Ball Survives Saurav Scrap In Virginia

Bradley Ball survived the toughest battle to earn a pace in the main draw of the Virginia Pro Championship when he prevailed in a five-game marathon against India's fast-rising star Saurav Ghosal in the qualifying finals of the 5-star PSA Tour event in Virginia, USA.

In the longest match of the day, the Englishman beat Ghosal 11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-5 in 65 minutes - to earn a first round clash with Egypt's Mohammed Abbas, the No7 seed.

Australian Dan Jenson had to make full use of his experience to hold off the challenge of young Englishman Tom Richards. His 11-9, 7-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 victory in 50 minutes takes the 31-year-old from Adelaide through to an all-Aussie clash with Anthony Ricketts, the top seed from Sydney.

Fresh from his appearance in the final of the Windy City Open earlier in the month in Chicago - where he beat fellow Australian David Palmer - Ricketts is expected to face second-seeded Englishman Lee Beachill in the final.

Qualifying finals:
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (30m)
Dan Jenson (AUS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 (50m)
Bradley Ball (ENG) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-5 (65m)
Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt Amr Mansi (EGY) 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 (56m)