Khan Boosts Home Hopes In Houston Open

Unseeded Shahjahan Khan provided unexpected home interest in the second round of the Houston Open after overcoming seeded Frenchman Lucas Serme in a five-game marathon on day one of action in the PSA World Tour Gold event - the first Tour event of the New Year - at Houston Squash Club in Texas.

US No.1 Khan had to wait until the end of the day's play before getting his chance to show what he could do in front of his home crowd, as he got the better of world No.33 Serme in an 81-minute battle.

Serme started strongly, coming from behind to win the first game on a tie-break, but Khan fought back to open up a 2/1 lead.

The Frenchman was able to recover to take the fourth to send the clash into a decider, where Khan then had to save match balls to come from 10-8 down - winning four straight points to claim the 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10 victory which provide US interest in the last 16.

"Credit to Lucas, he fought well! I thought he was done in the fourth but again all respect to him as an experienced player. We are good friends, he gave respect. Last time we played four games and it was longer than this so I knew what would happen and I was mentally fit today," Khan said after the match.

"It was physical, but it was also mental playing a good friend. My coaches, including Ong Beng Hee, he has been really helpful! Bridget from US Squash, Adam and all these guys. My mental game is all because of one guy, a close friend of my late uncle. He has been really helpful.

"To be honest, because of lockdown, everyone was in the same boat. I was really depressed, I didn't know what was going to happen and I had some issues personally, but I feel like I fought well today."

Earlier on in the day, Germany's Raphael Kandra featured in the first Tour match of the New Year, when he came up against Sebastien Bonmalais - and it was the Frenchman who held the early lead after some pulsating squash.

However, after finding himself two games down, Kandra was able to switch the momentum back in his favour, and he came through to win the contest in a deciding fifth game to book his spot in the second round, where he will face world No.1 Ali Farag.

"I thought I had a plan in the beginning. I wasn't playing too bad, I was leading 7-1 in the first game but couldn't control my game plan. I was overwhelmed, he fought back and I had no plan to fight against it so I just let him go in the first game." Kandra explained.

"The second was similar, I was leading and he fought back and he really wanted to win that game and for me I was missing that extra force to go though so I was 2/0 down quite quickly. But I thought to myself this is not how I want to play or start the new year and I fought back, not sure how and I got into his head a little and experience makes a big difference.

"I said to him in the end that he played well and gave me a good match but of course he's not happy losing a match from 2/0 up, but overall I'm pleased with the win.

Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller also required a deciding game to make it through his first round clash in Houston, as he got the better USA's Faraz Khan, while Egypt's Mohamed Elsherbini went the distance as well, in his battle with USA's Todd Harrity, eventually coming out the victor.

Due to the withdrawal of world No.3, and the tournament's No.2 seed, Mohamed Elshorbagy, in the hour prior to the action beginning, there will be a 'Lucky Loser' in the second round, to take the place of the 'Beast from Alexandria'. That draw will be made early Wednesday morning, ahead of second round action starting.