A quarter-finalist in his first appearance in the event 12 months ago, US champion Christopher Gordon went one better in this year’s Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open in Dublin when he beat local star Arthur Gaskin to reach the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 15 event at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club.
It was the pair’s first meeting since 2008 when Dublin-born Gaskin beat New Yorker Gordon (pictured) on his home soil to qualify for the Chicago Open.
The Irish number one and event wildcard had reached the quarter-finals after a stunning first round upset over higher-ranked Egyptian Mohd Ali Anwar Reda.
“Gaskin showed terrific spirit in his match against Chris Gordon, and remarkably scored ten points in a row when he came back from 1-4 down in the second to take it 11-4, ” said event spokesman Dan Zilic.
“But the efforts took their toll, and despite having Irish squash legend Derek Ryan in his corner, Arthur lost in four tough games.”
Gordon’s 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3 victory in 71 minutes takes the 26-year-old world No54 through to a clash with Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan for a place in the final.
Malaysian Adnan, ranked 15 places higher than Gordon, despatched South African Shaun le Roux 12-10, 11-6, 11-6.
Top seed Chris Simpson and third-seeded Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid will contest the other semi.
Englishman Simpson, expected to reach his second Tour final this month, battled for 52 minutes to see off German qualifier Jens Schoor 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-2.
Meguid, a 25-year-old from Giza ranked 14 places lower than Simpson, also defeated a qualifier, Frenchman Lucas Serme 11-13, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 in 73 minutes.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-2 (52m)
[3] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-13, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (73m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [WC] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3 (71m)
[2] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) v [3] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
[2] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Christopher Gordon (USA)
Article courtesy of PSA World Tour