Squash: MacLean recovers against the odds
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MARK MacLEAN was decidedly off colour at lunchtime, saved seven match points around tea time, and ended the day with the best win of his career yesterday.
The Scottish No 1 had described his chances as '400 to one' before playing the second- seeded Australian Rodney Martin, yet survived three final games of continual brinkmanship to reach the quarter-finals of the Allied Bank/CAA Pakistan Open by beating the former world champion 8-15, 11-15, 15-13, 17-16, 17-15.
MacLean, who said he had been ill four times after consuming a soft drink, wondered whether or not he would be able to play. 'But I didn't feel too bad once I got on to the court and didn't feel any worse as the match went on,' he said.
Martin relaxed his grip after obtaining a two-game lead and MacLean responded by going for every possible volley drop and sudden kill. Nevertheless the London-based world No 15 from Edinburgh had to survive two match points in the fourth game and even trailed 9-14 in the fifth before making his improbable escape.
MacLean's victory substantially enhances Jahangir's prospects of reaching the final in his comeback tournament. Jahangir, the 10 times British Open champion, beat England's Danny Meddings 15-7, 15-13, 15-6 while the other great Khan, world champion Jansher, reached the quarter- finals after an ugly incident between his opponent Austin Adarraga and the referee Gogi Alauddin.
Alauddin, a former world No 2, awarded a code of conduct penalty point against Adarraga for delaying and arguing, and after his straight games defeat the Australian-born Spaniard attracted dozens of spectators by a engaging in a shouting match with Alauddin in the concourse of the Roshan-Jahangir Club.
Two other Britons, Peter Marshall and Simon Parke, also reached the quarter-finals, with Parke, the former world junior champion, defeating England's eighth seed Chris Walker.
Results, Sport in Short, page 35
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments