I gave it all I had says Ben after falling to Le Roux in $10k final

Chelmsford’s Ben Coleman was unable to mark his 23rd birthday on Sunday (April 13th) with the biggest title of his career as he lost the final of the $10,000 Open de Paris in straight games to top seed Shaun le Roux.

Coleman, who was seeded sixth, had beaten second favourite Ivan Yuen, of Malaysia, 3/2 in a marathon semi-final lasting 105 minutes, but was unable to deliver another shock in the final, which South AfricanLe Roux won 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 in 62 minutes.

Nevertheless, the world no.79 could look back on an impressive week in the French capital.

“I really enjoyed my first time in Paris,” Coleman told Squash Site. ” I look forward to returning soon.

“I gave it all I had in the final, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite good enough this time.

“Hopefully next time I am back I can finish as the winner, but it’s been a very positive week for me.”

Meanwhile, Essex’s Daryl Selby survived a dramatic contest to reach the second round of the $115,000 El Gouna International in Egypt on Sunday.

The eighth seed needed five games and 74 minutes to subdue local hope Zahed Mohamed, ranked 58th in the world.

“It’s always tough playing youngsters here in Egypt, as they have so many good players, and Zahed made it very tough for me,” said Selby after his 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6 success. “I’d never seen him before, so didn’t know what to expect. I thought I had him at 2/1, but he came back strong, so I’m really pleased to come through and I’m going to enjoy my day off in El Gouna.”

The world no.10 was joined in the second round by fellow Essex player Peter Barker, the seventh seed, who eased past Finnish qualifier Henrik Mustonen in straight games – 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 – in 31 minutes.

Our thanks to Englandsquashandracketball.com for this information.