Harrity Boosts Home Hopes In New York

Reigning US national collegiate squash champion Todd Harrity posted the only upset in the first round of qualifying play of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions when he defeated world-ranked Mexican Cesar Salazar in four games to reach the qualifying finals of the first PSA World Series event of the year in New York.

Harrity, an unranked 21-year-old from Philadelphia, stunned Salazar, who celebrated a career-high world No50 ranking this month, 11-7, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10 in 50 minutes.

The Princeton University junior will now have to defeat Stephen Coppinger of South Africa to make it into the first round of the main draw and onto the glass court in Grand Central Terminal. Coppinger, the world No30 from Cape Town, eliminated Yasir Butt of Pakistan in a hard-fought four-game battle during which he eked out two tiebreak game wins to keep his hopes alive for a turn on the iconic Tournament of Champions court under the chandelier in Grand Central.

Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez's retrieving style of play wore down Aussie Wade Johnstone who was unable to convert a game ball in the second game to tie the match. After pulling out to a 9-0 lead in the third, Rodriguez claimed victory with an 11-3 win.

Rodriguez will next face Amr Khaled Khalifa of Egypt who eliminated India's Ramit Tandon. Khalifa's compatriot Mohammed Abbas had his hands full fending off England's Joe Lee, who was able to retrieve enough of his wily opponent's crafty shots to win the first game 12-10. Abbas's experience ultimately carried the day as he closed out the next three games 11-8, 11-8, 11-6.

Rounding out the trio of Egyptians who hope to join their seven countrymen in the main draw is Marwan El Shorbagy who was taken to five games by England's Adrian Waller. The 18-year-old reigning World Junior champion moved one step closer to joining older brother Mohamed in the main draw when he came back after being down 1/2 to win the fourth and fifth games, 11-8, 11-7.

El Shorbagy will face New Zealand's Martin Knight, who ousted Canada's Shawn Delierre in three games. Also moving on with straight games victories are Ryan Cuskelly of Australia, Max Lee of Hong Kong, Malaysian Ong Beng Hee, Scotland's Alan Clyne, Englishman Chris Ryder, Siddharth Suchde of India, and Frenchmen Gregoire Marche and Mathieu Castagnet.

Qualifying finals line-up:
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) v Martin Knight (NZL)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Max Lee (HKG)
Todd Harrity (USA) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Chris Ryder (ENG) v Zac Alexander (AUS)
Siddharth Suchde (IND) v Mohammed Abbas (EGY)
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)

Event website: www.tocsquash.com

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