(updated 22-jan-10 9:33 )    [DRAW/RESULTS]

Yasser El Halaby and Bernardo Samper, former collegiate foes, both showed strong performances in the final day of qualifying at New York's Tournament of Champions, while Chris Walker ran out of gas in a 50 minute straight game loss to Australia's Ryan Cuskelly.

Princeton University graduate Yasser El Halaby and Trinity college alum Bernardo Samper both earned tickets to ride into the main draw of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions with victories in the final round of the championship’s qualifying draw. El Halaby, who now resides in New York City, was precise and prescient, reading his opponent’s shots with consistent accuracy, in his straight game victory over Frenchman Gregoire Marche. For Samper,a native of Colombia who resides in Rye, New York, it was tough and steadfast retrieving that resulted in a four game victory over Stephane Galifi.

It was a trifecta of firsts for Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller, Scotland’s Alan Clyne and England’s Adrian Waller, all on their first trip to New York City, qualifying for the first time for the Tournament of Champions and a PSA Super Series event.  Adrian Waller battled for 68 minutes before succumbing Australia’s Scott Arnold. “It was a lively court, so I had to wait a little while before I started attacking,” said Waller after the match. ”Scott hits the ball quite cleanly and I had to get him out of his rhythm.”  Clyne was stalwart and steady in his three game victory over Yasir Butt.

Mueller dropped the first game to hometown favorite Chris Gordon.  After staying neck and neck to nine all, Gordon took the game11-9.”I stepped up the pace considerably in the second and third games,” said Mueller, winning them, 11-4, 11-4. “In the fourth we had several ridiculously long rallies, and when I was down 9-10, I played the best shot of my life,” he continued, recounting the path to the 12-10 final game win that propelled the Swiss player into a main draw first round match against five time US national champion Julian Illingworth. 

Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly quelled the competitive fire of the draw’s oldest competitor, defeating Englishman Chris Walker in three lively games. England’s Shaun LeRoux logged the most court time in his 74 minute defeat of New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson while Mathieu Castagnet logged no court time when his opponent Mohammad Abbas withdrew due to injury. Also in his first foray in the Tournament of Champions, the Frenchman will meet world #1 Ramy Ashour in the first round. Cuskelly, who reached the second round of the ToC two years ago will face world #2 Nick Matthew in his opening ToC match.    

RESULTS, 2010 Tournament of Champions, Final Qualifying  [Main Draw]

Nicholas Mueller (SUI) bt Chris Gordon (USA) 4-11 11-4 11-4 12-10 (53m)
Matthieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Mo Abbas (EGY) w/o
Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-8 11-9 11-2 (33m)
Bernardo Samper (COL) bt Stephane Galifi (FRA)11-13 11-9 11-4 11-8 (57m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 12-10 8-11 11-7 11-6 (68m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Chris Walker (ENG) 11-8 11-5 11-7 (50m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Yasir Butt (PAK) 11-4 11-8 11-7 (46m)
Shaun LeRoux (ENG) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL)11-2 11-6 7-11 11-9 (74m)