Knight Pushes Walker Close in Nova Scotia

Martin Knight has come close to a momentous upset in Nova Scotia, Canada, at the Bluenose Classic.

After beating Czech Jan Koukal in the first round of the US$35,000 Bluenose Classic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, NZ#1 and WR#46 Martin Knight has come very close to the biggest win of his career against Alister Walker.  Walker, ranked 15 in the world, was the second seed at the event. 

Knight twice led his higher-ranked opponent.  Jumping out of the blocks quickly, he snared the first game 11-6.  Walker knuckled down in the second to match Knight's tempo, and event the match at 1-1.  From this point it could have been presumed that Walker had felt his way into the match and would be able to stamp his authority on court.  Knight, however, had other ideas and took a close-fought third game 12-10.  Appearing sluggish after the exertions of the first three games, Knight conceded five unanswered points at the beginning of the fourth and never recovered, losing 11-3.  At 7-7 in the deciding fifth game the two players could not be separated.  However a stroke against Knight gave Walker a slight advantage, which he was able to capitalise on, eventually winning 6-11 11-7 10-12 11-3 11-7.

Campbell Grayson was also at the event, and continued his recent good form by beating Canadian Shaun Le Roux 11-7 11-2 11-6 in the first round.  In the quarter-finals he drew fourth seed (and WR#18) LJ Anjema of Netherlands.  Although he lost in straight games - 7-11 8-11 11-13 - he forced Anjema to work for 62 minutes to reach the semi-finals.  This came just days after his victory over WR#25 Nicolas Mueller at the US Open, and should boost his world ranking in November.

Knight is next in action at the Chicago Open this weekend.  Grayson will travel to Manchester for the World Open, where Paul Coll will bid to join him in the main draw.  Check out the movements of other Kiwi players here: http://www.squashnz.co.nz/high-performance/kiwis-playing-overseas.cfm.