Larkin Wins Maiden Title, But Ko Makes History

#PSAWorldTour

Australian Joshua Larkin celebrated his first PSA World Tour title at the City of Perth WA Open – but runner-up Ko Youngjo made history by becoming the first Korean man to reach a Tour final at the PSA Challenger 5 squash event at the Terrace Squash Centre in Perth, Western Australia.

Larkin, the third seed from Canberra, made his breakthrough in the semi-finals where he battled back from a game down to upset Canadian Dane Sharp, the top seed from Toronto ranked more than 50 places higher.

Unseeded Ko kicked out home hope Rhys Dowling, the No.4 seed, in the quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old – ranked 440 in the world – saved his best for the semis by sinking second-seeded Englishman Lewis Walters, ranked over 300 places higher, to make his historic Tour breakthrough.

Underdog Ko stretched Larkin to four games in the final – but the Melbourne-born 25-year-old used his experience to guide himself to an 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 victory in 48 minutes, and a place on the winner’s podium for the first time.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 City of Perth WA Open, Perth, Australia

1st round:
[1] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
William Curtis (AUS) bt [Q] Anthony Shear (AUS) 3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 15-13, 11-6 (40m)
[Q] Patrick Woods (AUS) bt Tye Harland (AUS) 12-10, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)
David Ilich (AUS) bt [7] Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-5, 12-10, 13-11 (18m)
Mark Broekman (ENG) bt [8] Tim Cowell (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Matt Bridle (AUS) bt [Q] Jordan McKellar (AUS) 11-8, 14-12, 11-5 (25m)
Mithran Selvaratnam (MAS) bt Javed Ali (PAK) 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-2 (37m)
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Joel Luca (AUS) 11-8, 11-0, 11-8 (23m)
[4] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt JaeJin Yoo (KOR) 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8 (47m)
Jong Myoung Park (KOR) bt [Q] Glenn Hitch (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (25m)
Rohan Toole (AUS) bt [Q] Tony Burns (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4 (34m)
Ko Youngjo (KOR) bt [6] Darcy Evans (AUS) 12-10, 12-10, 11-6 (22m)
[5] Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [Q] Gavin Treacy (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 (20m)
Courtney West (AUS) bt [Q] Damon MacMillan (AUS) 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)
William Mountford-Jones (AUS) bt [Q] Ben Halloran (AUS) 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (43m)
[2] Lewis Walters (ENG) bt Jesse Keegan (AUS) 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5 (48m)
2nd round:
[1] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt William Curtis (AUS) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6 (23m)
David Ilich (AUS) bt [Q] Patrick Woods (AUS) 11-2, 16-14, 11-6 (22m)
Mark Broekman (ENG) bt Matt Bridle (AUS) 11-3, 11-8, 11-8 (24m)
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Mithran Selvaratnam (MAS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (26m)
[4] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Jong Myoung Park (KOR) 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10 (64m)
Ko Youngjo (KOR) bt Rohan Toole (AUS) 14-12, 11-7, 11-9 (31m)
[5] Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt Courtney West (AUS) 3-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (37m)
[2] Lewis Walters (ENG) bt William Mountford-Jones (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 (23m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt David Ilich (AUS) 12-10, 11-3, 11-4 (26m)
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Mark Broekman (ENG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 (23m)
Ko Youngjo (KOR) bt [4] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-7, 2-11, 11-6, 11-4 (41m)
[2] Lewis Walters (ENG) bt [5] Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [1] Dane Sharp (CAN) 12-14, 11-8, 11-1, 11-1 (61m)
Ko Youngjo (KOR) bt [2] Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-3, 11-9, 1-11, 11-9 (53m)
Final:
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Ko Youngjo (KOR) 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 (48m)