Challenger Events
Lake Wins 10th Tour Title at Out East White Bear Challenge
Nathan Lake clinched his 10th Tour title with victory over Hollis Roberston in the Out East White Bear Challenge final in Long Island, New York.
The experienced lefty came into the event as the overwhelming favourite, sitting almost 100 places higher than anyone else in the draw, but was made to work hard throughout the week to get his hands on the trophy.
In fact, a comfortable win over Muhammad Farhan Hasmi in round two would prove to be the only match Lake would win 3-0, with young American Nicholas Spizzirri – who stunned Shajahan Khan a few weeks ago – taking a game off him in the last eight.
Lake was then starring down the barrel of a huge upset in the semi-finals, trailing 2-1 to Egypt’s Abdelrahman Nassar having lost game three 11-2, but he rallied to take the fourth 11-1, then closing out a tight deciding game 11-8.
Standing in his way on finals day was 19-year-old Robertson, one of the most exciting young stars of US squash.
A New York native who has just completed his freshman year at Princeton, the unseeded Robertson knocked out fourth seed Mohamed Nabil and fifth seed Cesar Segundo Corona to reach this final, and would have been sensing a triumphant end to the week after taking the opening game from Lake 12-10.
Ultimately, though, the 32-year-old made his experience count, winning the next three games 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 to wrap up victory.
Victory for the World No.29 serves as ideal preparation for this week’s CIB Egyptian Open, which you can see watch live on SQUASHTV.
