ROTTERDAM (Netherlands), Oct 31: Thierry Lincou, the only Frenchman to have won the world title, had to save two match points and a harassing encounter with Shawn Delierre, the world number 58 from Canada, to avoid a first round exit in this year’s World Open.

The oldest man in the tournament at 35, Lincou was made to battle for 98 minutes and to cope with a number of contentious rallies on a hot court in order to survive 13-11, 4-11, 11-3, 4-11, 15-13.

The first round matches are being played on hot, conventional plaster courts before the tournament moves to a glass show court at Luxor theatre, making the rallies long and the ball bouncey and sometimes hard to see.

Delierre felt encouraged to play at a high level, taking advantage of his famous opponent’s discomforts, which included a hamstring niggle.

The qualifier played very good second and fourth games giving Lincou no chance with an attacking style which included clever drop shots and lobs. Five points ahead in the decider and still looking fresh, Delierre seemed likely to cause the upset.

But strangely he himself contributed to the chaotic last phase in which there were a number of blocks and cheap lets, and the spectators turned against the underdog as point by point Lincou got closer.

Lincou next plays Stewart Boswell, the former world number four from Australia, who beat Nafizwan Adnan of Malaysia by 11-3, 11-6, 11-4.

Results:

First round: David Palmer (AUS x8) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8; Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5; Thierry Lincou (FRA x10) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 13-11, 4-11, 11-3, 4-11, 15-13; Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Nafizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4; Borja Golan (ESP) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3; Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-1; Omar Mosaad (EGY x14) bt Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 14-12, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9; Karim Darwish (EGY x3) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2; Simon Rosner (GER) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 12-10, 11-6, 11-3; Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY x9) bt Jon Kemp (ENG) 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6; Nick Matthew (ENGx1) bt Stephane Galifi (ITA) 11-8, 11-1, 11-3; Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 11-5; Steve Coppinger (RSA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-1, 12-10, 11-8; Peter Barker (ENGx7) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4; Cameron Pilley (AUSx16) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-2, 11-3, 11-8; Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4.—AFP