Welshman Peter Creed claimed a surprise place in the semi-finals of the GoodLife Open in Canada when he upset fourth-seeded Englishman Joel Hinds in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its seventh year at Goodlife Fitness in Ottawa.
"The match was a close affair with long rallies," explained tournament organiser Heather Wallace. "Hinds was steady and Creed was the more aggressive, attacking the ball which won him points but also cost him through clipping the tin. Each game was tight all the way through and had contentious officiating calls in the late stages making each player rather nervy.
"That is the life of squash, much like soccer, dependent upon the human element of officiating! The calls went against Creed in the first game, yet he prevailed to win it 11-9."
Creed saved a game-ball in the second before extending his lead - then survived another close third game to beat world No79 Hinds 11-9, 14-12, 11-8 after 59 minutes.
The 24-year-old from Caerphilly, ranked 124 in the world, now faces top seed Mark Krajcsak for a place in the final. The world No54 from Hungary overcame Australian Scott Arnold 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 in his second straight games win in the event.
But there was disappointment for local hero Robin Anthony Clarke when the 2008 champion from Ottawa went down 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 to second seed Zac Alexander.
The Australian, ranked 65 in the world, will now face Andrew Wagih Shoukry after the third seed from Egypt also ousted a Canadian when he despatched Dane Sharp, from Toronto, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 GoodLife Open, Ottawa, Canada
1st round:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Chris Truswell (ENG) 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 (39m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 (38m)
[4] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (23m)
[3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (24m)
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (59m)
Robin Anthony Clarke (CAN) bt Tyler Hamilton (CAN) 11-7, 11-2, 13-11 (27m)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10 (60m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (39m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt [4] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-9, 14-12, 11-8 (59m)
[3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (49m)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Robin Anthony Clarke (CAN) 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 (21m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) v Peter Creed (WAL)
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) v [3] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
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