Thaindian News

Philadelphia, Sep 30 (IANS) India’s Saurav Ghosal and Siddharth Suchde failed to qualify for the PSA US Open Squash, both losing their final qualifying matches here Friday.

Ryan Cuskelly downed Ghosal, the highest-ranked player in the qualifiers to lead a pair of Australians through to the main draw. Cuskelly took 80 minutes to post a 11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9 win over the 25-year old Indian.

In another match, Swiss No.1 Nicolas Mueller beat Suchde 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 to also advance to the main draw of the tournament.

Ghosal, the World No.26, found the Australian just too steady and too determined as Cuskelly battled his way to an upset win. The first two games were shared and then the New South Wales-born 24-year-old took a crucial lead after saving a game ball in the third.

Ghosal’s renowned speed around court was much in evidence, but Cuskelly was controlling the rallies well, and more often than not it was the Indian who was going for the risky shot to try to finish the rallies.

Midway through the fourth, the effort seemed to be telling on Cuskelly as, for the first time, he looked fatigued and from four-all he fell 8-4 behind with Ghosal seeming to be taking charge. But the left-handed Aussie found some extra reserves to level at nine-all and force two final errors from the Indian racket to clinch the issue.

In the other match, Mueller had to withstand a fast-paced attack from Suchde who took the first game and opened up a good lead in the second.

Unfazed, Mueller fought back to take the second and third games, but in the fourth, Suchde again attacked at pace and led 7-4. His strategy was high risk though, and several clips of the tin brought Mueller back into the game and from nine-all two more errors brought relief to the Swiss and disappointment to the Indian.