Knight Moves On In Maryland

Unseeded New Zealander Martin Knight pulled off an impressive upset in the first round of the National Capital Open when he beat fourth-seeded Mexican Arturo Salazar to reach the quarter-finals of the $15,000 PSA Tour squash event in Bethesda in the US state of Maryland.

The Wellington-born 25-year-old world No72 defeated Salazar - ranked 27 places higher - 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 and will now face compatriot Campbell Grayson in an all-Kiwi quarter-final.

Grayson, the No8 seed from Auckland, recovered from a game down to beat Australian qualifier Zac Alexander 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-8.

But Canadian David Phillips became the lowest-ranked player to make the last eight when he upset Australian Ryan Cuskelly, the No7 seed, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-3 in a 92-minute marathon.

Phillips, a qualifier from Montreal, will now face Czech number one Jan Koukal, the No3 seed, for a place in the semis.

1st round:
[1] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [Q] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (44m)
[5] Liam Kenny (IRL) bt [Q] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (64m)
[3] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Stephane Galifi (FRA) 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (70m)
[Q] David Phillips (CAN) bt [7] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-3 (92m)
[8] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [Q] Zac Alexander (AUS) 5-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 (54m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt [4] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (42m)
[6] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (28m)
[2] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-3