The 2018 Grasshopper Cup kicked off with qualifying round one, which saw all the Swiss locals bow out as seven of the seeded players won through to the qualifying finals, joined by Germany's Raphael Kandra, who beat second seeded Egyptian Zahed Mohamed.

Adrian Waller 3-1 Reiko Peter

Adrian started well and really didn't give Reiko anything to work with. Reiko picked up his game, found better length and managed to get Adrian from the T.

Adrian found his way back in the third and closed out the match 3-1 in 45 minutes.

Adrian: Happy obviously to win, little blip in the second game but regained my composure and simplified a little bit in the next two games. It was quite fast and frantic at times. Happy to win in 4 in the end.

Mathieu Castagent 3-0 Dimitri Steinmann 3-0

Steady first game - both players working the ball around the court nicely with Castagnet having the upper hand, thanks to a few too many errors form Steinmann.

Dimitri started really well in the second and was able to finish the long rallies with some sublime winners to a 7-2 lead only to see his lead vanish by a few errors and some tight play by Castagnet, taking it 11-8 in 18 minutes.

Dimitri out of steam for the third and Castagnet contained him very well and closed it off in three games.

Castagnet: Dimitri is a nice and very strong physical player. The second was really close and he was 7-2 up but I managed to get 10-7 up and that was crucial. That probably made the difference of the match to make me more confident and let me relax. I am really happy to be there tomorrow and excited to play Lucas or Mazen.

Gregoire Marche 3-0 Olli Tuominen

Olli coming from surgery only a couple weeks we didn't know what to expect. He certainly gave it his all but Marche was simply too quick and got everything back and moves to the next round.

Marche: Never easy to play Olli of course ! He surprised me with the way he moved today after the knee operation he had three weeks ago ! We played some good rallies and I’m happy to win 3/0 today, but I know I need to increase my level for tomorrow’s match !

Omar Mosaad 3-1 Robin Gadola

Robin took full advantage of Mosaad's almost ginger movement at times and played some superb winners to take the first 11-7. The second was much of the same and Gadola had 3 game balls but Omar stuck in and helped by a couple of tins levels to 10 all and level the match to one all.

After a short blood injury to Gadola's knee Mosaad manages to get ahead in the third for the first time in the match and closes out the game 11-5. Mosaad, now playing more confident doesn't let his lead slip and is through to the qualifying finals.

Alan Clyne 3-0 Joel Makin

Unbelievable long rallies. Clyne has a lead in all the three games with Joel making some errors.

But Joel does well to get back with some well structured squash and good finishing but then conspires to loose the games in similar fashion.

Alan Clyne did play well and deserved the win.

Raphael Kandra 3-1 Zahed Mohamed

Kandra was playing his brand of enterprising squash attacking the front corners from all position of the court and Zahed committed far too many unforced errors in the first two games making it too easy for Kandra.

In the third game Zahed managed to find better range in his length and it was Kandra went off the boil and then began to make errors but once again in the fourth Kandra reasserted his dominance in the centre of the court and the Egyptian had too few answers and lost clearly 11-6.

Kandra's home team in Switzerland is here in Uster so it will feel like a home match in the qualifying finals with a lot of local support also.

Kandra: Happy to beat Zahed in 4! I felt quiet comfortable in the first two games. Managed to win those. After that I lost a bid the momentum as I lost my length and accuracy. Nevertheless after loosing that game I fought back and got through. Looking forward to tomorrow. Waller will be my opponent. Will give my best to get to the main draw for the first time ever here in Zurich (;

Greg Lobban 3-1 Tom Richards

Very strange game. Greg was well ahead in the first and Tom gave up and the second game was reversed.

It was 7-all in the third and then Tom hit two errors and then Greg picked up some really good balls to win that game. In the fourth Tom was always behind.

Lobban: I had to play smart tonight. Tom has beat me the last two times so I had a plan and I knew I had to stick to it. For the majority, I did this and I’m happy to be through that one.

Mazen Hesham 3-2 Lucas Serme

Game 1: bright opening from Serme who was ready for Hesham’s ‘reverse basic squash’. Serme pounced on the countless peppering of boasts & drops from deep in the crt, tidying up nicely with swiftness & efficiency.

Hesham came out a different player in Game 2 & showed much more willingness & intent to push Serme deeper in the court with well disguised lengths. This opened up the middle of the court for the ‘black falcon’ & allowed him to exhibit all of his weaponry in the front of the court.

Game 3 Saw the black falcon in full flight, serme’s game beginning to wilt under the tide of short play streaming from Hesham’s racket. More lethal holds & deceptive winners from Hesham, 2-1 for him.

Hesham led 7-5 in the 4th & at that stage both players engaged in a series of lengthy all-court rallies which saw the Frenchman gain the upper hand & level at 2 games a piece.

Game 5 saw the Egyptian march to a 6-1 lead with blistering attacks & this time the deficit proved to great for the Frenchman as Hesham held on to win 11-7 in 5th.