PSA/WSA
Hanson Takes Out Top Seed Avila to Reach 15k Winnipeg Semis
Hanson (l) against world No. 3 Nick Matthew in the Windy City Open. (image: squashpics.com)
Team USA's Chris Hanson recorded the highest-ranked upset of his career Friday night, upsetting world no. 39 and 15k Qualico Manitoba Open top seed Alfredo Avila in a five-game quarterfinal in Winnipeg.
The twenty-four-year-old Mexican earned a two game lead 11-9, 11-9 to open the match against the twenty-five-year-old American. Hanson, the tournament's six seed, then clawed back to win the next three games and match 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.
Avila is the highest-ranked player Hanson, world No. 73, has defeated on the PSA Tour, which yields his first semifinal appearance in a 15k event.
Hanson's semifinal opponent is New Zealand's three seed Campbell Grayson, who defeated Team USA's Chris Gordon 13-15, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 in the quarterfinals.
Saturday's semifinals begin at 2pm local time, 3pm ET.