Karakal's Emyr Evans claimed the biggest PSA Tour title of his career yesterday, by beating home favourite and second seed, Spencer Lovejoy, 3-0 in a 53 minute final at the Oregon Open in Portland, USA.
No.3 seed Emyr, had come from a game down to beat top seed Faraz Khan, also of the USA, in the semi-finals the day before, and carried that momentum into the opening stages of game one in this final. After a blistering start, he found himself 7-2 up and although the American threatened to make a comeback, closing the gap to 9-7 at one stage, the Welshman was able to hold on and take a one-game lead.
The second game swung one way, then the other. Emyr won the opening three rallies to claim an early advantage, before Spencer turned the tide to win the next five points. The pair then went toe-to-toe through the next few minutes, but once again it was Emyr who pulled clear when it mattered most, winning 11-9 and moving into a two game lead.
From 5-2 down in the third, Emyr went on a winning run of seven straight points to move to the brink of victory at 9-5. But closing out a win at a PSA event, against a home player, was never going to be easy. The American was in no mood to "gift" Emyr the title, claiming the next three points to make it 9-8, before Emyr leveled to set up two match balls. Both were saved, by the No.2 seed, who then had game balls himself at 11-10 and 12-10. However, it was Emyr who managed to make his next opportunity count, hitting a backhand drop shot winner to wrap up an 11-8, 11-9, 14-12 victory, and secure his second PSA Challenger Tour trophy.
Well done Emyr, great win!