Gordon Keeps Home Hopes Alive In Virginia

American Christopher Gordon kept home hopes flying when he staged a thrilling comeback to beat England's higher-ranked Adrian Waller in the first qualifying round of the Davenport North American Open, the second PSA World Series squash event of the year, in Virginia.

Trailing by two games to one, the 26-year-old from New York hit back to win the fourth game and then clinched a dramatic fifth by a 12-10 margin after 80 minutes of brutal squash on the new courts at the Atlantic Coast Athletic Club in Short Pump, Richmond.

The qualifying finals of the championship, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Richmond, move to the glass court at the Westwood Club in Richmond - where Gordon meets Australia's Zac Alexander, who overcame Fred Reid of Canada in just 21 minutes.

Another Canadian who was dismissed in straight games was Andrew Schnell, who suffered traumatic travel difficulties because of a North American blizzard. After several missed flights, he arrived just in time to lose to England's Joe Lee in 36 minutes.

An all-Australian clash ended abruptly when world No29 Ryan Cuskelly was forced to retire against Matthew Karwalski because of an ankle injury.

Karwalski, ranked 56 in the world, meets US-based Pakistani Yasir Ali Butt, who fought back from two games to one down to beat higher-ranked South African Shaun le Roux.

France enjoyed a double success when Mathieu Castagnet beat England's Robbie Temple in straight games, and Gregoire Marche removed Sergio Lopez of Mexico in just 21 minutes.

Denmark's Kristian Frost Olesen battled for almost an hour to upset New Zealander Martin Knight 12-10, 11-7, 11-3 to earn a surprise place in the qualifying finals.

Campbell Grayson ensured that there will be Kiwi interest in the final qualifying round, however, when the 26-year-old from Auckland beat Czech number one Jan Koukal 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

Qualifying finals line-up:
Joe Lee (ENG) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
Siddharth Suchde (IND) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
Christopher Gordon (USA) v Zac Alexander (AUS)
Leo Au (HKG) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) v Yasir Ali Butt (PAK)

For further information, visit the official event website www.naosquash.com

For all the latest Tour news: www.psaworldtour.com