[jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.ussquash.com/serve/?program=myurl&myurl=modules.ussquash.com%2Fssm%2Fpages%2Ftournaments%2Finformation.asp%3Ftournament_id%3D4748%26″]Men’s S.L. Green and National Singles Draws[/jbutton] [jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.ussquash.com/live/”]Live Stream[/jbutton]
Nine-time S.L. Green U.S. men’s champion Julian Illingworth lit up the McArthur Squash Center’s blue and orange glass court Saturday night, firing off three nick winners to fight off four game balls in the fourth game, before upsetting two seed Chris Gordon in the semifinals.
Illingworth responded after losing the first game 11-8, to come back and win the second and third games 11-6, 11-7 with precise shot-making.
The match appeared to be going into five games after Gordon earned three game balls at 10-7 in the fourth game. To the entertainment of the gallery packed with National Singles players, Illingworth fired off three nick winners in quick succession to level the game at 10-10. Gordon edged ahead with a fourth game ball at 11-10, but Illingworth clawed back once again to win the match in four 13-11.
Illingworth has now defeated Gordon in all four of his encounters with the world No. 57 in the S.L. Green, and will be bidding for a record tenth national title in his tenth final appearance.
Defending champion Todd Harrity will face Illingworth in what will be a rematch of the 2015 semifinals.
Harrity has yet to drop a game all tournament including his three-game victory over first-time semifinalist Faraz Khan 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.
Harrity and Illingworth haven’t played each other since last year’s semifinals.
Saturday’s final is streaming and scoring live at 6pm ET on www.ussquash.com/live, where semifinal replays are also available.
