RESULTS: PSA World Series North American Open, Richmond, Virginia, USA
1st qualifying round:
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Shaun le Roux (ENG) 13-11, 12-10, 11-5 (70m)
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Sean Steinour (USA) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (16m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-9, 11-1, 11-7 (43m)
Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 (65m)
Martin Knight (NZL) bt David Hetherington (USA) 11-2, 11-3, 11-8 (22m)
Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Francis Johnson (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (19m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 (75m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 (41m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 (37m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) 11-5, 11-8, 18-16 (70m)
Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6 (55m)
Stephane Galifi (ITA) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 (63m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 14-12, 11-8, 11-4 (51m)
Yann Perrin (FRA) bt Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 (50m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (35m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Kamran Khan (MAS) 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 (89m)
US interest in the main draw of the North American Open will be doubled after Christopher Gordon and Julian Illingworth set up an all-American qualifying finals clash in the second PSA World Series squash event of the year in Richmond, Virginia.
New York-born Gordon despatched Pakistan's Arshad Iqbal Burki in straight games in the first qualifying round.
But US number one Julian Illingworth was taken the full distance by Kamran Khan before beating the Malaysian son of the legendary Jansher Khan. Khan, the 20-year-old world No80, twice led in the 89-minute marathon - but Illingworth, the New York-based 27-year-old ranked 40 in the world, maintained his focus to close out the match 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 in the longest battle of the day.
Gordon and Illingworth will now resume their domestic rivalry to fight for a place in the main draw of the $115,000 World Series Gold event - to join Philadelphia wild card Gilly Lane in the first round.
Australia earned the lion's share of the places in the qualifying finals, with Hobart's Aaron Frankcomb, New South Welshman Ryan Cuskelly and Queenslander Zac Alexander all safely overcoming first round opponents.
Mexican Cesar Salazar took a step closer to joining his twin brother Arturo Salazar in the main draw when he upset higher-ranked Czech number one Jan Koukal 11-9, 11-1, 11-7. The 23-year-old world No59 from San Luis Potosi will now face Hungarian Mark Krajcsak for a place in the first round.
Qualifying finals line-up:
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) v Joel Hinds (ENG)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Mark Krajcsak (HUN)
Martin Knight (NZL) v Dylan Bennett (NED)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Stephane Galifi (ITA) v Siddharth Suchde (IND)
Yann Perrin (FRA) v Zac Alexander (AUS)
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Christopher Gordon (USA)