22-Jun, Final:
[3] Aqeel Rehman (Aut) 3-1 [1] Jan Koukal (Cze)
               7-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-5 (42m)

Rehman takes Christchurch title
Michael Pittams reports

Austria's Aqeel Rehman has won his third PSA title at the 2014 Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open.

The final, contested by Czech Jan Koukal and Austrian Rehman, was keenly anticipated by a large crowd of Canterbury squash enthusiasts. Koukal, the top seed, as a current world ranking of 60, and has amassed a highly impressive 30 PSA titles throughout the course of his career. Rehman, the younger of the two at 27 years of age, has the slightly lower ranking of 81 – a recently achieved career high.

Koukal, forced by a forearm tendon injury to play a style of game relying heavily on drops, lobs, guile and other generally gentle strokes, was effective in the opening exchanges. His ability to find height and width with the shiny new Dunlop when lobbing, and to navigate around the cracks at the front of the court when dropping, meant there was little Rehman could do to prevent him taking a 1-0 lead. In the second set, Rehman was more able to force himself higher on the ‘tee’ and dictate play from the front of the court. From the back corners, the threats of Koukal’s game seemed to be somewhat diminished. Rehman opened up a 10-7 lead, but must have felt some nerves when two magnificent Koukal winners closed to the gap to 10-9. Eventually Rehman was able to seal the game, and with it a 1-1 scoreline.

In the third, Rehman took an early lead once again, and after finishing on the preferable end of several superb rallies to lead 5-1, Koukal seemed to adopt a strategy of resting for the next game. Armed with a new ball, the opening exchanges of the fourth set were considerably closer. Lengthy rallies lead to a deadlock at 3-3. A series of hard, flat lengths from Rehman soon saw him open up a handy 7-3 lead.

Had Rehman found the formula to victory? Koukal is not a veteran of 30 PSA titles for no reason, however, and fought to stay in touch at 5-9. A tin from Koukal, a yell of “COME ON”, and Rehman had his first match ball. He would not require another, and his delight to have won a third career PSA title was both infectious and palpable.

The finals of the Burnside Open were also played on the Sunday afternoon, with popular local winners taking the titles. Oamaruvian Chris van der Salm lost a very close qualifying final on Thursday night, but his five set win over Finn Tatu Knuutila would have gone some way towards easing his pain.

The women's final was won by Emma Sim in a marathon five set contest with New Zealand Masters representative Karen Walton.
 

The tournament control ladies

PSA Oceania rep thanks promoter Paul Growcott with a signed PSA polo shirt

Corren receives service award

PSA Oceania rep Kashif Shuja recognised
Mike Corren's service to Squash and PSA at the prizegiving ceremony of the Christchurch International.

"I would like to use this opportunity of a gathering of squash players and enthusiasts to highlight the achievements of one of our region's most successful active squash players," said Shuja.

"Mike has been on the PSA World Tour for nearly 18 years and won 50 tour titles. He has been a true ambassador of professional squash and has contributed immensely to Squash in the region."

"I keep playing simply because I love squash!" said a grateful Mike Corren - thanking the PSA for the gesture.

11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (35m)

[5] Addeen Idrakie

7-11, 11-9,
11-1, 11-5

[3] Aqeel Rehman

3rd PSA title
for Aqeel

 8-11, 9-11, 11-6,
11-6, 11-6 (61m)

[Q] Kashif Shuja

19-Jun, Qualifying :

Tristan Eysele (Rsa) bt Chris van der Salm (Nzl)   8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8 (37m)
Ben Grindrod (Nzl) bt Paul Rawden (Eng)                      11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (34m)
Kashif Shuja (Nzl) bt Michael Pittams (Nzl)                      11-6, 11-6, 11-2 (28m)
Hannan Tarmidi (Mas) bt Tatu Knuutila (Fin)  1-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7 (50m)


Tristan Eysele (Rsa) bye
Chris van der Salm (Nzl) v Jason van der Walt (Nzl)
Paul Rawden (Eng) v Jackson Beresford (Nzl)
Ben Grindrod (Nzl) bt Chris Williams (Nzl)
Kashif Shuja (Nzl) bt Luke Jones (Nzl)
Mike Lewis (Usa) v Michael Pittams (Nzl)
Tatu Knuutila (Fin) v Corbin Faint (Nzl)
Hannan Tarmidi (Mas) bt Nigel Lloyd (Nzl

21-Jun, Semis:
Koukal and Rehman in Christchurch Final
Michael Pittams reports

Jan Koukal and Aqeel Rehman will contest the final of the Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open.

Top seed Koukal gave ten years away to his Malaysian semi-final opponent, the promising Adeen Idrakie of Malaysia. Besides youth, Idrakie also had excellent movement skills on his side. If this caused Koukal any undue problems, the keen card shark showed a poker face throughout, and doggedly plugged the four corners of the court for as long as was required to win the rally.

Young Idrakie was often drawn to unforced errors in his attempts to create winners and finish rallies. Although it was Koukal’s longest match of the tournament so far, at just 35 minutes he will have freshness and energy on his side tomorrow.

The 3pm decider will be Koukal’s second career PSA final on New Zealand shores, after beating Wellington’s Evan Williams at the 2012 Henderson Open.

The second semi-final also featured an age disparity, with the younger Austrian Rehman up against veteran New Zealander Kashif Shuja. From the outset Shuja seemed to be in vintage form, with several onlookers making comparisons to the Shuja of several years ago.

Despite Rehman’s best attempts to cover the court, Shuja found winner after exquisite winner from his Titan racket, taking a 2-0 lead in the process. When Rehman fought back to take the third set, it seemed that Shuja may have been resting. The quality of squash remained high, if not somewhat slower-paced. When Rehman went on to take the fourth, the partisan Kiwi crowd was hushed.

A titanic tussle of a fifth set ensued. As the two players tired, obstruction became prevalent, as did debate with the referees. Rehman took the final set 11-6 and yelled with delight.

The final will therefore be played between Jan Koukal and Aqeel Rehman at 3pm at Burnside Squash Club. The finals of the Burnside Open will be played from midday. Entry is free for all matches.

21-Jun, Quarters:
Shuja ensures home interest
in Christchurch semis
Michael Pittams reports

Top seeded Czech Jan Koukal made it two wins from two at the 2014 Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open, beating South African qualifier Tristan Eysele in four sets. Spectators who hadn’t seen Koukal play before his first round match last night were once again treated to a stunning display of lobs and volley drops, Koukal using his considerable touch to leave the ball in the absolute extremities of the court. This made life very difficult for Eysele, who could often get to the ball, but not do anything productive with it.

Over on court two Addeen Idrakie overcame a very slow start to post a four set win over fourth seeded Finn Matias Tuomi. Malaysian Idrakie looked to be feeling the effects of a cold Christchurch morning and struggling to warm up, as he looked disinterested in a quick first set. In the second his movement began to serve him better, and he was able to dominate the ‘tee’ and deliver the double-spotted Dunlop to the far corners of the court with greater accuracy. By the fourth game, Idrakie had completely turned the tables and gained the ascendancy in the match. A frustrated Tuomi tried to change his game to claw his way back, but could make no impact on the scoreline as Idrakie booked a semi-final against Koukal.

Kashif Shuja ensured local interest in the semi-finals by beating second seeded Australian Mike Corren. In a match-up of two veterans of the tour, the result was more comprehensive than many might have expected. Corren seemed to be hampered in the second and third games by a leg injury, and struggled at times to move fluidly towards Shuja’s expertly held and flicked strokes.

Shuja will play third seed Aqeel Rehman of Austria in the semi-finals, after Rehman dismantled the threat of England’s Adam Murrills. Rehman and Murrills were very familiar with each other’s games, which made for a furiously fast-paced match. Both players seemed able to read what the other planned to do ahead of time, and move lithely to counter the shot. While the scoreline probably doesn’t do Murrills justice, Rehman was able to find winners on the big points, ensuring the result went his way.

Semi-finals will be played at Burnside Squash Club from 5.30pm. Entry is free for all spectators.
 

20-Jun, Round One:
Shuja joins top seeds
in Christchurch quarters
Michael Pittams reports

The top four seeds at the Christchurch International Open have all progressed safely to the quarter-finals.

Jan Koukal and Adam Murrills were the 'villains' of the opening round of the 2014 Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open, beating New Zealand hopes Ben Grindrod and Andrew Ellis respectively to advance to the quarter-finals.

Top seeded Koukal was effective in his trademark lob and drop style of play against Grindrod, forcing his younger opponent to all corners of the court.

Grindrod was rewarded for his tenacity with the third game, ensuring he would not go home empty-handed. Murrills flew out to an early lead in the first set of his match against Burnside club member Ellis, and held it all the way through to an 11-2 result. While the next two were closer, Murrills always seemed to be in control, and sealed his quarter-final berth in just 22 minutes.

Earlier in the evening the two match-ups of countrymen provided excellent and grueling viewing spectacles. Qualifier Tristan Eysele came back from a two game deficit to beat South African compatriot JP Brits in 68 minutes.

Addeen Idrakie was very nearly upset by fellow Malaysian Hannan Tarmidi. Tarmidi took a 2-1 advantage before Idrakie was able to stamp his control on a match notable for some incredible retrieving, eventually winning in 71 minutes.

Aqeel Rehman was the most clinical of the seeded players, seeing off the dogged Manoel Pereira in straight sets. Matias Tuomi came through a torrid four-setter with Frenchman Arthur Moineau. After the first game was won by Moineau and the second went to a tie-breaker, one sensed that winner of the second set would most likely go on to take the match.

So it proved, with Tuomi holding his nerve in a series of crucial points to take the set 18-16. From there he eased to a four set win in 68 minutes.

The final matches of the night saw two veterans of the PSA tour advance to a quarter-final match-up against each other. Second seed Mike Corren controlled the pace exceptionally well against young Malaysian Sanjay Singh, playing from the T and regulating the tempo of the match to his liking.

Although he dropped the third set, victory seemed assured, and so it proved as Corren advanced in 47 minutes.

Qualifier Kashif Shuja also dropped the third game in his match against Finn Jaakko Vahamaa, but was highly convincing in the first and fourth games to progress, taking Kiwi hopes with him, in 37 minutes.
 

Jan Koukal (Czech) and Mike Corren (Australia) are the top seeds at this weekend's Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open.

Burnside Squash Club in Christchurch will once again play host to top international squash talent this year, hosting the Christchurch International Open $5,000 PSA event for the third consecutive year.

The event has seen players ranked as high as 60 in the world travel to Christchurch, where the draw will include players from twelve different countries.

Koukal, fresh from a semi-final appearance at the NZ International Classic in Palmerston North, is the top seed for the event, and has drawn a qualifier in the first round. Ageless Australian Corren (the 2012 champion) is the second seed, and will be looking to add to his 50 career PSA titles.



The main draw features only one New Zealander - Cantabrian Andrew Ellis who occupies the wildcard slot and will come up against England's Adam Murrills in the first round.

A number of other Kiwis will be hoping to change that though, with several New Zealanders to be found in the Qualification Draw. Prime New Zealand hopes include third and fourth seeds Kashif Shuja and Ben Grindrod, while Chris van der Salm is the seventh seed.

Entry to the Christchurch International Open is free for all spectators throughout the weekend.

Qualifying Photos

2013 Event | 2012 Event