Ryder Rallies To Ali Upset In Rotterdam

RESULTS: Dutch Open, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Quarter-finals:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [5] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 14-12 (54m)
[4] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [6] Simon Rosner (GER) 11-4, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7 (47m)
[7] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [3] Alister Walker (ENG) 14-12, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 (92m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Steve Finitsis (AUS) 11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7 (90m)

Ryder Rallies To Ali Upset In Rotterdam

Seventh seed Chris Ryder stopped fellow Englishman Alister Walker reaching the semi-finals of the Dutch Open after upsetting the third seed in a five-game marathon in the $30,000 PSA World Tour squash event at Victoria Squash in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

After narrowly losing the opening game, world No20 Walker took the next two and looked to be heading to the anticipated victory over his compatriot, ranked 16 places lower.

But Ryder, who defeated Walker in straight games only a month ago in the El Gouna International Open in Egypt, recovered the advantage to win 14-12, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 in 92 minutes.

"That's more pleasing than beating him last time in Alexandria," said a delighted Ryder after his victory. "It was long, but it wasn't fast paced - I couldn't beat him at that type of game, he's a better athlete than me!

"He was more prepared for what I had to offer this time," admitted the 30-year-old from Leamington Spa. "He played very well in the second and third, he got good starts which are hard to catch up on this court. Joel [Hinds] was telling me to go back to basics, but to be a little more aggressive too - I was trying to win through tactics, but you have to add a bit of physicality too, and that's what I did in the fourth and fifth."

Ryder now faces Cameron Pilley, the No2 seed from Australia who also survived a lengthy marathon before overcoming compatriot Steve Finitsis, a qualifier, 11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7 in 90 minutes.

"Every little helps," quipped the tall Netherlands-based Aussie after being told that he'd spent two minutes less on court than his semi-final opponent.

It was a match which could have gone either way - Pilley took three points in row at the end of the first, then saved two game balls in the process of doing the same in the second.

"It was just one of those games," said Pilley, the 28-year-old world No14 from New South Wales. "It wasn't a push to win the first two, but it was tough. I'm not playing very well, and I had a tough three games yesterday and five tough ones today. I'm not really sure how I won that in the end."

Dutch favourite Laurens Jan Anjema was sorely tested in the top half of the draw before taking his expected place in the last four.

The 2004 champion faced testing Egyptian Hisham Mohd Ashour and needed four games to see off the fifth seed from Cairo 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 14-12 in 54 minutes.

"I'm happy and relieved to get through that one for sure," said LJ. "Hisham is a really difficult player to play, you have to adapt to it and not play your usual game. The fact that my family and friends are here in the gallery gives you an extra two or three percent, the support is great and I needed all of that today!"

Anjema's opponent in the semi-finals will be Australian fourth seed Stewart Boswell, who started well enough against Simon Rosner, but found himself level after a fight back from the German. Making his maiden Dutch Open appearance, the UK-based fourth seed went on to beat Rosner, the sixth seed, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [4] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [7] Chris Ryder (ENG)

For all the latest news, visit the official event site: www.dutchopensquash.nl