[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″]S.L. Green and National Singles Draws[/jbutton] [jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.ussquash.com/live/”]Live Stream[/jbutton]
Todd Harrity defeated nine-time national champion Julian Illingworth in a three-game final to win his second consecutive S.L. Green U.S. Men’s Championship Saturday night at the McArthur Squash Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Harrity completed his second consecutive national title run without dropping a game, which culminated in an 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 victory over Illingworth in front of a packed gallery on the University of Virginia’s blue and orange glass court.
The twenty-five-year-old from Wayne, PA follows Illingworth, Preston Quick, and Damien Walker in winning consecutive S.L. Green titles since 2000. When he won the 2015 title, Harrity was ranked No. 69 in the world. A successful year on the PSA tour has seen Harrity break into the world’s top 50 for the first time this month at No. 49.
After the final, Harrity paid homage to Illingworth, whom he labelled “the king.” In Friday’s semifinals, Illingworth pulled off a shock upset over 2013 champion, two seed and world No. 57 Chris Gordon with world-class shot-making.
“I’m really happy to win this event again, ” Harrity said. “This is the biggest event to win as an American, and Julian has been the king of this event over the past decade so it was an honor to play him tonight.”
“I’ve trained really hard this year, and entered this match just like any other, not underestimating my opponent and sticking to my game.”
Watch a replay of the final on www.ussquash.com/live.
The S.L. Green was once again contested alongside the National Singles, which will play out fifteen finals Sunday.