Grayson & Temple Upset Australians In Open

31 Jul 2008

England's Robbie Temple and New Zealander Campbell Grayson took out a pair of Australians in today's first round of the Clare Valley Australian Open to claim places in the quarter-finals of the men's $26,000 PSA Tour squash event in its second year at the Valleys Lifestyle Centre in Clare in South Australia.

Top seed Kasey Brown led a trio of home players through to the last eight of the women's $16,000 WISPA World Tour event in a bid to win the title for the second time in three years.

Temple, 21, from London, caused the first upset of the tournament when he ousted seventh-seeded Queenslander Bradley Hindle 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.

"Brad started well, his length was a lot better than mine in the first game but after that it was much better," said the Englishman. "There were patches where I lost it but I gradually got on top of him by attacking short, which is what I like to do."

Campbell Grayson, a qualifier from Auckland, caused the second upset when he beat sixth seed Ryan Cuskelly in three hotly contested games 11-6, 11-9, 13-11.

The Kiwi was more consistent than his higher-ranked opponent and kept his composure in the second and third games as Cuskelly began to argue with the officials.

"I think it helped me because I was able to concentrate on what I was doing, and I realised he was getting rattled," Grayson said.

World number five David Palmer showed he meant business when he despatched New Zealander Martin Knight in the opening round. The Boston-based Australian was tested by qualifier Knight before winning 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.

The four-time British Open and twice World Open champion has never won the Australian Open and said he was determined to get his name on the famous trophy this year.

"I wouldn't have come this far if I didn't intend to win it," said the 32-year-old Australian number one. "I've gone close a few times and had match points, but never seemed to finish it off.
"It wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't win, but it would be good to get my name on the trophy this year."

Kasey Brown's bid for a second Australian Open title got off to a good start when she beat Hong Kong's Joey Chan 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.

Brown, from Taree in New South Wales, won the Australian Open in 2006 and finished runner-up to New Zealander Shelley Kitchen in 2007.

The 22-year-old now goes on to a tougher assignment against fellow Australian Amelia Pittock, who beat Victorian qualifier Melody Francis 11-8, 11-6, 11-5.

"It was a bit scrappy so it was good to just get on there and get through the first round," Brown said. "Being left-handed, she's got a good forehand so I was a bit wary about it. I kept going to her backhand but I probably need to play a bit straighter."

Brown said she would have to lift her game against Pittock, who won her past tournament at the South Australian Open.

Men's 1st round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
[8] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) bt [Q] Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (28m)
[4] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt [Q] Justin Beard (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (35m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt [7] Bradley Hindle (AUS) 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (43m)
[5] Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Steve Finitsis (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (44m)
[3] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Mike Corren (AUS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-8, 14-12 (38m)
[Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [6] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 (56m)
[2] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (43m)

Women's 1st round:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (29m)
[5] Amelia Pittock (AUS) bt [Q] Melody Francis (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (21m)
[4] Christina Mak (HKG) bt [Q] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (29m)
[8] Joelle King (NZL) bt Jenna Gates (ENG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 (21m)
[7] Annie Au (HKG) bt Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (16m)
[3] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Adel Weir (RSA) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (27m)
[6] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [Q] Shin Nga Leung (HKG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (22m)
[2] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt [Q] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) 11-5, 11-0, 11-4 (17m)