Ryding Rocks Tuominen In Bermuda Masters Opener

Graham Ryding made up for the absence of compatriot Jonathon Power, the defending champion who announced his surprise retirement from the game on the eve of the event, by claiming an unexpected Canadian place in the second round of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters when he upset 13th seed Olli Tuominen on the opening day's play in the PSA Super Series Platinum event presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance.

Ryding, the 30-year-old world No19 from Toronto beat the higher-ranked Finn 11-6, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-6 in 51 minutes to set up a second round meeting with fifth seed James Willstrop. The Englishman put paid to an all-Canadian clash by beating Torontonian Shahier Razik 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.

"I'm very pleased to win because Shahier is very dangerous on a bouncy court like that one," said Willstrop of the match played, not on the all-glass court in the City of Hamilton, but on one of the Bermuda Squash Rackets Association's conventional plaster courts in the Parish of Devonshire. "The court doesn't suit my game and I'm happy to have it over and done with."

Scotland's John White had barely stepped off the tarmac at Bermuda's International Airport after a long journey from New Zealand, before stepping on court against the ever-improving young Egyptian Mohammed Abbas, who displayed both his deft touch and foot speed around the court. White, the ninth seed, fell 2/1 down before finally hitting his stride, racing through the final two games to record an 11-7, 8-11, 10-11 (1-3), 11-1, 11-9 victory in 72 minutes.

World Open Champion Amr Shabana, the top seed from Egypt, played imperiously during his encounter with England's Joey Barrington, cruising to a comfortable 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 win - as did Stewart Boswell of Australia with an almost identical 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 win against England's Bradley Ball.

It was not the best of days for England's young players, as Adrian Grant lost 11-3, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6 to France's former World Open champion Thierry Lincou.

But last-minute replacement Mark Chaloner, the world No36 from England, put up a spirited fight against in-form ninth seed Nick Matthew, taking the first game in a tie-break after fellow Englishman Matthew had game ball at 10-9.

It looked to be all over when Matthew took the next two games, before Chaloner staged another great recovery from 9-7 down in the fourth to serve for the game at 11-10. One unfortunate unforced shot in the tin gave the impetus back to Matthew who played two immaculate drop nicks in the front left corner and it was game over 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 11-6, 11-10 (3-1) in 58 minutes.

1st round:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (33m)
[9] John White (SCO) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-7, 8-11, 10-11 (1-3), 11-1, 11-9 (72m)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8 (61m)
Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-6, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-6 (51m)
[4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-3, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6 (55m)
[15] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (17m)
[8] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 11-6, 11-10 (3-1) (58m)
[12] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Peter Barker (ENG) 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (64m)