Coppinger Denies Double In Hong Kong
Men's final:
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [1] Wai Hang Wong (HKG) 11-6, 6-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-10 (6-4) (71m)
Women's final:
[1] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [2] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-6, 9-1, 9-2 (22m)
Unseeded South African Stephen Coppinger completed his sensational run in the Buler Squash Challenge Cup by beating top seed Wai Hang Wong in today's (Sunday) men's final in Hong Kong - thereby denying the hosts a double after local star Rebecca Chiu comfortably won the women's event.
Coppinger, based in the UK, made his breakthrough in the first round, beating Hong Kong's fifth seed Dick Lau. He went on to despatch New Zealand's fourth seed Campbell Grayson before knocking out Spanish qualifier David Vidal in the semi-finals.
The 22-year-old fought back from 2/1 down in the final against Wong - winner of the title in 2005 - to beat the favourite 11-6, 6-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-10 (6-4) in 71 minutes to record the first PSA Tour title of his career.
Coppinger's triumph, in only his fifth month as a member of the PSA, also marks the first Tour victory by a South African for more than three years.
It was third time lucky for Rebecca Chiu, beaten Buler finalist for the last two years. The 28-year-old world No15 overwhelmed her Australian opponent Kasey Brown, ranked just two places lower, 9-6, 9-1, 9-2 in just 22 minutes to pick up the ninth WISPA World Tour title of her career.