Tue 10th, Day ONE:
Qualifying complete at St Clement
After two rounds of qualifying at Jersey Squash & Racketball
today, the main draws of the fourth Jersey Squash Classic are
finalised.
 In
the inaugural women's event - offering a prize fund equal to the
men's - some of the island's promising juniors got valuable top
class squash experience in the afternoon's first round, but it
was the seasoned PSA players who progressed to the evening's
final round.
Top qualifying seed Julie Rossignol won her all-French
match against Sarah Mekhalfi in straight games, although
both progressed to the main draw, Mekhalfi via the lucky loser
spot following a main draw withdrawal.
 Further
French success followed as Laura Pomportes, just back
from representing France in the European Team Champs in Warsaw,
eased past third seed Emma Custance-Baker in straight games.
Wales' Nia Davies, seeded four, let a two-game advantage
slip before battling past another French competitor Elise Romba,
and the final main draw spot was claimed by England's Rachael
Chadwick as she dismissed second seeded Czech Eva Fertekova
in three games.
"I was two-nil up and nearly lost it," said a relieved
Davies, "I just had to dig deep, really pleased to win that
fifth."
 The
men's qualifying finals saw two straightforward wins as
Englishmen Connor Sheen and Sam Ellis, second and
third seeds, won in straight games, but also two marathon
seeding upsets.
Top seed Bradley Masters faced an unfamiliar opponent in
Italy's Olivero Ventrice - playing his first ever match
in a PSA tournament. The 20-year-old who is training under
Marcus Berrett in Riccione turned out to be more than a handful
as the pair shared the first four games in a hour's tough play.
 Masters
looked to have weathered the storm as he led the from the start
of the fifth and went to 10-5, but determined and solid play
from the young Italian saw him take the next seven points to
claim victory in 78 minutes.
"When I was 10-5 down I told myself I didn't come here to
lose," said Olivero, "I just kept pushing and pushing and it
finally paid off. After being injured for a few months I'm
really happy to get a win in my first tournament, and I'm
looking forward to the main draw now."
 James
Peach took just a few minutes less than that to beat third
seeded Dutchman Roshan Baros in five close games.
"That was really tough," admitted Peach, "but I'm delighted to
make the main draw."
Peach faces third-seeded Portuguese Rui Soares while Ventrice
meets seventh-seeded Englishman Nick Mulvey.
The main draws get under way at 15.00 on Wednesday, with the
last matches scheduled to start at 20.15.
Draws & Results
|
