05-Mar, FINALS:

[1] Jan Koukal 3-0 [3/4] Martin Svec
          11/4, 11/8, 11/8 (38m)
[3/4] Olga Kolarova 3-2 [1] Anna Klimundova
         7/11, 12/10, 11/9, 8/11, 12/10 (64m)

Koukal claims title number seventeen
as Olga wins thriller for a fourth ...
Tomas Forter reports,
photos from Irena Vanisova, SquashPage.net

Finals day of the Czech Nationals at the Metropole Zlicin shopping mall in Prague started with 3rd place matches where Zuzana Kubanova beat Tereza Svobodova in a repeat of last year's match. Daniel Mekbib played his very fast squash to beat Petr Martin to defend his 3rd position from last year as well.

The Women's final followed and spectators (present in the shopping mall and at home watching live TV coverage) were treated to a great battle.

Top seed Anna Klimundova was trying desperately to get her first title, Olga Kolarova (just 8 months after a birth of her baby girl) wanted to get her fourth.

Anna started better and won the first 11/7. Second was very close. Anna made three points from 7/8 to get two gameballs. Olga saved both and after 4 points in a row got the game 12/10. She carried her momentum into the third but Anna was fighting hard and lots of long and hard rallies were played.

They traded points till 9/9 where Olga got the next two to go 2/1 up with 11/9 score. The fourth was very similar but this time it was Anna who managed to win 3 points from 7/7 and got the game on her second gameball 11/8. Anna started the fifth better. She played hard patient rallies and Olga started to look a bit tired.

When Anna got to 8/2 everyone thought it was over. Everyone apart from Olga. She managed to get 3 points to 8/5 but Anna responded with two of her own to get 10/5 and five matchballs. But it was obvious Olga will not go down without a fight. She somehow found another wind and was amazingly able to win the next 7 points in a row to win the match 12/10 in 64 minutes.

By far the best women's final we ever had. It had everything - squash quality, great atmosphere and unbelievable comeback and finish. Well done to both girls and well deserved title no. 4 for Olga.

The Men's final between Jan Koukal and surprise finalist Martin Svec was a good match but could not match the intensity and drama of women's final.

Martin started his first final very nervous and Jan won the first comfortably 11/4. After that Martin relaxed and started to play his usual attacking squash. He hit some nice shots and won 4 points from 4/7 to go 8/7 up but Jan always seemed in control and managed to win the last four points - 11/8 and 2/0.

He carried the momentum in the third, got off to a good start and soon it was 10/5 matchball. Martin was fighting very hard and managed to save three matchballs after some brutal rallies. At 10/8 some were hoping for a repeat of Olga's comeback but Jan simply did not allow this and took the match on his fourth matchball in 38 minutes.

He won his 17th title and needs just three more to get his big goal - 20 titles. The way young players played this year it is not going to be easy for him.

Overall the tournament was great and the crowds and atmosphere for the finals were probably best we ever had.

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Full Draws & Results

After two days of play in two clubs and glass court in Metropole Zlicin shopping mall we know the finalists.

Jan Koukal will try to get his 17th title. He was tested in his semifinal by Daniel Mekbib who played really well. Martin Svec caused upset in the second semifinal when he came back from 0/2 against second seed Petr Martin.

Olga Kolarova (nee Ertlova) will play her 10th final (she won 3 titles) against top seeded Anna Klimundova who will be trying hard to get her first womenś title.

Menś semis:
[1] Jan Koukal 3-1 [3/4] Daniel Mekbib
            9/11, 11/3, 11/8, 11/7 (56m)
[3/4] Martin Svec 3-2 [2] Petr Martin
            5/11, 8/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/7 (61m)

Womenś semis:
[1] Anna Klimundova 3-0 [3/4] Tereza Svobodova
            11/6, 11/1, 11/7 (20m)
[3/4] Olga Kolarova 3-1 [2] Zuzana Kubanova
            11/4, 11/9, 8/11, 11/9 (56m)

Menś quarters:
[1] Jan Koukal 3-0 [7/8] Ondrej Uherka
               11/6, 11/9, 11/5 (44m)
[3/4] Daniel Mekbib 3-1 [5/6] Jakub Solnicky
               11/8, 11/5, 8/11, 12/10 (47m)
[3/4] Martin Svec 3-1 [5/6] Michal Jadrnicek
               11/6, 8/11, 11/5, 11/9 (49m)
[2] Petr Martin 3-0 [7/8] Ondrej Ertl
                11/7, 15/13, 11/3 (41m)

Womenś quarters:
[1] Anna Klimundova 3-1 [7/8] Veronika Gaultier
              7/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (31m)
[3/4] Tereza Svobodova 3-2 [5/6] Denisa Peleskova
             10/12, 15/13, 8/11, 11/8, 11/9 (55m)
[3/4] Olga Kolarova 3-0 [5/6] Eva Fertekova
             11/4, 11/6, 11/5 (26m)
[2] Zuzana Kubanova 3-0 [7/8] Marika Doubravova
             11/7, 11/7, 11/3 (28m)

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Full Draws & Results