Illingworth Celebrates Maiden PSA Tour Title In California
Semi-finals:
[4] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [1] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-0
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt [3] Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-3, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5
Final:
[4] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 12-10
Exactly seven years after first joining the Professional Squash Association, US number one Julian Illingworth has picked up his maiden PSA Tour title at the Pacific Athletic Club Open after a straight games victory in the final of the $15,000 event, sponsored by NetSuite, at the Pacific Athletic Club in Redwood City in the US state of California.
Illingworth achieved his historic success on home soil as the event's fourth seed. The 25-year-old Yale graduate from Portland made his breakthrough in the semi-finals, where he beat top seed Shahier Razik, the Canadian number one ranked 30 in the world, 11-7, 11-7, 11-0.
It was Illingworth's first Tour victory over his North American rival in four meetings since January last year.
The world No39 continued his sparkling run in the final, upsetting second-seeded Englishman Jonathan Kemp – ranked one place higher - 11-7, 11-7, 12-10.
The success rounded off a marvellous March for the New York-based squash star – who lifted his fifth successive US National title two weeks ago, beating second seed Gilly Lane in the final in Hartford.