Stefan Steps Up To Claim Quarter-Final Slot In LA

Making a rare appearance on the PSA Tour since retiring two years ago, Belgian Stefan Casteleyn upset fourth seed Yasser El Halaby in the first round of the Scott Wealth Management Open to secure an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the inaugural $20,000 squash event at The Sports Club in Los Angeles, USA.

Now based in LA and the organiser of this new PSA event, Casteleyn twice came from behind to overcome his opponent - winner of last week's Oklahoma City Open - 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 9-11, 11-6, 11-4.

The 23-year-old Egyptian showed himself composed and confident from the very start and attacked with slow cross-court kill shots and a full array of attacking shots that had Stefan Casteleyn digging deep and calling upon all of his experience as a seasoned pro - not too long ago ranked seven in the world.

"Casteleyn's quick boast at the front and his backhand drop shot proved especially effective and were irretrievable at crucial moments in the game, even by someone as fast and quick to react as El Halaby," said event spokesman Oliver Berghof. "To the very end El Halaby challenged for the game. The scoreline notwithstanding, this was a match whose outcome was never assured, keeping the audience spellbound with the exceptional quality of its squash."

Casteleyn, 34 and winner of his 13th Belgian national title earlier this year, now meets Germany's Simon Rosner, the 20-year-old No7 seed who beat Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet 11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8.

Seasoned campaigner Alex Gough also safely made it through to the last eight. The event favourite had to overcome fellow Welshman Jethro Binns, a qualifier, prevailing 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-9.

1st round:
[1] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [Q] Jethro Binns (WAL) 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-9
[6] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [Q] Tony James (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 10-11 (1-3), 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-7, 11-6
[5] Liam Kenny (IRL) bt Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5
[7] Simon Rosner (GER) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8
Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) bt [4] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 9-11, 11-6, 11-4
[8] Stacey Ross (ENG) bt [Q] Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Jonathan Harford (ENG) 10-11 (0-2), 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7