25/01/09 - Clyne starts as Qualifier and just loses out in Final

report by Bob Ballinger - SquashSite.co.uk

Well sometime as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. For the squash fans at the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am in Calgary that was the case for Scotland’s Alan Clyne but at the same time Mexico’s Arturo Salazar could argue that as his good fortune here in Calgary continues on.

The second seeded Salazar is now 7 wins and 1 loss in his two times here as he held off the impressive run of unseeded qualifier Clyne in the final in three straight games. The first game was decidedly one sided as Salazar took advantage of perhaps some nerves which led to several unforced errors from Clyne to win quickly in 9 minutes. As he has done all week here though Clyne was able to regroup after losing a game and he came out strong in the second game, picking up the pace which Salazar was noticeably trying to keep slow.

Clyne was a lot quicker onto the ball and much more aggressive in this game and had leads of 8-3 and 10-7. But the young Mexican showed how mentally tough he is and managed to peg back from 10-7 game ball down to tie the score at 10 each; a second game ball for Clyne at 11-10 did not faze Salazar and he took the next 3 points to close the game out at 13-11.

The third and what would be final game was tight all the way. For the first time all week we saw a bit of frustration from the top player in Scotland as well as perhaps some fatigue too but never to be questioned was his determination to try and find a way back into this match. In perhaps one of the best tactical games seen here in along time both players used all parts of the court, varying speeds and angles in many long rallies which took Salazar to a match ball at 10-9 which he could not convert and then another at 12-11 which he did capitalize on.

A standing room only crowd gave both players a much deserved long round of applause at the conclusion of the very very well played match.

So another successful event here and Arturo Salazar joins Borja Golan, Cameron Pilley, Tommy Berden, Matthew Giuffre, Daryl Selby, and Shahier Razik as champions of the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-am.

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