27-Sep, Finals:

[2] Natalie Grinham (Ned) 3-0 [1] Deon Saffery (Wal)
               14/16 11/8 12/10 11/5
[6] Mark Fuller (Eng) 3-2 [3] Dougie Kempsell (Sco)
               11/9, 7/11, 8/11, 11/7, 11/9 (92m)

Natalie's back, Mark takes a first
Tomas Forter reports

Natalie Grinham won the Prague open women's title after very entertaining final against Deon Saffery.

The first game was very close and both players had multiple gameballs before Deon won it 16/14. Squash both players produced was of very high quality, all 4 corners were visited all the time and local crowd was applauding almost every rally. Next two games were very close but Natalie got that little extra at crucial times towards ends of both second and third.

In the fourth she raced to 7/1 lead thanks to a few mistakes from Deon and controlled the rest of the game. Deon saved one matchball at 4/10 but Natalie's forehand volley kill into the nick ended the match which was really entertaining to watch.

Natalie Grinham: "I'm mostly happy, and I managed to wear my t-shirt the right way this time. It was a nice match to play. Deon is a very handy. She has a great hold and sent me wrong way quite a few times. The third was quite crucial. Happy I managed to get this one. I am happy I won my first PSA title after having my second child."

Deon Saffery: It was always going to be a nice game. She is very hard to play because you never know where the ball is going to go. When I thought I was in the game she changed what she was doing so you can never get the rhythm. She is an experienced player and knows how to win matches. Next time.

The Men's final was very different to women's - we didn't see so many boasts, drops and holds but both players showed the local crowd how hard you have to work to win a match in professional squash.

We saw very long and patient rallies with both players trying to work out openings to go short. Dougie got a better start and was in the lead most of the first game but Mark scored four points from 7/9 down to get the lead after 19 minutes. In the second it was Dougie who scored four points in a row to get to 9/5 and equalized with 11/7 score.

The third was very similar to second with Dougie scoring 5 points in a row from 4/5 and although Mark came back to 8/9 Dougie was able to close it 11/8 to get 2/1 lead. Mark got a great start to the fourth when he raced to 5/0 lead and managed to keep the lead – 11/7 and 2/2.

The fifth was similar. Mark got a great start with some very nice shots. He got to 6/2, 7/3, 9/5. He got his first matchball at 10/6. Dougie saved three matchballs but was not able to return a forehand drive which was glued to the wall and Mark could have started to celebrate his first PSA title after 92 minutes of great battle.

Mark Fuller: "It was fantastic week in Prague with a superbly organized tournament. I have really enjoyed it. It was a really good match. Dougie fights for every ball. So you have to keep playing and battling if you want to beat him.

"I have played so many of these tournaments and seen so many people win titles. It is fantastic feeling to finally win one myself.

"I need thank a lot of people who helped me with my squash over the last nine years. First of all my clubs Mainz in Germany, Brest in France, Hallamshire, Hinkley, Nottingham University Squash, Leicester squash club and Nottingham squash club. Need to thank my long term sponsor Mantis and three people who I would not have been able to do this without – Eddie Charlton, Susannah Martin and my little brother.

Dougie Kempsell: "It was a physically tough game. I didn´t play as well as I wanted to. Mark he wanted it more and he deserved to win today."

11/2, 11/7, 11/6 (43m)

[6] Mark Fuller

11/9, 7/11, 8/11, 11/7, 11/9 (92m)

[3] Dougie Kempsell

11/9, 11/7, 11/9 (55m)

[2] Jan Koukal

Qualifying Finals:

Petr Martin (Cze) 3-1 [5] Phil Nightingale (Eng)            11/8, 12/14, 11/4, 11/4 (54m)
Peter Kviečinský (Svk) 3-0 [4] Antonio De La Torre (Gua)       11/7, 11/6, 11/5 (28m)
[3] Nick Mulvey (Eng) 3-9 [6] Ondřej Uherka (Cze)               11/5, 12/10, 11/9 (37m)
[7] Julian Tomlinson (Eng) 3-1 David Zeman (Cze)       11/5, 11/6, 10/12, 11/2 (45m)

Qualifying Round One:
   
Petr Martin (Cze) 3-1 [1] Miroslav Celler (Svk)               8/11, 11/3, 11/2, 11/5 (29m)
[5] Phil Nightingale (Eng) 3-0 Vojtěch Ryba (Cze)                    11/3, 11/7, 11/5 (23m)
Peter Kviečinský (Svk) 3-2 Ondřej Ertl (Cze)          8/11, 11/4, 9/11, 11/8, 11/3 (58m)
[4] Antonio De La Torre (Gua) 3-1 Marek Lapáček (Cze) 11/4, 11/6, 7/11, 11/2 (32m)
[3] Nick Mulvey (Eng) 3-1 Jakub Solnický (Cze)              2/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/5 (42m)
[6] Ondřej Uherka (Cze) 3-0 Filip Kočárek (Cze)                     11/1, 11/6, 11/4 (17m)
[7] Julian Tomlinson (Eng) 3-1 Petr Zatřepálek (Cze)    11/5, 11/13, 11/5, 12/10 (41m)
David Zeman (Cze) 3-2 [2] Remo Handl (Sui)       4/11, 11/5, 11/9, 7/11, 15/13 (51m)

11/9, 11/4, 10/12, 11/6 (37m)

[3] Mayar Hany

14/16, 11/8, 12/10, 11/5

[2] Natalie Grinham

11/5, 11/6, 11/5 (21m)

[2] Natalie Grinham

Qualifying Finals:

[1] Tessa ter Sluis (Ned) 3-1 [7] Marta Latorre (Esp)       5/11, 12/10, 11/6, 11/8 (37m)
[5] Charlotte Delsinne (Fra) 3-1 [3] Nadia Pfister (Sui)    11/5, 12/10, 11/2, 11/8 (33m)
[4] Nada Elkalaawy (Eng) 3-1 [8] Eva Feřteková (Cze)     9/11, 11/4, 11/2, 11/3 (31m)
[2] Hana Moataz (Egy) 3-0 Zuzana Kubáňová (Cze)                11/8, 15/13, 11/3 (30m)

Qualifying Round One:

[7] Marta Latorre (Esp) 3-1 Denisa Pelešková (Cze)            8/11, 11/7, 11/8, 11/3 (30m)
[5] Charlotte Delsinne (Fra) 3-2 Veronika Gaultier (Cze) 11/7,7/11,11/3,9/11,11/6 (44m)
[8] Eva Feřteková (Cze) 3-0 Eliška Jirásková (Cze)                     11/5, 11/8, 11/5 (19m)
Zuzana Kubáňová (Cze) 3-0 [5] Katrina Burrows (Eng)                11/9, 11/6, 11/2 (32m)

Draw & Results

Draw & Results

Main Draw Day in Prague
Tomas Forter reports

Women's Round One: Moataz takes out Kennedy

Most of the women´s first round matches went to seeding with one exception when 8th seed Gina Kennedy was beaten by young Egyptian Hana Moataz.

Local hope Anna Klimundová did well to come back to win the third against Victoria Temple-Murray but she regained her control in the fourth to deny Anna place in the quarters.

Top seeds got through but Deon Saffery had to work hard against young Alison Thomson. The closest match was between best friends Menna Nasser and Nada Elkalaawy where Menna came back from being 7/10 down in the fifth.

Deon Saffery: "I played her few times in league. We've always had a nice game. She is a good runner and battles it out. I won by playing basic tight squash but I used more energy than I would have liked. Looking forwad to my match this evening."

Menna Nasser: "It was really tough match. It was a bit unlucky for both of us to play each other as she is my best friend. I am really happy to come back in the fifth after being 7/10 down. I am happy for her to come back after so many injuries. I hope I play more consistently this evening as I was playing up and down."

Sina Wall: "I was a good match. I am happy with my performance. Start was a bit nervous. It is always like this in first match. But I am happy to get through in three games."

Mayar Hany: "I saw her play before in France. I knew she is a good player. So I had to concentrate from the beginning. I was focusing on playing my own game. I enjoyed playing with her and I feel it was a good start to the tournament."

Victoria Temple-Murray: "I felt like I was focused and sharp to start with which allowed me to take control. Anna changed her game and caught me out of position which I took time to adapt to. But once I did I felt comfortable again to take the win."

Hana Moataz: "She played in world junior championships so I knew that she was a good player. I had to concentrate from the beginning. I´m really glad with my performance today. Even though I lost my concentration in the third and she was playing better that game."

Chloe Mesic: "It is never easy to play someone from the same country in international tournaments. We had a good match, quite intense. She was playing better than yesterday. She was more relaxed. For me it is a good start to the tournament. I like the courts here. I am ready for the next round."

Natalie Grinham: "Happy to win especially as I am more than double her age. She is going to be a really good player in the future. As all of the young Egyptians are."

Men's Round One: Two Czechs progress

Czech fans were pleased to see two local players progress to the quarterfinals.

One place was guaranteed as Jan Koukal played Daniel Mekbib. Daniel came back after being 0/2 down and threatened Jan at the beginning of the fifth as well. However towards the end the experience prevailed over youth and Jan got through.

Martin Švec pleasantly surprised local fans by playing good squash and beating Swiss Jonas Daehler 3/1. The other Swiss seed, who lost, was Patrick Miescher who was beaten in very close 4 games by the only qualifier in the quarters Nick Mulvey.

The only one of three Swiss seeds who got through was Benjamin Fisher who beat the fourth Czech player in the main draw Petr Martin 3/1.

Sebastian Weenink: "I was injured for a while so I am happy to be able to play pain free. I just try to enjoy it. He played on a high pace, so I made sure he could not volley everything. Happy to win in three, especially when you play another match on the day."

Martin Švec: "It always feels good to beat higher seeded player especially as I lost to him in Switzerland last time. Really happy to get my revenge on a home soil. In the evening I am playing number one seed so I am looking forward to have a good match as I am feeling really good on these courts in front of home crowd."

Mark Fuller: "Just pleased to win. The courts are difficult to used to. They are very different from home. I am really looking forward to have a good game this evening."

Benjamin Fischer: "A bit of nostalgia on court today, I haven´t played Petr since juniors. I played well in the first two games, was more dominant, but he started playing much better in the third and I didn´t manage to stay with him. I´m happy I pulled it together in the fourth tho, feel good for tonight – look forward to playing Dougie."

Nick Mulvey: "Really happy with my consistency that I am beginning to get in my matches. Hard fought game which I played mentally well. Looking forward to the experience of playing Jan later."

Jan Koukal: "In first rounds are usually don't play my best. And playing Daniel is not the best start of the tournament for me. As he is playing well and is very dangerous. I am happy to be through no matter what the result is."
 

Qualifying Day in Prague
Tomas Forter reports

Women's Qualifiers

Local Czech players put seeded oponents under lot of pressure in first two women's matches of the day, but the experience of seeded tour players showed at the end.

Marta Ramirez came from a game down with a more patient game than Denisa Denisa Peleškováwho made too many mistakes.

Charlotte Delsinne had to fight hard against Veronika Gaultier, who got a great start to the fifth game with 4/0, 5/1 and 6/2 leads but could not score after this and Charlotte came back to win 9 points in a row.

Eva Feřteková was the first Czech player to make it to the evening´s final when she beat Eliška Jirásková comfortably 3/0.

She will be joined by her teammate Zuzana Kubáňová, who created first upset by beating Katrina Burrows. First game was very close and hard fought but Zuzana was getting more and more control after that.

Women´s qualification finals went mainly to the seedings with only one minor upset. All four matches were hard fought and none of them was over under half an hour. The local crowd wanted Zuzana and Eva to do well but their opponents were just a bit too strong and deserved their places in the main draw. 

Tessa Der Sluis, Hana Moataz and Nada Elkalaawy were joined by Charlotte Delsinne, who beat fourth seed Nadia Pfister.

Tessa Ter Sluis: "I never played Marta before so I was curious and a bit nervous about how she will play. I was not playing really well at the beginning. Marta started really well. I made a lot of errors. So I tried to change my game and it seemed to work. I am really happy to be in the main draw."

Charlotte Delsinne: "I am happy to get into main draw of my first tournament of the season. I was really nervous this morning but I managed to relax and play much better now. I got a good length which made it easier. Thanks to Enora and Chloe for the support."

Nada Elkalaawy: "I am happy to get to main draw. I haven´t played a lot of tournaments last year because of Indry. The first game she played really well and I was a bit nervous. The court is hard to get used to. But from the second game I gained more confidence and started to play my game."

Hana Moataz: "It is my 2nd PSA tournament. At the beginning I was very nervous. By the end of the first game I managed to concentrate and focus more on the game. She is way older than me and she is really good so I had to concentrate to win. I really enjoyed the match."

Men's Qualifiers

In men's round one both top seeds were beaten!

Petr Martin created an upset when he beat top seeded Miroslav Cellar, who injured his knee in the second game and struggled with his movement.

Phil Nightingale was too good and experienced for young Vojtech Ryba who is just 16. Antonio De La Torre was in control for two games and in the fourth but Marek Lapáčekdid well come back and win the third.

The longest match so far was played between Peter Kviečinský and Ondřej Ertl. There was very little between them for four games but Peter got a good start to the fifth and raced away to evening´s finals.

The second session started with Ondrej Uherka being just too good for Filip Kočárek. He won easily in just 17 minutes. Julian Tomlinson won 3/1 against Petr Zatřepálekwho fought well and hit quite a few nicks. Nick Mulvey beat Jakub Solnický 3/1 after losing the first easily. He was the more patient of the two players after that.

The last match was the most dramatic so far. David Zeman (at 17 top Czech junior) created the biggest upset of the tournament so
far by beating second seed Remo Handl.

After four games which were very close David got to 10/5 matchball in the fifth. Remo saved all 5 of them. In the tie-break David was always ahead but Remo saved matchballs no. 6, 7 and 8 as well. However he was not able to save the ninth and David could celebrate the best win of his young career.

"I am lucky I won my first PSA match," said David. "It was tough match and I am happy to beat Remo as he is a good player. I was a bit lucky at the end when he saved so many matchballs but I am really happy I was able to finish the match and win."

In the evening's qualifying finals Petr Martin was the only Czech player who made it to the main draw. After two very closely contested games with quite a few referee's decisions he managed to tire Phil Nightingale a bit and was always in control after that.

Peter Kviečinský beat 4th seeded Antonio De La Torre in three games to become probably the most unexpected qualifier for the main draw.

They will be joined by two Englishman Nick Mulvey and Julian Tomlinson who ended local hopes of having more Czech players in the main draw.

Petr Martin: "My game plan was to tire my opponent as he is a bit heavy. At the beginning I struggled to get the ball to the back of the court. Once I managed to do that better I was in control."

Peter Kviečinský: "After tough first round with Ondrej I felt quite well. I started the match without even seeing my opponent before. First rallies we were testing each other. After I found his weaknesses I started to use them and I managed to win the match. First game I relaxed and played well."

Nick Mulvey: "I am happy to get through to main draw. Pleased with the way I am playing. Much more confident in taking it short in my second match and hope to take that through into my match tomorrow."

Julian Tomlinson: "I am very pleased to get through as I had two tough matches against two really good local players. I am looking forward to my match tomorrow, which will be very tough [plays top seed Weenink]."