12:58 pm
16 May 2024

Qualifier Hinds Powers To Pittsburgh Prize

9 Nov 2009

Englishman Joel Hinds scored his maiden PSA Tour squash title in sensational style in the USA - fighting through the qualifiers, and then the whole field of the Super Satellite event at Rivers Club in Pittsburgh, to claim the Pittsburgh Open trophy.

The 22-year-old from Derby - at 198, the lowest-ranked player in the event - also joins an illustrious group of former winners of this established Tour title, including world number ones Jonathon Power of Canada, Lee Beachill of England, and Thierry Lincou of France.

Hinds made his major breakthrough in the opening round, where he despatched top seed Christopher Gordon, the world No81 from the USA, in straight games.

Playing in only his fifth Tour event, Hinds went on to defeat two fellow qualifiers before meeting Bernardo Samper, the second seed from Colombia, in the final.

Twice the Englishman came back from behind after 27-year-old Samper, based in New York, took game leads.

But the Colombian made too many errors in the decider as Hinds romped through to take his first PSA title 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5.

Final:
[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [2] Bernardo Samper (COL) 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5