Tarek Takes Out Karwalski In Vancouver

Last year's runner-up Tarek Momen took a step closer towards a second successive appearance in the final of the Comfort Inn Open when he beat Australian Matthew Karwalski in four games in the first round of the $20,000 PSA Tour squash event at Evergreen Squash Club in Vancouver, Canada.

The 21-year-old top seed from Egypt won 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 in 41 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with another Australian, seventh seed Ryan Cuskelly who also took four games to overcome Canadian qualifier Andrew McDougall.

The tournament's second seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez had an even rougher ride from Scotland's Alan Clyne. The 23-year-old from Edinburgh took the first two games and led 8-5 in the third only to have Colombian Rodriguez play some magnificent squash to even the game at 9-9 and eventually win 11-9.

Rodriguez won the fourth convincingly as errors seemed to be creeping into the Scot's game. The dramatic decider saw the score reach nine-all before Rodriguez won the concluding points to take the match 11-13, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 after 73 minutes.

1st round:
[1] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 (41m)
[7] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (51m)
[3] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Viktor Berg (CAN) 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (26m)
[5] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [Q] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
[8] Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Laurence Delasaux (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 (46m)
[4] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt [Q] Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-5, 11-13, 13-11, 11-9 (53m)
[6] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Robin Clarke (CAN) 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (56m)
[2] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-13, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (73m)