Corren Captures Historic Top End Title

Australian veteran Mike Corren made squash history at the Top End Open in Darwin on home soil when he became the first 40-year-old ever to win a PSA World Tour title.

It was after notching up his 70th appearance in a Tour final since 1996 - 10 more than his nearest rival on today's PSA Tour - that the second-seeded South Australian defeated Hong Kong's No4 seed Tsz Fung Yip 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 in the climax of the PSA Challenger 5 event at Darwin Squash Centre to register his historic achievement.

Tsz, a 20-year-old ranked outside the world top 130, made his breakthrough in the semi-finals when he upset top-seeded Czech Jan Koukal, ranked 67 in the world, to reach a second successive Tour final.

But the day belonged to Corren - the world No.77 from Adelaide who was already far-and-away the oldest player to win Tour events, with four to his name over the previous 12 months.

The latest - his first at the Top End Open after finishing as runner-up in 2012 and 2013 - brings up the 48th Tour title of his career, 14 more than nearest rival Ramy Ashour!

"This win means a lot to me for many reasons," said Corren later. "Firstly because it has been about seven months since my last success and - let's be frank - I'm not getting any younger!

"Also, I have never won in Darwin and the conditions here are very challenging: my last four opponents were sensational movers and athletes and, as I am not, it is very satisfying to find the solution to those 'issues'.

"Lastly, to win an event at 40 I find pleasing - mostly because most folk say it can't be done!

"That aside, I just aim to continue enjoying every moment whilst it is available to me."