White Oaks RD2: Damming Survives Five Game Scare

The second round of the White Oaks Court Classic saw the seeded players enter the fray, and Dutchman Rowan Damming had to fight to come back from behind to survive in a five-game battle.

The 18-year-old, who claimed the WSF World Junior Championship title in the summer, came up against New Zealand’s Elijah Thomas in his opening match of the competition.

It was the Kiwi who got off to a quick start, and after securing a tight first game, he then went on to win the second 11-4 to double his advantage in the contest. Damming claimed the third game 11-8 to turn the momentum in his favour, before also taking the fourth by the same scoreline. The deciding fifth game was much easier, with the Dutchman dropping just three points, en route to a comeback victory.

He will now face one of six Canadians who made it into the quarter finals on home soil. Liam Marrison, the No.4 seed, got the better of Pakistan’s Rafi Khan to advance to the last eight. He dropped just five points in a commanding 11-2, 11-1, 11-2 victory on Wednesday.

Top seed Nick Sachvie downed Colombia’s Santiago Orozco to make his way into the quarter finals. He will now take on fellow Canadian and No.6 seed Cory McCartney. In the bottom half of the draw, No.2 seed Michael McCue and No.7 seed George Crowne.

The quarter finals of the White Oaks Court Classic will take place on Thursday, October 13, with the top eight seeds doing battle for places in the semi-finals of the Challenger 5 level competition.

Second Round Results: White Oaks Court Classic
[1] Nick Sachvie (CAN) bt Santiago Orozco (COL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 (35m)
[6] Cory McCartney (CAN) bt Tyson Schille (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
[5] Miled Zarazua (MEX) bt Mahmoud Abouelleil (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-1 (23m)
[3] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) bt Leo Vargas (MEX) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (54m)
[4] Liam Marrison (CAN) bt Rafi Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-2, 11-1, 11-2 (12m)
[8] Rowan Damming (NED) bt Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-2: 9-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (64m)
[7] George Crowne (CAN) bt Mitchell Kahnert (CAN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
[2] Michael McCue (CAN) bt Jayden Shortt (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, October 13
[1] Nick Sachvie (CAN) v [6] Cory McCartney (CAN)
[5] Miled Zarazua (MEX) v [3] Salah Eltorgman (CAN)
[4] Liam Marrison (CAN) v [8] Rowan Damming (NED)
[7] George Crowne (CAN) v [2] Michael McCue (CAN)