Le Roux Lifts Northumbria Open Crown from PSA Media March 31, 2014 -
Top-seeded South African Shaun le Roux triumphed in the inaugural
Northumbria Open when he beat India's Mahesh Mangaonkar in the first
PSA World Tour squash event ever to be staged in the north-eastern
English city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The UK-based
27-year-old from Cape Town was in commanding form in the PSA Challenger
5 event, reaching the final at the Northumberland Club without dropping
a game. Mangaonkar, the No.3
seed from Mumbai, made his breakthrough in the semi-finals when he
fought back from two games down to upset second seed Kristian Frost
Olesen in a 102-minute five-game marathon – the 20-year-old Indian's
longest winning performance on the PSA Tour - to reach his fifth Tour
final. And the fast-rising
young Mangaonkar, ranked a career-best World No.74, earned the
distinction of being the first to win a game against the event
favourite when he took the third in the final. But Le Roux, ranked 55
in the world and celebrating his 14th final appearance on the PSA Tour,
quickly regained control of the match – taking the fourth to clinch an
11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3 victory in 56 minutes. "I got a good start
but he fought back well,” said the triumphant South African after
claiming his ninth PSA Tour title. "I managed to get in front
again in the fourth, I think he was feeling the effects of last night’s
long match. "I enjoy playing here
and it’s good to see this event becoming a full PSA tournament," added
Le Roux. "I hope it continues to grow year on year.” RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Northumbria Open, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England 1st round: [1] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Lance James Beddoes (NZL) 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 (35m) [6] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 10-12, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (75m) [5] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [WC] Liam Gutcher (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (27m) [4] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 11-7, 11-4, 6-1 ret. (42m) [3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Adam Auckland (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 (51m) [7] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [Q] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (61m) [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt [8] Alex Ingham (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 (43m) [2] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Daniel Hockborn (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (38m)
Quarter-finals: [1] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [6] Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (40m) [5] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [4] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 14-12 (68m) [3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [7] Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-8, 14-12, 11-6 (48m) [2] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (42m)
