England’s Joe Lee claimed the biggest PSA World Tour title of his career after cruising to success in the final of the Oregon Open, the PSA Challenger 15 event at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland in the US state of Oregon.
Lee, the London-born No.4 seed, reached the final after surviving an 85-minute semi-final marathon against Mexican qualifier Alfredo Avila.
But his final opponent Omar Abdel Meguid, the top seed from Egypt, was stretched to 140 minutes in the other semi by third-seeded Scot Alan Clyne – and this came after the World No.30 from Giza was taken again to five games in his quarter-final against fellow countryman Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry before coming through in a bruising 96 minutes!
“Less than 24 hours after playing the match of the tournament, the ‘Big Guy’ found himself back on court, this time against the in-form Englishman,” said event spokesman Adam Perkiomaki, reporting on the final.
“Lee started rock-solid, laying the foundation for what was to become an impenetrable brick wall of pressure. Many times the masterful ‘Dr.’ Meguid tried to slice his way back in, but couldn’t summon the strength needed to stop General Lee’s mounting attack.
“Joe took the final match 3/0, and is the well-deserving 2014 Oregon Open champion,” continued Perkiomaki. “All respects to this year’s runner-up Omar who put up a valiant effort. It was a pleasure and an honour to see this level of squash back in Portland, Oregon. Until next year!”
World No.34 Lee was celebrating his 10th appearance in a PSA Tour final with a third title triumph. The success also denied Meguid – who was marking his 12th final appearance – the perfect present on the eve of his 26th birthday!
Final:
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [3] Alan Clyne (SCO) 4-11, 11-8, 18-16, 11-13, 11-9 (140m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 4-11, 11-6 (85m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [5] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 18-20, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-1 (96m)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (44m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [6] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 (42m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (37m)
1st round:
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (38m)
[5] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [Q] Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (37m)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt [8] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (70m)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Todd Harrity (USA) 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [WC] Adam Perkiomaki (USA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
[6] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-3, 11-5, 17-15 (57m)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [7] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (44m)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [2] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 14-12, 6-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8 (94m)
Qualifying finals:
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt Joe Chapman (IVB) 12-10, 11-8, 11-5 (36m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (48m)
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Zac Alexander (AUS) 7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 (44m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Karamatullah Khan (PAK) 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
1st qualifying round:
Joe Chapman (IVB) bt Sean Ryan (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-1 (20m)
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-9, 11-9, 13-11 (40m)
Reuben Phillips (ENG) bt Charlie Wagner (USA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (33m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Anders Giltvedt (NOR) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Ahmad Alzabidi (JOR) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Adrian Leanza (USA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
Karamatullah Khan (PAK) bt Atticus Jones (USA) 11-3, 11-1, 11-9 (25m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Bradbury Thompson (USA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (31m)
