Gilly & Gordon Lead US Hopes Into Richmond Qualifying Finals

New York's Christopher Gordon boosted US hopes of added interest in the main draw of the $93,750 North American Open Squash Championship when he won through to the qualifying finals of the second PSA Super Series 2010 event of the year at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

The 23-year-old US number three was too strong and sharp for Fernando Lopez in the first qualifying round, beating the Mexican 11-6, 11-6, 11-4.

Gordon will now face Ryan Cuskelly, the in-form Australian who arrives in Richmond to compete in his seventh PSA Tour event of the year, having already reached two Tour finals.

Philadelphia's Gilly Lane, the second highest-ranked player in the US, ranked 59 in the world, received a first round bye and will now take on Mexican Cesar Salazar for a place in the main draw. Salazar, the world No67 from San Luis Potosi, had to save several game balls in the third against Andrew Wagih Shoukry before defeating the Egyptian 11-9, 13-11, 15-13 in 50 minutes.

Canadian David Phillips had the toughest first round battle, having to fight back from two games down before prevailing 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6 against Lekgotla Mosope, from Botswana. Mosope led 8-5 in the third game when a loose shot hit the tin. This proved to be the turning point for the 29-year-old from Montreal who gained the upper hand on the way earning a berth in the qualifying finals, where he will meet Australian Scott Arnold.

1st qualifying round:
Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) bt Sean Steinour (USA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (16m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt Ehimen Joseph Ehalen (NGR) 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 11-5 (54m)
Shaun le Roux (ENG) bt Lazarus Chiluba Chilufya (RSA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (22m)
Bernardo Samper (COL) bt Willy Clark (USA) 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 (20m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Luke Forster (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (25m)
David Phillips (CAN) bt Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6 (57m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) 13-11, 11-4, 11-8 (47m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (37m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-9, 13-11, 15-13 (50m)
Steve Finitsis (AUS) bt Jamie Crombie (USA) 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10 (46m)