Joe Chapman recorded his first win on the PSA tour with a 3-0 victory against Shahjahan Khan of Pakistan.

Chapman, ranked #389 in the world, was up against Shahjahan Khan of Pakistan and held his nerve best to come out a 3-0 winner with a 12-10, 11-6, 14-12 score line in a 55 minute battle of wits.

The first game started out steady between University of Rochester team member Chapman (VI) and Shahjahan Khan (PAK). The boys were locked at 5-5, and then 7-7.

It seemed Chapman would secure the game when he gained a two point advantage at 9-7, but Khan came back to tie it at 9, then fought back to tie it at 10. With neither player willing to concede the first game, the players came up with some scintillating Squash before Chapman emerged victorious, winning 12-10 in 20 minutes.

Chapman came out firing in the second game and combined with a couple errors by Khan, Chapman leapt into a 7-4 lead. Although Khan hit a couple feathery drops, Chapman was picking everything up, perfectly willing to do the running.

At 5-7 down, Khanupped the ante by “accidentally” clipping Chapman’s calf with a cross court. Although it appeared unintentional, the pain focused Chapman into a masterful period of play as he pulled away to win the second game 11-6 in just 14 minutes.

Two love downand it seemed all over for Khan, but he refused to go down easily. The third could not have been tighter. The rallies went back and forth until Khan pulled away to an 8-5 lead. With the momentum shifting in Khan’s favour, Chapman got the break he needed when his opponent made a service error and a couple of tins. Chapman now had the edge at 9-8, but once again Khan composed himself and hit back to make it 10-10. The game was then locked at 11, and then at 12, before Chapman forced Khan into another error to lead 13-12. Chapman would take advantage ofhis game ball, winning 14-12 after a lengthy rally.

“It was a little nerve wracking to start, but once I got into it I felt good,” commented Chapman. “Playing individually is different to team play, playing in a PSA event is a different mindset if you lose you are out.”

Chapman plays another qualifier today, April 26, and with a win will make the main draw. “I’m playing the number one seed tomorrow, but will approach it the same, have a good stretch, do the right things and try to be relaxed.”

Chapman, in his final year at the University of Rochester, is looking forward to making the transition from college Squash to professional Squash and playing a few more PSA events this summer after he graduates.