A BROKEN ball might have cost Chris Simpson one of the best wins of his professional career. The Sarnian was involved in an epic quarter-final against number-one seed Chris Ryder at the Leinster Open in Dublin when, with Simpson just two points from victory, a change of ball gave the world number 33 a chance to regroup.

Ryder went on to win the marathon encounter. ‘It was the toughest game I have played for a long time,’ said the 21-year-old Guernseyman (pictured).

‘I went two games down, losing some of the crucial points with errors, then was 10-7 match ball down in the third. I came back, saving three match balls, to win the game 12-10. I then won the fourth 11-9 and was up the whole way in the fifth, playing really good squash.’

That was when Simpson’s momentum was halted.

‘At 9-6 to me, the ball broke and we had to warm up a new ball, which gave him breathing time. This didn’t suit me as I had him really tired and it gave him extra recovery.’