PHOTO ALBUM
Demi-finale
[2] Karim Gawad (EGY) 3-1 Auguste Dussourd 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (59m)
Quart de finale
Auguste Dussourd 3-2 Bernat Jaume (ESP) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9 (87m)
France’s Auguste Dussourd is through to his maiden Gold-level semi-final on the PSA Squash Tour after outlasting Spain’s Bernat Jaume in an 89-minute cage match at the Easy Times Brewing Co Squash Australian Open.
Tonight’s match in Brisbane’s South Bank Piazza represented a major opportunity for Dussourd and Jaume. Both men playing a Gold-level quarter-final for the first time after Dussourd upset No.8 seed and compatriot Baptiste Masotti in round two, while Jaume’s match against defending champion Youssef Soliman was cut short by an injury to the Egyptian.
Dussourd was the first to strike, with the Frenchman coming out aggressively to build an 8-1 lead before taking game one 11-6. Jaume pushed up the court in game two and showed some excellent touches as he built an 8-3 lead. To the Spaniard’s frustration, he couldn’t find the three remaining points needed to strike back, with Dussourd inching back as the Frenchman hit seven consecutive points en route to an 11-9 win.
Game three was a fractured affair as both men threw everything at each other in for a chance at a place in a Gold semi-final. As in game two, Jaume made a strong start but faltered under pressure.
Dussourd had a golden opportunity as he went match ball up at 10-9, only to hit the tin when well placed on a cross court to take the game into a tie break. Jaume took full advantage of the opportunity, taking the tie break 12-10 to pull a game back.
The fourth game was a bad tempered one that saw Jaume appear to use vulgar language on court and Dussourd angrily refuse a hand up, which was met with mock crying by Jaume. Amongst the many, many stoppages, it was Jaume who was able to get the key points, punishing Dussourd in the front corners to take an 11-8 win.
Game five was as acrimonious as the preceding two, with neither men giving any quarter, with the ferocious words between the two matched by the incredible athletic commitment, with both men throwing themselves all over court.
Eventually, though, the epic bout came to a conclusion. After seeing his 9-5 lead evaporate to 9-9, Dussourd finally regained his composure, clinging on to earn another match ball at 10-9 and this time converted, bringing the 89-minute brawl to an end to the roars of the crowd.
After the match, Dussourd opted to reduce the tension, saying: “Bernat is so good and so skilful and I was struggling in the front, I wasn’t feeling good on my legs. It was hard and I battled against myself today.”
Second Tour
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 3-0 [7] Sebastien Bonmalais 11-5, 11-5, 15-13 (44m)
Auguste Dussourd3-0 [8] Baptiste Masotti 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 (42m)
Dussourd Gains Revenge in all-French Battle
Auguste Dussourd avenged his defeat to French compatriot Baptiste Masotti at the New Zealand Open by triumphing this time out to reach the quarter finals of the Australian Open.
Dussourd and Masotti, close friends off court, met in the last eight last week in New Zealand where the latter came out on top with a 3-1 success.
However it was Dussourd’s day this time around, dispatching his French teammate in straight games for a quarter-final berth, nailing his tactics and found his targets well as Masotti made a number of uncharacteristic errors.
Dussourd won 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 and will face Bernat Jaume tomorrow night.
Premier Tour
Auguste Dussourd3-0 Tom Walsh (ENG) 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (41m)
Dussourd Sets Up All-French Rematch
Auguste Dussourd has teed up a rematch with his French compatriot Baptiste Masotti in round two following his 3-0 win against Tom Walsh. Dussourd and Masotti, good friends off court, went head-to-head last week in New Zealand where the latter prevailed and they will meet again tomorrow a week on from their clash in Christchurch.
Dussourd and Walsh played out some lengthy rallies in the opening exchanges, which seemed to favour the Frenchman as he went 1-0 up with a 11-9 victory.
Some excellent drop shots into the front right after some lengthy exchanges in the second gave Dussourd a 9-3 lead as he looked to have more in the tank after the long rallies in the opening game.
After Walsh lost the second 11-3, the Englishman stepped up in the third with a rapid start of points as he looked to find a way back in the contest. However Dussourd’s experience proved to be too much in the end to get him over the line.
“I feel good. it’s always tricky in the first round – in New Zealand I played a teammate and I won 3-2 and it was tough,” he said. “I said to myself to prepare better and to win in three, it’s a new court, a new place, new everything and you have to get used to it fast. But I’m happy to get through in three.
“It’s better than winning in five [to win in three] as you’re not using as much energy and you keep more of it. I’m ready for a battle tomorrow – I play my French teammate [Baptiste Masotti] who’s one of my best friends. I hope I can get my revenge from last week!”
