Illingworth Qualifies
Sept 22 2005, by SquashTalk News Service
Squashtalk Independent News; © 2005 SquashTalk LLC
Photo © 2005 Debra Tessier

Yale Star Qualifies, Harvard Star Stopped at Williams
[Main draw]

Ian Power, who had seemed confident in his straight game win over Ryan Donegan, a Dartmouth graduate who is now training fulltime for the tour in England, did not have similar fortunes in taking on Julian Illingworth, the USA National Champion.

Illingworth (PSA ranking # 150) downed Ian Power (PSA ranking #86) in four games and now matches up against the Dutch-based Raj Nanda, who is on a high after a strong week in St. Louis.

Julian was in unconscious, unstoppable form for the entire first game, attacking at every
opportune moment, and took the game quickly 11-2. The second game was a
different story, however. Ian eventually relaxed and began to find some semblance of rhythm at 7-3 down. He climbed his way back to 10-6. However, Julian's superb touch at the front was too much, and he took the second game 11-7 on a great backhand drop.

The third game was, again, a different story. Ian, in full stride now, went 6-2 up thanks to some careless mistakes by Julian. At 8-8, the two exchanged several excruciatingly long points, and Ian eventually put away an anxious Julian 11-8. The fourth game
proved to be a return to form for Illingworth. Making full use of his demanding touch at the front, Julian pulled away to 8-5, when Ian made a crucial error.

Julian didn't look back and won the final game 11-6. After the match, Julian attributed his win to a matinee viewing of "Top Gun" at his lodging.

Harvard standout and Indian national team member, Sid Suchde appeared on a similar track, as he frustrated Mike Corren early with his speed, ability to retrieve everything and capitalizing on loose balls with strokes and drop-winners. 

Regroup In the second and third games, Mike Corren rarely moved from the T, using superior pace variation and shot selection.  The last two games featured grueling rallies and frequent let calls, with Corren eventually prevailing.

Ireland's Rooney Falls to Gould
The match began with several tins from Niall Rooney as the players produced a disjointed first game without a single long rally.  The three following games were very entertaining to watch with the rallies taking place largely in the frontcourt.  Rooney steadily grew more and more confident with his attacking shots, but struggled to move the much taller Ben Gould from the midcourt.

Johstone Outlasts Phillips
The first match of the night had featured two big men: David Phillips of Canda and Wade
Johnstone of Australia. The two put on a show of hard hitting squash for the Williamstown crowd for a little over an hour. The first game featured consistent length, as the two grew acquainted with the Williams courts. At 10-10, the two exchanged several crucial drop errors, until Wade pulled away to win 14-12. THe second game featured some fantastic squash from David. Wade looked tired already at 6-8. However, the two continued to not be separated by more than two points. Wade reached 10-10 on a lucky nick, but David pulled away to win 12-10.

Wade found a second wind during the break and came out firing in the third game. At 3-3, Wade began to pull away, moving David all around the court. At 8-6, Wade hit another lucky nick at the back, but took the game on a fantastic forehand drop, 11-7. The fourth game featured more great squash from David. On full display was Wade's incredible
retrieving ability, though. After a few lapses in concentration from the Aussie, David climbed ahead to win the fourth. It appeared that David was showing no signs of slowing down in the fifth game. Roaring to an 8-2 lead, David was poised for victory. However, Wade managed to score 7 points in a row and, after only one additional point for David, Wade won the deciding game 11-9.

Berkshire Squash Open Results/ Qualifying final:          [Main Draw]
Julian Illingworth (USA)  bt Ian Power (CAN) 11-2, 11-7, 10-11 (1-3), 11-6
Ben Gould (AUS) bt Niall Rooney (IRL) 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6
Mike Corren (AUS) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 7-11, 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6
Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-10 (4-2), 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 9-11, 11-9

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