|
|
|
 |
07-Mar, Final:
Ford stops Torricini in Salzburg
Rehan van der Merwe reports
Ben Ford was in control of the final in Salzburg as he ended the run
of Andrea Torricini with a well controlled 11/9 11/5 7/11 11/6
win in 56 minutes.
Andrea was perhaps a tad too nervous in the beginning as he tried to
apply the same gameplan as against Kandra yesterday, but Ben was
much too controlled and straight and forced Andrea into risking too
much and making errors.
Only after the second game did Andrea get more relaxed and was he
able to apply his own pressure, working hard to run down everything,
and Ben (who had switched rackets, having broken all his strings)
not being able to counter effectively. Ben came out firing in the
fourth and was well in control, going for, and pulling off more and
more shots.
Well done to Andrea Torricini for a magnificent weekend, and well
done to Ben Ford for such a good win.
Ben dedicates his tournament win to his late father-in-law who
passed away 6 weeks ago.
|
 |
 Austrian
OIpen 2010
04-08 Mar, Salzburg, $3k |
Round One
05 Mar |
Quarters
06 Mar |
Semis
06 Mar |
Final
07 Mar |
[1] Ben Ford (Eng)
8/11 11/7 11/8 12/10 (70m)
[Q] Rudi Rohrmuller (Ger) |
[1] Ben Ford
11/7 9/11 11/5 11/5
[6] Klemem Gutman |
[1] Ben Ford
11/8 3/11 11/8 13/11 (48m)
Luca Mastrostefan |
[1] Ben Ford
11/9 11/5 7/11 11/6 (54m)
[7] Andrea Torricini |
[6] Klemem Gutman (Slo)
2/11 11/7 12/10 11/8
[Q] Petr Martin (Cze) |
[3] Aqeel Rehman (Aut)
11/9 11/9 11/5 (39m)
[Q] Adam Fuller (Eng) |
[3] Aqeel Rehman
11/8 14/12 11/8
Luca Mastrostefano |
[5] Andrea Bianchetti (Ita)
11/7 11/8 11/4
Luca Mastrostefano (Ita) |
Marcus Greslehner (Aut)
11/4 13/11 11/6
[7] Andrea Torricini (Ita) |
[7] Andrea Torricini
11/5 11/6 11/0
[4] Rory Pennell |
[7] Andrea Torricini
11/2 11/3 11/12 11/3 (51m)
[8] Raphael Kandra |
Stefan Brauneis (Aut)
11/2 11/7 11/6
[4] Rory Pennell (Eng) |
[Q] Martin Mosnik (Slo)
11/6 11/9 11/7 in 39
[8] Raphael Kandra (Ger) |
[8] Raphael Kandra
12/10 11/5 11/13 11/9
[2] James Snell |
Jakob Dirnberger (Aut)
6/11 6/11 11/4 11/6 11/4
[2] James Snell (Eng) |
04 Mar,
Qualifying:
Martin Mosnik bt Rozie Langus
11/3, 11/6, 11/6 (31m)
Adam Fuller bt Peter Kviecinsky
11/6, 11/7, 11/7 (27m)
Rudi Rohrmuller bt Ondrej Ertl
11/5, 11/8, 11/8 (37m)
Petr Martin bt Mick Biggs
11/3, 9/11, 11/8,
11/3 (33m)
Round One:
Rozie Langus bt Christian Coufal
11/5, 11/7, 11/7
Adam Fuller bt Lukas Gnauer
11/2, 11/2, 11/6
Rudi Rohrmuller bt Martin Tollich
11/1, 11/1, 11/5
Mick Biggs bt Rehan van der Merwe
11/9, 15/13, 11/5
|
|
 |
06-Mar, Semis:
The "old gits" make the final
Rehan van der Merwe reports
 Ben
Ford was first up take up a place in the finals. Luca got off to
a good start, winning the first game to 8, but seemed visibly not
concentrated and tired in the second, giving it all back for only
points.
Luca was back in control in the third as Ben made some errors, but
he drew tired as Ben consolidated from 8/5 onwards taking 6 in a row
- Ben 11/8. Fourth was a humdinger, never much in it with some close
calls on both sides towards the end, as both had chances to clinch
the game, but Ben took control of the last points and closed out
11/8 3/11 11/8 13/11 in 48 minutes.
"Match of the night" was as surprising,
as it was entertaining. Raphael Kandra was perhaps favourite against
Andrea Torricini, having won their last encounter, but Andrea
came out firing and cutting of Raphael's open game, slotting any
cross that came his way into the straight front. First set was quick
and simple 11/2.
 The
anticipation was that Raphael was gonna "wake up" in the second, but
try as he may, Raphael could find nothing to unsettle the on-fire
Italian as he raced to a 11/3 second set. The only hope for Raphael
came in the third as, with 5 mathballs in hand, Torricini suddenly
made mistake and boosted Raphael's confidence to attack a bit more
and take it 12/10. Fourth set was back to business again as Andrea
raced to a 5-0 lead and then to his 11/2 11/3 11/12 11/3 victory.
Credit to Raphael who fought all the way, keeping them in court for
51 minutes, but congratulations to Andrea for a magnificent
performance.
Final tomorrow at 14h00 is between the "old gits" Ben Ford (34) and
Andrea Torricini (33). It is sure to be a great match - power and
control v speed and amazing fitness. Andrea has not met his limits
yet, so will be running like the wind again tomorrow, but Ben will
certainly be up with a plan to counter the Italian Express. I can't
wait! |
"I had to win!! I am from southern
Italy - I can't drive in this snow, so I have to stay another day."
|
06-Mar, Quarters:
Luca takes out home hope Aqeel
Rehan van der Merwe reports
First on court was the much anticipated match between local Aqeel
Rehman and Luca Mastrostefano. Luca, working hard, took the
first two games, closely matched. As the third hard set went on, one
could feel the tension rising as, more arguements occurring and the
crowd getting more and more involved to carry their players to the
next round. Luca, getting tired, was grooving the rallies, with
Aqeel frantically scurrying to stay in the match. Luca kept the
pressure and his cool, clinching it 11/8 14/12 11/8 in just short of
an hour.
Meanwhile, more subdued than yesterday, Ben Ford was playing
his way past Klemen Gutman. Although Ben made some errors he never
seemed under pressure, angling his opponent out of the match 11/7
9/11 11/5 11/5.
Quick and easy was Andrea Torricini's match against Rory
Pennell. He upped his game conciderably since his game yesterday and
was not only running well but finding good touch as well. A 23
minute win: 11/5 11/6 11/0.
Match of this round was, as expected Raphael Kandra upsetting
second seed James Snell. James still seemed to having nightmares of
his firstround match. First set was a very closely matched 12/10,
but then Raphael dominated and gave James very little to work with,
up to matchpoint 10/6 ... James won it 13/11 as Raphael's hand got a
bit weak. There was a moment of the same as Raphael sprinted to more
matchpoints in the fourth, again 10/6 ... this time Raphael rapped
it up 11/9 with some awesome fetching from both players. A 75 minute
marathon 12/10 11/5 11/13 11/9 to the delight of the crowd.
|
|
|
|
05-Mar, Round One:
Only one
surprise in Salzburg
Rehan van der Merwe reports
First match on maincourt was Rudi Rohrmüller challenging Ben Ford,
first seed. Ben arrived only later in the afternoon, and seemed a
bit out of sorts in the first game. Rudi, playing his normal
physical game, was getting into his Ben head at the start, getting
him frustrated and arguing with the Ref. From the second game
onwards Ben was much more collected and stayed in chirpy control
until he lead 10-6 math ball in the forth at which point Rudi fought
back patiently to 10-10 before Ben wrapped it up. Ben closing out,
rather uncomfortably at times, but convincingly 8/11 11/7 11/8 12/10
in 70 minutes.
Meanwhile on the next court Klemen Gutman beat Petr Martin
2/11 11/7 12/10 11/8. Petr was quick as ever, leaving Klemen
somewhat dumbfounded at times with his court coverage. Petr seemed
in control of the points, but somehow couldn't convert.
In the only upset of the day, Luca Mastrostefano convincingly
beat fellow Italian Andrea Bianchetti 11/7 11/8 11/4. The former
world no. 84 always seemed in control and closed the points out,
seemingly at will.
Jakob Dirnberger did well to extend James Snell to five sets.
James opened the court up too much in the beginning, but took back
thorough control of the match from the third onwards winning 6/11
6/11 11/4 11/6 11/4.
Wildcard Marcus Greslehner, top Austrian Junior and PSA newcomer
took on Andrea "The Indian" Torricini. Although
Greslehner had 4 game balls in the second, the Italian runner,
although not finding his mark today, always seemed like the easy
winner moving the youngster into desperation. 11/4 13/11 11/6.
Aqeel Rehman had to work hard to beat Adam Fuller's soft hand
in three sets. The local crowd was delighted as Aqeel, despite
making some errors, kept control over Adam, who seemed to exercise
the wrong options when it came to making the points. Aqeel ran out
the winner with 11/9 11/9 11/5 in 39 minutes.
Raphael Kandra's agility and court craft was always too much
for Martin Mosnik. Martin put in the miles, Raphi took the points.
11/6 11/9 11/7 in 39 minutes.
Last match on was Rory Pennell vs Stefan Brauneis, Pennell
not taking any trouble 11/2 11/7 11/6.
Tomorrow morning's most anticipated match will be Raphael Kandra,
fast improving German youth against James Snell, second seed and
hoping to improve a rather lacklustre game today - both fit, both
quick, but with different styles of play. Rahpael will be trying to
use his racket skills to open up the court, James will be keeping it
tight and straight. Sure to be a cracker.
|
Rohrmüller muscles into
first PSA main event
Rehan van der Merwe reports
Rudi Rohrmüller, 18 year old German hopeful, powered his way passed
Ondrej Ertl to make it into the main event in his first PSA Open
event. From the start he overpowered the quick-footed Czech player,
who could hold his own in the second, but at a severe physical cost.
As Ertl grew tired he grew more and more frustrated with the strong
boy's physical presence, and could not penetrate any more - a
straight forward 3/0 for Germany.
Martin Mosnik had no trouble beating past his Slovenian countryman
Rozle Langus 11/3 11/6 11/6.
Petr Martin dominated Mick Biggs throughout. The speedy Czech
dropped the second, but always seemed in control. 11/3 9/11 11/8
11/3.
Match of the day belonged to Adam Fuller and Peter Kviecinsky.
Although Adam won 3/0, leading pretty much from start to finish,
Peter was fighting all the way, trying to match Adam on every rally.
In the end Adam's soft hand and good court coverage was too much and
he cruised to a 11/6 11/7 11/7 victory in an entertaining match.
Highly anticipated is tomorrows match between Aqeel Rehman, local
favourite, and Brit Adam Fuller. Locals would be rooting hard for
Aqeel, but Adam will be keen for an upset.
Under way in Salzburg
Rehan van der Merwe reports
The Austrian Open Qualifying is underway. The locals were trying to
upset Rozle Langus, Adam Fuller, Rudi Rohrmüller and Mick Biggs in
the first round before spots in the main draw are up for grabs this
evening.
No surprises as all the Pro's go through without the loss of games.
The only game that got close to anything was Rehan van der Merwe,
the local coach, taking advantage of the homecourt advantage before
Mick Biggs closed out comfortably in the end: 11/9 15/13 11/5.
Rozle Langus had to work a bit as well against Christian Coufal, but
still took it comfortably 11/5 11/7 11/7. Adam Fuller and Rudi
Rohrmüller were very dominant against Lukas Gnauer and Martin
Tollich respectively, giving away only a few points each.
So on to the last qualifying round. A match that I am looking
forward to is German junior player Rudi Rohrmüller against Czech
Ondrej Ertl. Rudi has made a big impression on the Junior Circuit
and would be working hard as ever to get into the main event.
The Austrian Open was run as the Salzburg Open in the past and got
the nod to get the national Title for 2010.
Ben Ford is favourite to take the title ahead of James Snell. Locals
will be rooting for 3rd seed Aqeel Rehman, the Manchester based
Salzburger. Aqeel has made the Semi-final in his last two apearances
here and will be hoping to go better this time round ... no pressure
mate!
Also closely watched will be Raphael Kandra. The young German will
be keen to prove that he can play well above his PSA ranking of 184.
|
|
|
