Lavigne Outlasts White In Village Open Thriller

In a dramatic first round clash in the Village Open in the USA, French qualifier Renan Lavigne outlasted hard-hitting Scotsman John White to produce the only upset of the day in the new PSA Tour event being staged at the Printing House Fitness & Squash Club in New York.

The Village Open is the fulfilment of the dream of three young men - Sean Gibbon, Jerry Ouderkirk and Robert Osborne - who wanted to host a not-for-profit, world-class squash tournament in New York City. The $85,000 5-star event has attracted nine of the world's top 20 players - and will raise significant proceeds and awareness for CitySquash, the premier inner-city youth squash programme in the Metropolitan area of New York.

John White, the Philadelphia-based fourth seed, was leading the US interest in the event. But despite leading after the first and third games, the former world number one was unable to shake off the Frenchman.

Lavigne, the 31-year-old world No33 from Marseille, forced the fifth-game decider into a tie-break - and, after saving three match balls, prevailed to claim his shock 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-10 (5-3) victory.

The Frenchman now meets fifth-seeded Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar after the UK-based 24-year-old from Sarawak beat Julian Illingworth, the US National Champion, 11-10 (4-2), 11-9, 11-4.

Appearing in his first event since winning the Dunlop British Open title last month - thereby becoming the first home-grown Englishman to win the prestigious event since 1939 - Nick Matthew had an easy ride into the last eight.

After winning the opening game 11-4 against Shahid Zaman, the 26-year-old No2 seed from Sheffield was awarded the match when the Pakistani qualifier withdrew as a result of an injury.

Matthew will now take on Finland's Olli Tuominen after the seventh seed from Helsinki beat Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema 11-10 (2-0), 11-5, 11-5.

Australia's top seed David Palmer was fully extended in his first round match by Shahier Razik - but the former world No1 from New South Wales ultimately prevailed 11-10 (2-0), 7-11, 11-9, 11-4 against the unseeded Canadian to claim his place in the quarter-finals - where he will face Egypt's eighth seed Wael El Hindi.

1st round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-10 (2-0), 7-11, 11-9, 11-4
[8] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [Q] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-7
[3] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8
[6] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [Q] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-10 (4-2), 11-1 ret.
[5] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-10 (4-2), 11-9, 11-4
[Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [4] John White (SCO) 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-10 (5-3)
[7] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-10 (2-0), 11-5, 11-5
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-4 ret.