RESULTS: PSA International 50 Bluenose Classic, Halifax, Canada
1st round:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (49m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 3-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6 (69m)
[Q] Gilly Lane (USA) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-3 (75m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt [4] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (73m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Chris Ryder (ENG) 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (58m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 8-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-5 (101m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 (23m)
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-1 (41m)
Quarter-finals:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (49m)
[Q] Gilly Lane (USA) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-7, 14-12 (65m)
US squash stars Julian Illingworth and Gilly Lane pulled two of the best results of their careers in the Bluenose Classic in Canada to claim unexpected places in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 50 event in its sixth year at St Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Unseeded Illingworth, winner of a record six US national titles, had never before beaten Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the event's top seed and 2008 champion, in four previous Tour meetings.
But the 27-year-old from New York played the game of his life to beat world No11 Anjema 11-7, 11-7, 14-12.
And Gilly Lane, a qualifier from Philadelphia and the lowest-ranked player in the draw, earned the first semi-final slot after upsetting Egypt's Mohammed Abbas. The 30-year-old from Giza, a former world No13, is mounting a major comeback drive after being out of action for almost a year with a foot injury.
It was the pair's first Tour clash, but after the first game was nip-and-tuck through to six-all, Lane pulled away and ultimately clinched his surprise 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 win after 33 minutes.
Lane, ranked 66 in the world, now faces Mohd Azlan Iskandar, the No2 seed from Malaysia who defeated fellow countryman Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.
Third seed Hisham Mohd Ashour, a 28-year-old from Cairo who is making rapid strides up the world rankings, claimed his anticipated place in the last four after conquering Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7.
Ashour will face Illingworth in the pair's third Tour meeting since December 2006 - with the head-to-head tally currently standing at one-all.
Semi-final line-up:
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v [Q] Gilly Lane (USA)
Julian Illingworth (USA) v [3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
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