Illingworth Progresses In US Open Qualifiers

Julian Illingworth, the top-ranked squash player in the USA, defeated Regardt Schonborn 11-9, 11-5, 11-2, in the first round of qualifying play at the 2007 US Open to become the only North American to progress through to the qualifying finals of the PSA Super Series Platinum event being staged in New York City for the first time since 1991.

After struggling in the first game, the world No52 from Portland used a three-minute timeout after injuring his leg during the second game to regroup and finish off the South African in 43 minutes.

The American will face Belgian Stefan Casteleyn, who won a tightly-contested match over Ireland's Liam Kenny 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) in 71 minutes.

Australia's Scott Arnold also pulled off a notable upset, beating England's Bradley Ball 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-10 (4-2), 11-5 in 56 minutes. The 21-year-old from Brisbane will make his debut in a Super Series event if he beats his next opponent Ritwik Bhattacharya, the Indian number two who defeated Canada's Shawn Delierre 11-9, 11-6, 10-11 (1-3), 9-11, 11-4.

The top match of the day featured England's Stacey Ross who, after dropping the first two games, needed to call on all of his experience to edge out India's Siddharth Suchde in a five-game thriller, 1-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, before a standing room only crowd.

1st qualifying round:
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3 (58m)
Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 (74m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Yasser El Halaby (EGY) 11-10 (2-0), 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (45m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-10 (3-1), 11-4, 11-4 (45m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Jacques Swanepoel (RSA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (28m)
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 1-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (55m)
Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (71m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Regardt Schonborn (RSA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-2 (43m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (36m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-3, 11-6, 11-9 (37m)
Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Rob Chen (USA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (23m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Clive Leach (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (47m)
Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-9, 11-6, 10-11 (1-3), 9-11, 11-4 (54m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-10 (4-2), 11-5 (56m)
Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 2-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 (48m)
Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY) 11-2, 11-2, 11-3 (27m)