In a highly anticipated match for the US Men’s Team, South Africa defeated the boys in red, white and blue in straight matches.

If Team USA had secured a victory, they would have catapulted themselves into the top 12 but will now have to settle for a battle for 13th place, the same place the team achieved two years ago.

South Africa was forced to rest their number two player, Steve Coppinger, as he had not yet had a rest day for the tournament, struggling through some longs matches against Canada, Kuwait, and Malaysia. The first match on court was between American number two Christopher Gordon and the South African number three Adrian Hansen. Both teams knew that this match would likely determine the overall result. Unfortunately for Team USA, Gordon could not find that magic that he had exhibited against the Frenchman Renan Lavigne in the earlier rounds, finding the tin more often than not. Hansen was clearly more prepared to do battle and it showed on court, as he pressured Gordon into mistakes, moving him around and volleying everything in his long reach. The first two games went easily to the South African, 11-4, 11-7. In the fourth game, Gordon managed to play some more consistent squash. With the score knotted at 7-7, he played his best point of the match, moving Hansen all over the court before playing a punishing backhand volley kill that was out of reach, 8-7. Then a stroke to Hansen, 8-8. Another beautiful backhand volley drop by Gordon, 9-8. Then a monstrous point, with the young American picking up two nicks in the front left before finally playing the easiest ball in the rally right back at himself, 9-9. Then two tins in a row for the American, one on a forehand volley kill and one on a lazy cross court drop to give South Africa the early 1-0 lead.

At this point, Julian Illingworth needed to come through at number one to even give Team USA a chance. On paper, Illingworth was the clear favorite against South African number one Jesse Engelbrecht, however the wily, cat-quick Engelbrecht showed up for the match in a big way, taking it to Illingworth in the first game 11-9. The second game had a similar tone to the first game, tins from Illingworth, retrieving from Engelbrecht and two rolling nicks to close out the game, 11-7. Illingworth managed to slow the third game down, playing patient length up and down the backhand wall, waiting for an opportunity to arise. When it did, he pounced, playing four backhand drop shot winners. However, Engelbrecht kept playing cross-courts, volleys, boasts, and anything else he could to keep a non-rhythmic pace in the rallies. Engelbrecht reached match ball at 10-8. Illingworth forces a tin, then plays in a winner on the forehand volley, 10-10. Then a weak length from the American opens the door for the South African and he plays in a winning drop, 11-10, match ball number three. Another backhand drop and the South African team breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a tough loss for the Americans, as they will now not be able to improve on their 13th place finish in 2005. However, they can now try to match that place with two wins in a row to close out the week. Next up for the Americans is either Wales (with an injured number one player, Alex Gough) or Hong Kong tomorrow, then either New Zealand or Germany. It should be noted that American number three Jamie Crombie took down the South African number four in a best-of-three match and is playing quite good squash at the moment, which is a good sign for the Americans as they more forward.