Shawn Delierre
11/6, 10/12, 11/3, 14/12 (48m) Adrian Grant
Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat)
11/5, 11/8, 14/12 (34m) [2] Adrian Grant (Eng)
PSA Challenger 15Oregon
Open, Portland, Usa
Cuskelly Captures Portland Prize
Victories
over two higher-ranked opponents led to Australia's Ryan Cuskelly (left
in check top) claiming the 11th PSA World Tour title of his career at
the Oregon Open in the USA.
The US-based left-hander made his breakthrough in the semi-finals of the
PSA Challenger 15 squash event at Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland
where he outlasted England's World No.28 Adrian Grant, the second seed,
15-13, 12-10, 11-13, 12-14, 11-6 in 105 minutes in his first ever
victory over the former World No.9.
Fourth seed Cuskelly's opponent in the final was Omar Abdel Meguid, the
No.3 seed from Egypt who also survived a semi-final marathon in his
107-minute 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 15-13, 11-4 win over Saurav Ghosal, the top
seed from India.
In the first game of the final, Cuskelly exposed Meguid with soft touch
in front corners, resulting in the Aussie taking the first game,
relatively quickly, 11-5.
In the second, the World No.45 from New South Wales continued his
impetuous form and quickly forged a 6-0, then 9-2, lead. Cuskelly's
excellent short game secured the second game with a beautiful straight
drive that licked the wall and died in the back corner.
The 26-year-old Egyptian changed his tactics in the third game to
increase the pace to force Cuskelly errors. But from six-all, Cuskelly
moved ahead to 10-7 - and quickly clinched his first match-ball to
secure his 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 title triumph.
"In the past it's been a tough battle for me at the Oregon Open," said
Cuskelly as he received his trophy. "I feel the result of strenuous work
and focus over the past year has elevated my game towards the world top
20.
"Winning the Oregon Open, defeating higher-ranked and experienced
players such as Adrian and Meguid, builds confidence moving forward."
When asked if his marathon semi-final victory over the top seed affected
his plan for the final, Meguid - also the Oregon Open runner-up in 2014
- said: "The effort early on in the third game was defining the outcome
reflecting the atrocious semi-finals. I apologise for not playing up to
my standards tonight.
"However I'm planning on returning to Oregon Open next year, a
tournament and squash community which makes me feel so welcome."