Butt Withdrawal Boosts Local Chances In Irish Open

The late withdrawal of Pakistan's Yasir Butt has paved the way for young Irishman Arthur Gaskin to take an unexpected place as lucky loser in the main draw of the Irish Open at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.

Gaskin, a much-improved player had a great struggle with England's Sam Miller in the qualifying finals, holding the 24-year-old from Warwickshire to two closely-contested games before going down 11-9 11-8 11-2. Gaskin joined two other Irishman thwarted in their qualifying finals bids - before winning the 'Lucky Loser' honour to face Malaysia's top seed Ong Beng Hee in the first round of the PSA Tour event.

In a fiercely-contested all-English battle in the women's qualifying finals, Kirsty McPhee twice came from behind to edge out fellow Yorkshire woman Lauren Siddall 8-10 10-9 2-9 9-7 9-0 to earn a first round fixture with compatriot Stephanie Brind, the third seed.

Men's qualifying finals:
Scott Handley (ENG) bt Brian Byrne (IRL) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Sam Miller (ENG) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-9, 11-8, 11-2
Sherif Moustafa Kamel (EGY) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 11-7
Laurent Elriani (FRA) bt Neal Murphy (IRL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

Women's qualifying finals:
Jenna Gates (ENG) bt Laurence Bois (FRA) 9-7, 9-4, 9-5
Jana Smeralova (CZE) bt Orla Noom (NED) 10-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-2
Margriet Huisman (NED) bt Daniela Schumann (GER) 9-4, 9-4, 4-9, 4-9, 9-2
Kirsty McPhee (ENG) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 8-10, 10-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-0