US Hope Gordon Cast Out By Castagnet

Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet dashed US hopes of additional home interest in the main draw of the NetSuite Open in San Francisco when he beat the US national champion Christopher Gordon in the first qualifying round of the PSA World Tour International 70 squash event in its third year in California.

Held at three different venues in downtown San Francisco - and almost concurrently with the massive jubilation of the city at USA's come-from-behind 9-8 America's Cup victory by Team Oracle over Emirates NZ - the matches unfolded along expected lines.

But world No28 Castagnet, the highest-ranked player in the qualifying draw, had to battle for almost an hour at the University Club to overcome New Yorker Gordon, ranked 16 places lower, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4.

The 26-year-old from Aix-en-Provence will now face Mohd Ali Anwar Reda for a place in the main draw. The Egyptian suppressed veteran Canadian tour player Shahier Razik 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 in 65 minutes.

At the Olympic Club, the PSA Tour regulars tore through the locals: Finland's Henrik Mustonen defeated the club's Australian pro Jeffrey Young 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 in 17 minutes and Scotland's Alan Clyne despatched Los Gatos California squash pro and Guernsey Commonwealth Games star Gareth Webber 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 in 22 minutes.

At the Bay Club, famous for hosting the North American Open and other previous PSA tour titles, the four-match evening started off with a decisive win by Canada's Shawn Delierre over England's Lewis Walters 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 in 50 minutes.

Following on before the full house crowd, Egypt's Marwan Elshorbagy knocked out Malaysia's rising number three Muhd Asyraf Azan 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 in 31 minutes.

Newly transplanted English pro Charlie Johnson was no match for Gregoire Marche as the Frenchman won handily 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 in 37 minutes.

But there was English success later when Adrian Waller ran through Cesar Salazar of Mexico 11-3, 11-4, 11-8 in 40 minutes.

Qualifying finals line-up:
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Henrik Mustonen (FIN)