Article courtesy of the Professional Squash Association.
Final:
[2] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 16-14, 11-5, 11-3 (58m)
Australian Zac Alexander secured his second straight title on the PSA World Tour when he won the inaugural Greenwich Challenger at the Greenwich Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
But the U.S.-based second seed from Brisbane did so at the expense of Diego Elias, a seventeen-year-old qualifier from Lima who made history twenty-four hours earlier when he stormed through an experienced field in the PSA Challenger 5 squash event to become the first Peruvian ever to reach a PSA Tour final.
After surviving two round of qualifying, the promising teenager made his mark in the opening round of the main draw when he ousted Muhd Asyraf Azan, the top seed from Malaysian, in four games.
Elias went on to take out the No. 8 seed before dismissing England’s fourth seed Lewis Walters in the semi-finals.
“The final began at a ferocious pace with both players playing high up on the T line trying their best to gain the first game advantage,” reported event spokesman Luke Butterworth. “What a first game it was: thirty-seven minutes in duration and some intense tiebreaker rallies were a joy for all to see. Diego’s natural glide to the ball and rapid racket head speed versus Zac’s high paced attacking variety was a match made in heaven for the Greenwich locals.
“It was Zac who prevailed under the pressure to take an excellent and vital first game 16-14.
“After the confidence brewing first game, the momentum was all with Zac. He came out firing in the second and despite Diego playing a little looser, Zac nullified any sort of attack with excellent drives and precise counters. He went on to take this game 11-5.
“Zac raced to a 10-0 lead in the third. Diego’s movement was labored and his route from the qualifying was evidently hampering his third game revival.”
After his 16-14, 11-5, 11-3 title triumph in fifty-eight minutes – the thirteenth of his career – Alexander said: “Thank you ever so much to Phil (Barker) and Chris (Hanson) for making this event so enjoyable.
“It truly means a lot to be able to play a tournament on your doorstep so thank you to all the sponsors and families that made it happen.
“Thanks to Diego for a great final and good luck with your squash in the future.”