Ouseph stuns third seed in epic victory
Feltham’s Rajiv Ouseph kept his nerve in a thrilling encounter to stun third seed Son Wan Ho at the All-England Open in Birmingham.
The world number 22 stretched his unbeaten start to 2015 to nine matches with an outstanding 21-16 18-21 21-19 victory.
In the build up, Ouseph had played down his hopes of beating Son but he emerged triumphant in 73 minutes.
After a tight opening, the 28-year-old pulled ahead at 10-10 and never relinquished his lead, winning four points in a row on his way to take the opening game.
But roles were quickly reversed as Korean Son, ranked four in the world, stepped up a gear in the latter stages of the second game and he held off an Ouseph recovery to force a decider.
England’s number one started that slowly, losing the first three points, and at one point trailed 11-8.
But Ouseph pulled back to level and in an enthralling tussle the lead changed hands several times before the pair found themselves locked at 18-18.
It was the west Londoner who managed to squeeze over the line, with match point going to a dramatic review, to clinch one of his best career results.
He will play world number 18 H. S. Prannoy or France’s Brice Leverdez in the second round.
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