Cuskelly ousts Samper (Match report by Benjamin Fischer)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt. Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8
Both players started out at a very high pace, hitting only few errors and making their opponent work hard. After losing a long first game, the columbian took the second in only 5 minutes, astonishing the crowd with some amazing attacking shots. The Aussie however came back strong, playing very steady in the third and fourth, keeping the ball tight to the wall, forcing his opponent to hit it loose. After a series of tins by Samper, Cuskelly finally got through and booked the first spot in tomorrow’s final round.
Mansi vs Waller (Match report by Will Newnham)
Amr Mansi (EGY) bt. Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 13-15, 11-6
The semi final match featured Adrian Waller who had come through qualifying and Amr Mansi from Egypt. Both players in the first were sticking the ball to the wall, but Mansi seemed to be the more attacking in the first as he prevailed 11/8.
The second was a higher pace than the first with both players finding some good nicks, but Mansi pulled away in the second to win the game 11/6
Waller came out all guns blazing in the third after some wise words from countryman Lewis Walters. Waller took the third game on a tie-break and put on a real show for the great Rochester crowd.
In the fourth, the players were level pretty much all the way until Mansi pulled away to take the match in the fourth.
Photos © 2009 Stephen Colby
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