Ramy Ashour In PSA Double At Dayton Open

Egyptian teenager Ramy Ashour collected his second PSA Tour title of the year when he beat Scotland's John White in the men's final of the EBS Dayton Open in Ohio, USA.

In an electrifying five-game match in front of a capacity gallery at the Dayton Squash Center, the experienced White, the No4 seed, took the opening two games. A repeat of his victory over Ashour in last year's final seemed on the cards.

But, after a tentative start, 19-year-old Ashour changed his tactics and concentrated on moving White, the 33-year-old world No8, around the court. Once he created openings, the youngster's confidence was there for his tremendous racquet skills to shine and he applied the pressure that wore White down.

Once Ashour got the lead at 6-5, that game was his. The fourth game was a war as each player knew what was at stake. Back and forth scoring, with incredible rallies, saw Ashour up 8-5 before White ran off four straight points to take the lead at 9-8. Ashour tied it and nine-all and the crowd was on edge: at 10-all, Ashour won the tie-breaker 2-0.

The players traded points until two-all in the fifth game - and that was it! Ashour reeled off eight straight rallies with an incredible display of absolute determination to get every ball, and precision shot-making that left White diving around the court in an all-out effort to stay in the match.

After 72 minutes, Ashour secured the 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0), 11-2 victory which netted him his second title this year, after winning his maiden PSA Super Series crown at the PACE Canadian Classic in Toronto two weeks ago.

Gracious in defeat, White thanked the sponsors, EBS Asset Management and all the patrons and spectators on hand - and told Ramy to "quit coming to Dayton!"

Tournament organiser Charlie Johnson added: "Ramy was ecstatic with the third PSA tournament win of his career and thanked all in Dayton for making this his PSA tournament "home" - and vowed to come back next year to defend."

Final:
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] John White (SCO) 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0), 11-2 (72m)