Brownell Comeback Boosts Home Interest In US Open Second Round

USA's Timothy Brownell has reached the second round of the US Open for the first time in his career after fighting back from two games down to oust world No.28 Dimitri Steinmann in the opening day of action in the PSA World Tour Platinum event at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

Brownell showed impressive powers of recovery after he wiped out an early lead from Steinmann to send the match into a decider. However, mid-way through the fifth there were some ugly scenes as a frustrated Steinmann barged into Brownell in the middle of the court, sending the world No.50 sprawling.

Brownell avoided injury but Steinmann's outburst was punished with the referee calling a conduct game against the Swiss player to bringing the match to a sudden end.

"It seemed like he was getting a bit frustrated at the end there," said Brownell afterwards.

"We've all been there but he took it a step too far. You can't put another player's career at risk, he could easily have taken me out for the season. I'm happy that neither of us are hurt, I wish him the best and hopefully he can get his emotions in check."

Brownell will take on USA No.1 Shahjahan Khan in the next round, with Khan winning 3/1 against Egypt's Karim El Hammamy to reach the last 32 of the PSA World Tour Platinum event for the first time.

In the women's event, Marina Stefanoni was the sole US player to make it through to round two after the world No.57 upset world No.35 Mariam Metwally in straight games. The 20-year-old from Darien will take on 2017 US Open champion Nour El Tayeb for a place in the last 16.