Three locals proceed to Round 2. First wins on the PSA tour for two former Carribean juniors, Joe Chapman (BVI) and Chris Binnie (JAM)!
Match reports and video interviews by Jesse Cramer
Joe Chapman bt. Shahjahan Khan 12-10, 11-6, 14-12 (55m)
The first game started out steady between local player and University of Rochester team member Joe Chapman (BVI) and Shahjahan Khan (PAK). The boys were locked at 5-5, and then 7-7. It seemed Joe would secure the game when he gained a two point advantage at 9-7, but Shah came back to tie it at 9, then fighting off a game to tie it at 10. Nobody wants to drop the first, and both players fought hard to win the next couple points. It was Chapman, though, who came out on top, winning the first 12-10 in 20 minutes.
Chapman came out firing in the second game. Combined with a couple errors by Shah, Joe found himself with a 7-4 lead. Although Shah hit a couple feathery drops, Joe was picking everything up, perfectly willing to do the running. At 5-7 down, Shah accidentally clipped Joe’s calf with a cross court. Although no hard feelings were held, Joe focused his pain into some beautiful squash, pulling away to win the second 11-6 in 14 minutes.
Two love down is a tough place to be, but Shah refused to go down easily. The third could not have been tighter. The boys fought back and forth until Shah pulled away to an 8-5 lead. The momentum was shifting in Shah’s favor. But after a service error and a couple of tins, his lead faded into an 8-9 deficit. Composing himself, Shah regained his form and managed to pull the game into a 10-10 tie. The game then locked at 11, and then 12, before a counterdrop tin by Shah gave Joe the lead at 13-12. Chapman would take advantage of his game ball, winning 14-12 after a lengthy rally.
Joe, in his final year at the University of Rochester, is looking forward to making the transition from college squash to professional squash and playing a few more PSA events this summer after he graduates.
Andres Duany bt. Luke Butterworth 11-2, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4 (69m)
Andres Duany (PER) set the tempo against Luke Butterworth (ENG) from the first point. Using his wingspan and holds, Duany vollied and flicked Butterworth around the court. Luke was perfectly willing to do the running, but Duany was winning the points. Andres found himself with a two game lead and a tired opponent.
But Luke found his legs and his length in the third. Combined with a few silly errors from the Peruvian, Luke managed to get the match back to 1-2. But all the running from the first two games caught up with Luke in the fourth. Down 6-2, his legs began to cramp and the beginning of the end started to unfold. Despite fighting the discomfort and continuing play, Duany took advantage of his hobbling opponent and secured the victory 3-1.
Gerardo De Paul Garcia bt. Adam Perkiomaki 14-12, 11-5, 10-12, 15-13 (43m)
After watching a few minutes of the match between Adam Perkiomaki (USA, via FIN) and Gerardo de Paul Garcia (MEX), one might have questioned whether they were in Rochester, or Heliopolis. Nicks, flicks, holds. Deception and shot making. A fun match to watch. Although Perkiomaki found himself leading throughout the first, Garcia hit some beautiful winners to overtake the young Finnish ninja. A combination of soft drops and cross court nicks gave Garcia the first game, 14-12. The second continued as the first ended, with Garcia controlling play and hitting winners. Although Perko fought hard, his Scandinavian defense could not withhold Garcia attacks. The second goes to Gerardo, 11-5. In the third, it looked like Garcia was simply too strong for Perko. A quick 4-0 lead exploding into 10-3, advantage Garcia. Yet, being seven match balls down, Perko found his game. In his own words, “I just went for some winners, and they worked.” If only squash were always that simple! Seven winners later, Perkiomaki found himself tied at 10! Sadly, his hot streak couldn’t maintain. A few hard fought points brought the boys to 13 all, but Garcia proved too much, winning the fourth game 15-13
Graham Bassett bt. Rory Pennell 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (36m)
The match started off with Pennell making a few unforced errors in the first game giving Bassett enough room to capitalize with a quick lead. A gritty comeback in the third by Pennell not enough to keep Bassett’s momentum going with the American eventually winning the fourth to claim the match.
Chris Binnie bt. Michael McCue 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3 (49m)
In the final match of the day, Trinity alum Chris Binnie (JAM) took on young Canadian Mike McCue. From the get go, Binnie was asserting himself at the T. A combination of hard hitting and some aesthetic nicks gave Binnie the lead in both the first and second, but McCue fought back in both games. Despite Mike’s best effort keeping the score tight, Binnie still controlled play, winning the first two games 11-9 and 11-7. It looked as if Binnie would be off it three, as he jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third. But McCue starting playing a very conservative game, keeping his shots tight and deep. Binnie tried to hit a few winners from the back, but McCue pounced on every ball and returned the shots with vigor. Slowly the lead slipped, until McCue managed to grab momentum and pull out a surprise 12-10 win in the third. The retrieving finally got to McCue in the fourth; a half-step slower than before, Mike simply couldn’t stay with Binnie’s pace. Despite even rallies, Chris was simply too good in the end, winning the fourth 11-3.
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