Squash Tough Loss
29 Oct 2009
Disappointment on both sides of the border
There was double disappointment for Australian squash players in North America with Victoria’s Wade Johnstone and Sydney-sider Scott Arnold (AIS-Scholarship) both losing semi-finals in their respective tournaments.
Johnstone went down to top seeded American Gilly Lane in the Madison Open in Wisconsin, while hours later Arnold was upset by English qualifier Laurence Delasaux in the Niagara Classic in Canada.
Former top 50 player Delasaux, who beat Queensland’s Zac Alexander (AIS – Scholarship) in the quarter-finals, made it an Aussie double when he beat Arnold to reach the final to show his comeback was right on track.
He confirmed that when he beat Canada’s Robin Clarke 11-6, 11-5, 11-1 to claim the title.
Johnstone battled hard against top seed Lane in Wisconsin but was always on the back foot, with the more nimble American moving his opponent around the court and keeping him on the defensive throughout.
Lane won 11-4, 11-8, 12-10 to set up a title showdown with Colombia’s Bernardo Samper.
Results (prefix denotes seeding)
Madison Open
Semi-finals
1-Gilly Lane (USA) bt 3-Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 12-10
5-Bernardo Samper (COL) bt 6-Amr Mansi (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-3
Niagara Classic
Semi-finals
Laurence Delasaux (ENG) bt 1-Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
2-Robin Clarke (CAN) bt 4-Neil Hitchens (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 2-11, 11-3
Final
Laurence Delasaux (ENG) bt 2-Robin Clarke (CAN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-1
