Beard & Cardwell In Australian Open Upsets

Australians Justin Beard and Sarah Cardwell produced notable shocks in today's qualifying finals of the Clare Valley Australian Open to earn places in the men's and women's main draws, respectively, of the long-established squash event in its second year at the Valleys Lifestyle Centre in Clare in South Australia.

Beard, from Adelaide, beat Max Lee of Hong Kong to move into the main draw of the $26,000 PSA Tour event for the first time. Ranked 224 in the world - more than 100 places below Lee - the 21-year-old outplayed his opponent in the closing stages of a tight match to win 4-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7.

"It was completely unexpected," said Beard. "The first game he just dominated me and I was running all over the place, but I slowly got into it. I wasn't getting any length on the ball and he took full advantage."

Beard, who rated his qualifying win as the best of his career, has drawn fourth-seeded compatriot Aaron Frankcomb in the first round.

Rising Queensland star Zac Alexander caused the day's other upset when he beat another Hong Kong player, Dick Lau. The 19-year-old from Brisbane, ranked 126 in the world, lost the first game but came back to win 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9.

Martin Knight was one of two New Zealanders to qualify - and now meets Australian favourite David Palmer, the world No5, in the opening round.

"I'll just go out and give it my best and we'll see what happens," said Knight, who has played Palmer once before, in Germany four months ago, where he lost in straight games.

Sarah Cardwell made the main draw of the women's $16,000 WISPA World Tour event when she surprised top qualifying seed Jackie Laurenson of New Zealand.

The 16-year-old daughter of former Australian great Vicki Cardwell, Sarah slugged it out with Laurenson before winning 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9.

Her reward for qualifying is a first round clash with fourth seed Christina Mak of Hong Kong on the all-glass court.

"It's my most important win," Cardwell said. "To qualify for the main draw was pretty much my main goal for the tournament, so I'm pretty happy with it. I've had a hit on the glass court before, but this will be my first match ever on an all glass court."

Cardwell was joined in the main draw by Hong Kong's Shin Nga Leung, Queenslander Zoe Petrovansky and Melbourne's Melody Francis.

Men's qualifying finals:
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (36m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt Steven Robinson (AUS) 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4 (39m)
Justin Beard (AUS) bt Max Lee (HKG) 4-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7 (41m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Joshua Greenfield (NZL) 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10 (42m)

Women's qualifying finals:
Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Jackie Laurenson (NZL) 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (38m)
Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) bt Maggy Marshall (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 (23m)
Melody Francis (AUS) bt Bonny Wu (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (19m)
Shin Nga Leung (HKG) bt Kimberley Bessell (AUS) 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (29m)