Tuesday October 16, 2012
Ivan believes he will rediscover his form in Spain
PETALING JAYA: National squash player Ivan Yuen is hoping to be first-time lucky in Spain when he competes in the US$25,000 Santiago Open, which begins tomorrow.
The 22-year-old has had a mixed year so far as he attempts to find a balance between studies and sport. Ivan is a second-year Business Administration student at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
He lost to national No. 3 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan in the final of the Hisbiscus Gardens Open in Brisbane in May but his results have since fluctuated.
The two-time Asian Junior champion was beaten in the first round of the Australian Open by compatriot Ong Beng Hee and he failed to make the main draw of the Malaysian Open last month.
Still, the lanky Ivan, who will also compete in the Valencia Open from Oct 22-27, believes that he will rediscover his form in Spain.
“I’ve played some good matches this year but I’ve also lost some. Anyway, I think I can do better,” said Ivan.
“The Malaysian Open was quite bad but I am ready to bounce back after some good preparation. I just need to work on my confidence.
“I’ve never been to Spain so I’m in the dark as to what I’m about to face. The first two days there will determine how I’ll perform.
“But I rather like my chances in Santiago because I’ll play a qualifier in the first round and that should give me chance to test the conditions there.
“There is also top seed Adrian Grant in my half of the draw but I believe I can beat him as I only lost to him narrowly in the KL Open this year.”
World No. 61 Ivan is expected to face Englishman Grant in the quarter-finals. If he beats the experienced Grant, he’ll probably run into hard-hitting Australian Cameron Pilley.
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