Ryder Boosts Home Interest In Canary Wharf Classic

Chris Ryder boosted English interest in the ISS Canary Wharf Classic after coming through today's qualifying finals of the 5-star PSA World Tour squash event in its seventh year in London.

The 29-year-old world No40 from Leamington Spa battled for 56 minutes to overcome France's Mathieu Castagnet 12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6.

The 2006 World University champion's reward is a clash with top seed and fellow countryman Nick Matthew in the first round at Canary Wharf's spectacular East Wintergarden venue tomorrow.

Remarkably, the two 29-year-olds will be celebrating their first meeting on the PSA World Tour. Favourite Matthew, the world No2 from Sheffield, will be hoping to lift the Canary Wharf crown for the first time in his first tournament appearance on home soil since winning his third British National Championship title in February.

Ryder will be joined in the main draw by fellow qualifiers Simon Rosner, Nicolas Mueller and Davide Bianchetti - German number one Rosner and top Swiss player Mueller earning their debuts in the event while top-ranked Italian Bianchetti will be appearing in the main draw for the fourth year in a row.

Mueller, the 20-year-old world No42 from Hirzel, near Zurich, fought back from match ball down to win a fifth game tie-break against Englishman Chris Simpson, from Guernsey. The match lasted 73 minutes and Simpson, ranked 48 in the world, came desperately close to beat the Swiss number one before going down 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 3-11, 13-11.

Simon Rosner became the first qualifier to reach the main draw after winning a bruising, brutal 70-minute battle against Hungarian Mark Krajcsak. It was a high-quality contest with some dazzling shots throughout, from which the world No35 from Paderborn ultimately prevailed 13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9.

The often volatile Davide Bianchetti gained the final place in the main draw with a disciplined and stylish display against Julien Balbo of France, winning 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 after 50 minutes.