DAYTON(USA), Jan 24: Australia’s sixth-seeded Paul Price was the biggest casualty on the opening day of the $30,000 Dayton Squash Open when he lost in straight games to England’s unseeded Adrian Grant.

Grant, 22, a former European Junior champion from London but now based in Halifax in Yorkshire, overcame the 26-year-old world No20 from Melbourne 15-12 17-15 15-12 to set up a quarter-final clash with top-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou.

Unseeded South African Rodney Durbach also produced an upset to reach the last eight - beating England’s 8th seed Stephen Meads 15-11 17-15 15-11. Durbach now meets another Englishman Lee Beachill, the twice British National champion playing in his first PSA Tour event since injuring his right ankle in last month’s World Open in Antwerp. Third seed Beachill defeated compatriot Julian Wellings 15-10 15-9 15-4.

RESULTS: First round: Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Cameron White (AUS) 15-6, 15-7, 15-10; Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Paul Price (AUS) 15-12, 17-15, 15-12; Lee Beachill bt Julian Wellings (ENG) 15-10, 15-9, 15-4; Rodney Durbach (RSA) bt Stephen Meads (ENG) 15-11, 17-15, 15-11; Alex Gough (WAL) bt Lee Drew (ENG) 15-10, 15-6, 15-6; Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 15-12, 15-3, 15-2; Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Peter Genever (ENG) 15-10, 15-12, 15-12; Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 15-10, 15-8, 15-14.—WSF