."

Despite Gordon's loss it was a still a good day for the Americans with both Julian Illingworth and Gilly Lane impressing in straight games wins.

Illingworth downed recently-crowned NSW Open champion Jens Schoor 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 and Lane was too good for Queensland's Nathan Stevenson 11-3, 11-5, 11-5.

"Today was a good day - I played pretty well so I can't complain," Lane said.

The American number two has been training in Yamba with Cameron Pilley and said the hard work had paid off.

"I had two weeks off in Yamba training so I've been kicking to get going and get back into it," he said.

Qualifying finals line-up:
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Gilly Lane (USA) v Max Lee (HKG)
Martin Knight (NZL) v Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
Amr Swelim (ITA) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Scott Arnold (AUS)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) v Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
Kamran Khan (MAS) v Zac Alexander (AUS)

PSA's SquashTV is the official live and video on-demand website of the Professional Squash Association.
Watch all the live action and highlights at www.psasquashtv.com

RESULTS: Australian Open, Canberra, Australia

1st qualifying round:
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 (43m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Wesley Cusick (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 (17m)
Gilly Lane (USA) bt Nathan Stevenson (AUS) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Timothy Manning (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt Jamie Mcervale (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-1 (26m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Justin Beard (AUS) 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 (64m)
Amr Swelim (ITA) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (64m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (43m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (32m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Neeraj Aggarwal (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-0 (20m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 7-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 (77m)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Steve Finitsis (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (35m)
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Peter Taylor (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (35m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Jeff Bond (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (35m)
Kamran Khan (MAS) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5 (59m)

Frankcomb Leads Four Aussies Into Canberra Qualifying Finals

Hobart's Aaron Frankcomb set up an all-Australian clash with New South Welshman Matthew Karwalski after today's (Sunday) first day of qualifying for the Australian Open Squash Championship, the $142,500 PSA Super Series event in Canberra.

World number 44 Frankcomb looked in great touch as he downed young Queenslander Peter Taylor 11-6, 11-3, 11- 7.

He now faces Karwalski, who sprung a surprise when he beat higher ranked compatriot Steve Finitsis 11-6, 11-4, 11-9, justifying his decision to move to Manchester after the Australian Open in a bid to improve his ranking.

"It's hard being based in Australia like I have been," Karwalski said. "I'm 24 now and have decided to make a real go at squash. Until now I've been part time on the tour - training five days a week but not really playing the tournaments."

Frankcomb and Karwalski were joined in the qualifying finals by Queensland's Zac Alexander, an 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 winner over veteran Jeff Bond, and Scott Arnold, who beat Melbourne's Rex Hedrick 11-8, 11-8, 11-6.

Alexander takes on Malaysian Kamran Khan, an upset 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5 winner over Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller, while Arnold plays classy Egyptian Mohammed Abbas.

It was a good day for the Kiwi contingent as all three New Zealanders in action progressed to the second round.

Martin Knight cruised through his opening match against young Queenslander Jamie McErvale 11-6, 11-8, 11-1, but fellow countrymen Kashif Shuja and Campbell Grayson did it the hard way as they battled their way through five game marathons.

Shuja came from two games to one down and trailing 2-8 in the fourth to overhaul Denmark's Kristian Frost Olesen 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3, while Grayson also came from 2/1 down to beat Christopher Gordon, of the USA, 7-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8.

Shuja admitted later he had to stop making it so hard for himself: "Usually I play a lot better when I'm down but not that far down," he said.

"I knew that if I stayed patient and constructed the rallies well I would have a chance so I just gave it my best. I think I've had the most five-setters out of anyone on the PSA!

"It's a focus thing really and something I've been working on, that I should try and play the same from start to end, but it hasn't quite happened yet."

Shuja plays Italian Amr Swelim for a place in the main draw and Grayson must try and recover in time to take on rising Scottish star Alan Clyne, who demolished Melbourne's Neeraj Aggarwal 11-3, 11-1, 11-0.

"It was quite comfortable so I saved my legs," the Scotsman said. "I only arrived a couple of days ago and it was a long trip -- I'm trying to get over the jetlag."

Despite Gordon's loss it was a still a good day for the Americans with both Julian Illingworth and Gilly Lane impressing in straight games wins.

Illingworth downed recently-crowned NSW Open champion Jens Schoor 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 and Lane was too good for Queensland's Nathan Stevenson 11-3, 11-5, 11-5.

"Today was a good day - I played pretty well so I can't complain," Lane said.

The American number two has been training in Yamba with Cameron Pilley and said the hard work had paid off.

"I had two weeks off in Yamba training so I've been kicking to get going and get back into it," he said.

Qualifying finals line-up:
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Gilly Lane (USA) v Max Lee (HKG)
Martin Knight (NZL) v Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
Amr Swelim (ITA) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Scott Arnold (AUS)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) v Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
Kamran Khan (MAS) v Zac Alexander (AUS)

PSA's SquashTV is the official live and video on-demand website of the Professional Squash Association.
Watch all the live action and highlights at www.psasquashtv.com