RESULTS: Aon US Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA
Qualifying finals:
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-4, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5 (67m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (44m)
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (49m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (32m)
Home hope Julian Illingworth powered into the first round of the Aon US Open Squash Championship after beating Ireland's Liam Kenny in the qualifying finals of the $52,500 5-star PSA World Tour event in Chicago.
The 25-year-old from Portland, Oregon, won 11-4, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5 in an absorbing contest lasting 67 minutes to clinch a first round clash with England's James Willstrop, the number seven seed, on Thursday.
Kenny was overwhelmed by Illingworth's high-paced attack in the opening game but fought back strongly to lead throughout the second. Illingworth clawed his way back to take the game to a tiebreak and held game ball when Kenny struck a volley into the tin. However, the Irishman showed great composure to win the next three points to close out the game 14-12 after some phenomenally brutal rallies.
That enormous effort clearly took its toll on Kenny as Illingworth regained control in the third game, maintaining his form throughout the fourth to clinch his place against Willstrop.
"I was really happy with how I started the match but I don't really know what happened in the second," explained Illingworth. "I was behind all the way there until I held game ball. I was glad to get it together again in the third and fourth."
Illingworth knows he faces a tall order in stopping the 6ft 5in Willstrop, who is returning to the PSA World Tour after an ankle operation five months ago.
Illingworth added: "I know James is one of the most talented players in the world so I am expecting a tough match. We did a summer coach camp together in Boulder, Colorado, but I have never played him in a tournament before. He was ranked two in the world not so long ago and obviously he has a false ranking at the moment because of his injuries last season. It will be nice to have some home support on the glass court. I might need it!"
Fellow American Christopher Gordon failed to join his compatriot in the main draw after falling in straight games to rising English ace Tom Richards, who won 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 victory in 32 minutes to book a first round tie against Australia's David Palmer, winner of the Colombian Open in Bogota on Sunday.
The tournament top seed, world champion Ramy Ashour of Egypt, meets English qualifier Adrian Waller, who beat compatriot Joe Lee in straight games. Waller, 19, becomes not only the youngest player in the main draw, but also the lowest-ranked by a considerable margin. The teenager from Enfield, ranked 128 in the world, is celebrating his first appearance in a 5-star PSA championship.
Aaron Frankcomb, of Australia, beat Martin Knight of New Zealand to book a first round meeting with number six seed Wael El Hindi of Egypt.
The Aon US Open is the only tournament in America to be staged in an open-air setting, and the spectacular surroundings of Pioneer Court in downtown Chicago will be echoing to the sound of the world's leading professionals crashing the ball against the all-glass McWil court throughout the rest of this week.
Tournament promoter Imran Nasir said: "We had some tremendous matches in the qualifying competition and now it's down to the serious business in the main draw. We had some terrible weather for the tournament last year, with the tail-end of a hurricane disrupting the event, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that today's glorious sunshine lasts for the rest of the week.
"It's good to see Julian Illingworth in the main draw. Last year he lost 11-9 in the fifth to John White in one of the longest matches of the tournament and we all hope that he can produce a major career breakthrough with a victory against James Willstrop."
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
[6] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v [Q] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) v [Q] Tom Richards (ENG)
[8] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Julian Illingworth (USA)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) v Gilly Lane (USA)
[5] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Shahier Razik (CAN)