ASP

CONGRATULATIONS ASP

Cuskelly Reaches Last 16 of PSA World Championships ASP squashmedia .com.au A NEW DIRECTION The ASP Newsletter has moved to a Quarterly Edition.

Sadly, there isn’t sufficient “Aussie” action to warrant a monthly publication. However, when the activity increases the publication will move back to being published monthly.

Without sounding negative it is very hard to get excited about the Australian Tour for 2019. Events are few and far between and there are too many CLOSED events. Some clubs/centres have simply not announced their event for 2019 ... please do so ASAP.

It is alarming from this perspective ... players will now be forced to go overseas to chase world ranking points and competition. It’s now going to be an even slower climb up the ladder if you want to be a professional squash player based in Australia.

Taking out closed events which attract minimal PSA points, so far the calendar for men is offering just 9 events! There are 7 x C5, one C10 and a C20 event (congratulations to the organisers of the Squash Melbourne event who are now offering an event with prizemoney greater than the ).

For the women it is even worse 6 events! 4 x C5 and 2 x C10 events.

Besides sponsorship another impact on whether a promoter decides to run an event or not is the currency exchange. Prizemoney is given out in US Dollars. Currently, the Aussie Dollar is low in comparison to the USD so there is an increased financial risk for promoters. They either have to get more sponsorship or reduce what they offer or abandon offering an event completely.

C’mon Australia ... let’s build a Tour of Significance! I genuinely hope this situation improves, sooner rather than later.

Congratulations Ryan Cuskelly on reaching the final 16 at the PSA World Championships. A wonderful achievement.

Also, congratulations to (Granite Open) and (Texas Open) ... both ladies reached the semi finals of their respective events.

You can now download the latest ASP Annual: http://squashmedia.com.au/products/344/ASP2018.pdf ASP squashmedia .com.au WORLD RANKINGS 1 APRIL 2019 Australian Squash Players TM LM HR WHEN TM LM HR WHEN Ryan Cuskelly 20 22 12 Mar-17 Rachael Grinham 25 31 1 Aug-04 38 40 11 Jan-11 50 46 13 May-11 60 63 48 Sep-18 53 50 36 Jul-16 165 196 38 Feb-04 Sarah Cardwell 68 67 41 Feb-17 Alex Eustace 167 170 160 Oct-18 74 68 68 Jan-19 Thomas Calvert 184 184 155 Dec-17 114 111 91 Jan-18 Joseph White 214 214 214 Mar-19 120 98 48 Nov-17 David Ilich 216 217 210 Jan-19 129 118 94 Sep-15 Nicholas Calvert 222 228 213 Jan-19 138 129 119 Oct-18 Rohan Toole 231 242 209 Apr-17 Maria Kalafatis 160 161 159 Feb-19 254 179 36 Sep-12 Trace Johnson 168 163 163 Mar-19 Courtney West 273 276 218 Feb-12 Jessica Osborne 174 172 164 Nov-18 Lachlan Coxsedge 284 281 260 Nov-18 Courtney Mather 184 184 174 Feb-19 Jason Turner 324 328 257 Aug-17 Alex Haydon 223 202 202 Jan-19 Joel Arscott 343 364 343 Apr-19 Katie Davies 270 - 270 Apr-19 Shahzad Khan 345 350 297 Nov-17 Pascale Louka 270 258 250 Feb-19 Tim Cowell 354 332 178 Feb-13 Benjamin Ratcliffe 375 362 338 Jan-19 Sam Ejtemai 406 396 302 Feb-14 Jacob Ford 412 403 363 Feb-18 Muhammad Waheed 449 437 398 Sep-15 Damon MacMillan 470 484 470 Apr-19 Ethan Eyles 499 452 429 Jan-19 Tye Harland 523 529 365 Jul-15 Ben Courtice 550 529 333 Jan-16 BJ Macdonald 550 529 475 Jan-19 550 529 93 Feb-18 Robert Palmer 550 529 510 Feb-19 Tye Harland 529 510 365 Jul-15

All Australian PSA players are listed. 2019 World Champions & Ali Farag ASP squashmedia .com.au NEW CAREER HIGHS IN 2019-Q1 Joseph White 214 Mar-19 Jessica Turnbull 68 Jan-19 David Ilich 210 Jan-19 Maria Kalafatis 159 Feb-19 Nicholas Calvert 213 Jan-19 Trace Johnson 163 Mar-19 Joel Arscott 343 Apr-19 Courtney Mather 174 Feb-19 Benjamin Ratcliffe 338 Jan-19 Alex Haydon 202 Jan-19 Damon MacMillan 470 Apr-19 Katie Davies 270 Apr-19 Ethan Eyles 429 Jan-19 Pascale Louka 250 Feb-19 BJ Macdonald 475 Jan-19 Robert Palmer 510 Feb-19

2019 CALENDAR

as at 10/4/19 M Closed Arafura Games 29 3 P W Closed Darwin XXX Brisbane City Squash Open 3 6 P WC5 Sandgate MC5 City of Kalgoorlie Boulder Golden Open 31 3 P WC5 Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex, Kalgoorlie P MC5 Victorian Open 26 30 W Closed TBC MC10 Australian Open 3 7 P WC10 Bega MC10 Tasmanian Open 12 14 P W Closed Devonport MC5 City of Greater Bendigo International Open 1 4 P WC5 Bendigo MC5 City of Greater Shepparton International Open 21 25 P XXX Shepparton MC5 North Coast Open 22 25 P WC5 Coffs Harbour MC20 Squash Melbourne Open 2 6 P WC10 Moorabbin, Melbourne ASP squashmedia .com.au

PSA Matches played during the 1st Quarter of 2019 by our Top 10 players

Ryan Cuskelly: Aussie #1 Mar-19 Tarek Momen L QF Canary Wharf Classic 11-8, 11-13, 5-11 (51m) Mar-19 James Willstrop W R2 Canary Wharf Classic 6-11, 11-5, 11-4 (42m) Mar-19 Marwan Elshorbagy L QF Canada Cup 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12 (62m) Mar-19 Cesar Salazar W R2 Canada Cup 11-5, 11-2, 9-11, 4-11, 11-3 (61m) Mar-19 Marwan Elshorbagy L R3 World Championship 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11 (58m) Mar-19 Youssef Ibrahim W R2 World Championship 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (84m) Mar-19 Olli Tuominen W R1 World Championship 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (40m) Feb-19 Arturo Salazar L R2 Pittsburgh Open 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 4-11 Feb-19 Diego Elias L QF Motor City Open 7-11, 9-11 ret. Feb-19 Iker Pajares Bernabeu W R2 Motor City Open 11-2, 11-8, 11-8 Jan-19 Simon Rösner L R2 Tournament of Champions 4-11, 8-11, 9-11 (49m) Cameron Pilley: Aussie #2 Mar-19 Daryl Selby L R1 Grasshopper Cup 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 14-16 (85m) Mar-19 Borja Golan L R1 Canary Wharf Classic 8-11, 11-6, 8-11 (65m) Mar-19 L R2 World Championship 6-11, 9-11, 5-11 (48m) Mar-19 Christopher Binnie W R1 World Championship 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (32m) Jan-19 Diego Elias L R3 Tournament of Champions 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11 (55m) Jan-19 Tom Richards W R2 Tournament of Champions 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (28m) Jan-19 Nathan Lake W R1 Tournament of Champions 12-10, 11-9, 11-6 (46m) Rex Hedrick: Aussie #3 Mar-19 L R1 Canada Cup 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 9-11 (59m) Mar-19 Borja Golan L R1 World Championship 11-9, 13-11, 4-11, 10-12, 3-11 (87m) Mike Corren: Aussie #4 Mar-19 Addeen Idrakie L QF Elanora Open 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11 (40m) Mar-19 Zac Millar W R1 Elanora Open 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 (44m) Alex Eustace: Aussie #5 Tom Calvert: Aussie #6 Mar-19 Nick Sachvie L R1 Bermuda Open 2-11, 6-11, 3-11 ASP squashmedia .com.au

PSA Matches played during the 1st Quarter of 2019 by our Top 10 players

Joseph White: Aussie #7 Feb-19 Sean Conroy L QF Falcon Cup Open 6-11, 9-11, 9-11 (35m) Feb-19 Adrian Ostbye W R2 Falcon Cup Open 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (35m) Feb-19 Dzmitry Sankovich W R1 Falcon Cup Open 11-6, 11-1, 11-4 (12m) Feb-19 Elliott Morris Devred L QF Finnish Open 5-11, 1-11, 9-11 (32m) Feb-19 Ville Karsikas W R2 Finnish Open 10-12, 7-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-4 (61m) David Ilich: Aussie #9 Mar-19 Darren Rahul Pragasam L R1 Elanora Open 12-10, 11-4, 12-14, 7-11, 9-11 (59m) Nick Calvert: Aussie #10 Mar-19 Tomotaka Endo L R1 Elanora Open 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 9-11 (42m)

Play Squash for Fun & Fitness ... spread the word!

Rachael Grinham: Aussie #1 Mar-19 Victoria Lust L SF Texas Open 8-11, 2-11, 4-11 (23m) Mar-19 Sarah-Jane Perry W QF Texas Open 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 6-11, 11-9 (49m) Mar-19 Menna Nasser W R2 Texas Open 6-11, 11-3, 14-12, 8-11, 11-4 (51m) Mar-19 Lucy Turmel L QF Calgary Squash Week Open 11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6, 6-11 (54m) Mar-19 Ali Loke W R2 Calgary Squash Week Open 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3 (37m) Mar-19 Lisa Aitken L R1 World Championship 10-12, 7-11, 4-11 (29m) Jan-19 Liu Tsz-Ling L R1 Tournament of Champions 11-8, 5-11, 3-11, 1-11 (29m) Donna Lobban: Aussie #2 Christine Nunn: Aussie #3 Mar-19 Nour El Sherbini L R2 World Championship 2-11, 4-11, 6-11 (24m) Mar-19 Mariam Metwally W R1 World Championship 11-9, 11-8, 13-11 (37m) ASP squashmedia .com.au

PSA Matches played during the 1st Quarter of 2019 by our Top 10 players

Sarah Cardwell: Aussie #4 Mar-19 Jasmine Hutton L SF Granite Open 5-11, 7-11, 11-2, 5-11 (34m) Mar-19 Maria Toorpakai Wazir W QF Granite Open 13-11, 13-11, 6-2 ret. (22m) Mar-19 Julia Le Coq W R2 Granite Open 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 13-11 (67m) Mar-19 Nada Abbas L QF Calgary Squash Week Open 5-11, 5-11, 3-11 (25m) Mar-19 Charlotte Jagger W R2 Calgary Squash Week Open 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (25m) Mar-19 Joey Chan L R1 World Championship 6-11, 6-11, 6-11 (24m) Feb-19 Diana Garcia L R1 Cincinnati Cup 11-8, 7-11, 3-11, 8-11 (43m) Jan-19 Emilia Soini L R1 Delaware Open 11-7, 6-11, 11-13, 6-11 Jessica Turnbull: Aussie #5 Mar-19 Anna Kimberley L QF Granite Open 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 9-11 (49m) Mar-19 Yemisi Olatunji W R2 Granite Open 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (27m) Mar-19 Sabrina Sobhy L R2 Queen City Open 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 7-11 (32m) Mar-19 Cristina Gomez L R2 Calgary Squash Week Open 8-11, 9-11, 5-11 (27m) Taylor Flavell: Aussie #6 Tamika Hunt: Aussie #7 Selena Shaikh: Aussie #8 Shehana Vithana #9 Maria Kalafatis: Aussie #10

PSA Women’s Challenger 5 Brisbane City Squash Open 3-6 May 2019 World #1 Raneem El Welily Sandgate Squash Centre SQUASH 2019 CIB Black Ball Squash Open champion. ASP squashmedia .com.au

JANUARY Result - Men's Third Round: 2019 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Diego Elias (PER) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 (55m)

Australian's Cameron Pilley is out of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions after falling to a 3-1 defeat against Peru's Diego Elias at New York's Grand Central Terminal earlier today. The pair were meeting for the first time since 2014, with Yamba-born Pilley winning on that occasion, and he proved to be a thorn in Elias's side once again as he hit some superb winners to put his opponent on edge. But Elias came through to win 11-9, 11- 8, 5-11, 11-7, sending Pilley out at the last 32 stage for a second year in a row.

"He's playing better every tournament after his injury and I knew it was going to be a tough match because he won both of his matches 3-0, so he was really fresh," Elias said after the match. "I was trying to make the rallies longer. Sometimes, I was going too much to the front, but it wasn't working, so at the end I had to play some longer rallies. "He's been at the top of the game for so long and I've always admired him. It's a pleasure playing with him, I was trying to enjoy every point and I was having fun with him."

FEBRUARY Results: 2018-2019 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family men's round two [14] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [L] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2: 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (84m) [7] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (48m) [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 (24m)

Australia's World No.18 Ryan Cuskelly reached round three of the 2018-2019 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family in Chicago, while compatriots Cameron Pilley and Christine Nunn fell to defeats on day two. Cuskelly is now the last remaining Australian in the tournament after he overcame Egyptian qualifier Youssef Ibrahim in a gruelling five-game encounter. ASP squashmedia .com.au

The Australian was forced to come from behind against the 19-year-old Egyptian in a tight battle before claiming the win by an 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 in 84-minutes. He will now face Egypt's Marwan ElShorbagy for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It was tough,” said the 31- year-old following his win. “I have been watching his results and he has had some good ones against some top players, so I knew it would be a tough match. “I had a chance in every game today, but he can be very skilful with his shots and I was lucky to come back in the fifth after being down 4-1. “Union Station looks amazing; the court looks unbelievable and I'm sure it will be a great atmosphere.”

Meanwhile, compatriot Pilley was unable to join Cuskelly in the last 16 after he fell to a straight-games defeat to New Zealand's World No.6 Paul Coll.

In the women's draw, Nunn's time in Chicago also came to a premature end at the hands of two-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini on the glass court inside Union Station.

FEBRUARY Result: 2018-2019 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family men's round three [8] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [14] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-1: 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (58m)

Australia's World No.18 Ryan Cuskelly saw his 2018-2019 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family campaign come to an end at the hands of Egypt's World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy inside Chicago's Union Station. Cuskelly was the last Australian standing in the tournament, following the defeats of Cameron Pilley and Christine Nunn yesterday, however, Cuskelly was unable to make it any further in Chicago after losing out to a dominant ElShorbagy. The Egyptian reached the final of last season's tournament, narrowly losing out to older brother, Mohamed, in five-game and the World No.8 is hoping that he can go one better this year after putting in a controlled performance to reach the quarter-finals.

“I'm really happy with my performance today,” said 25-year-old ElShorbagy. “Even in the game I lost I thought I played pretty well, but all credit to Ryan, he dug in in that third game. I'm very happy with the way I came back in the fourth to win the match, it means a lot to me.”

MARCH Result - First Round: 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic Borja Golan (ESP) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 2-1: 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 (65m) ASP squashmedia .com.au

Yamba's Pilley Falls in Round One of Canary Wharf Classic Yamba's Cameron Pilley has been eliminated from the 2019 Citigold Canary Wharf Classic after a 2-1 defeat to Spain's Borja Golan at London's East Wintergarden earlier today. Golan, the World No.30, had won his last four encounters with Pilley on the PSA Tour and found his winning shots at the business end of the opening game to take it 11-8. Pilley recovered to level the scores in the second, and he looked poised to put Golan to the sword after taking a 6-3 lead in the third, but Golan dug into his mental reserves to stay in the rallies. He then showcased his impressive racket skills to close out an 11-8 triumph in the third to complete the win.

“I've known Cameron since we were juniors, we've been playing for 17 years, we're now both 36 and we're good friends,” Golan said. “Best of three is even harder, you have to be alert to every ball, the pressure is even higher, the nerves are higher, but we play in front of such a good crowd, it's only the first round and it's full. “I think I just realised that I was playing too much to the front and I wasn't doing enough damage to Cameron. He was very accurate to the front, so I tried to put the ball into the back corners, tried to make it more physical and waited for his mistakes. He made a few more than me today and that made the difference in a few points.”

MARCH Results - Second Round: 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 2-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-4 (42m)

The tournament's No.8 seed won the first match of day two, as Australia's Ryan Cuskelly overcame James Willstrop to reach the quarter finals of the Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic. It did not look good for the Aussie after the first game, as Willstrop took the early lead. However, he bounced back to move past the former World No.1, who was taking part in his 650th match on the PSA World Tour. However, Cuskelly came back and produced some much quicker squash to outpace Willstrop, and take the victory at East Wintergarden. The Canary Wharf Classic is trialling a best-of-three games format for a second successive year and the Evans Head-born Cuskelly will face Tarek Momen in the quarter finals on Wednesday evening. “The first game, you know, if you play at James' pace, he is just going to pick you off all day, so I was in that slow to medium pace and he was just too comfortable,” Cuskelly said. “Rob Owen [Cuskelly's coach] told me to step it up a bit and be a bit more aggressive and hit in front of the 'T'. That's what I did, and it was tiring, you know. “I tried to just not let him set. When James sets on the ball, he is probably the best in the world. He can put the ball away, especially on the backhand. I have watched him so much that I think like I know where he is going to hit it, sometimes. “[At those times] I just try to charge up behind him and whack the hell out of it. It is always good playing James. I love watching him play, so it was good to play well again. “I have seen those [WIllstrop's fakes] before as well. He has done it against Gawad a few times, and a few other guys. He is good at that, but I was lucky to read it today.”

MARCH Result - Quarter Final: Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 2-1: 8-11, 13-11, 11-5 (51m)

Ryan Cuskelly is out of the Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic after losing in three games to ASP squashmedia .com.au

World No.3 Tarek Momen and London's East Wintergarden.

The Evans Head-born star took the first game relatively easily, and then had match ball to secure a huge win in the second. However, the Egyptian came fighting back to win the match.

The Canary Wharf Classic is trialing a best-of-three games format for a second successive year. Momen won the second on the tie-break 13-11, before taking control in the third to secure a semi final berth. He spoke about how the Australian came flying out of the blocks.

“Ryan came out firing today. He was playing superbly well and I expected it because I had seen bits and pieces of his match with James,” Momen said. “I knew he would be aiming for too much attacking, and then if it goes in then I am going to be in trouble. It is kind of tough, backing up throughout the season. I have been having some really good results. “However, it comes with the consequence that I am actually playing so many matches in every tournament. This is new territory for me, having to back up tournament after tournament. “I am gaining a lot of experience and I was counting on my fighting spirit to get me through because today I was really behind. I was 1-0 and 6-3 down and I was not moving that well, which is something I always count on. “When I don't have my best movement, I try to come up with anything to get through. I even lied to myself, telling myself that the score was something else. I was 6-3 down and I was telling myself it was 5-5 to keep myself going. “Eventually, what got me through today was my sheer desire to win and I am very happy to get through. I had a rest day yesterday which I really made us of. It was very important. The best of three is helping in that regard, so I am happy to go only three games today, and hopefully I will get some good recovery for tomorrow.” ASP squashmedia .com.au

$5,500 Men's Pure Blonde Elanora Open 2019, Elanora, NSW PSA Challenger Tour 5, 30 - 31 March 2019 Final [1] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [2] Evan Williams (NZL) 6-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-7 (43m) Semi Finals [1] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [4] Connor Sheen (ENG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (40m) [2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) 15-17, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10 Quarter Finals [1] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [8] Mike Corren (AUS) 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 (40m) [4] Connor Sheen (ENG) bt [7] Ryan Pasqual (MAS) 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 (27m) [3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) bt [6] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (44m) [2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [5] Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (28m) Round 1 [1] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Naoki Hayashi (JPN) 10-12, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (34m) [8] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Zac Millar (NZL) 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 (44m) [7] Ryan Pasqual (MAS) bt [WC] Ali Jafari (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (35m) [4] Connor Sheen (ENG) bt Rohan Toole (AUS) 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (50m) [3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) bt David Ilich (AUS) 10-12, 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9 (59m) [6] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) bt Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 5-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (42m) [5] Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 (38m) [2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt Ong Sai Hung (MAS) 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (33m) DOUBLES ACTION @ CARRARA

15 to 16 June 2019 Australian Doubles Championships

17 to 21 June 2019 World Doubles Championships