Prague Open 2015
24-27 Sep, Czech Republic,
Men £5k, Women $5k
Fuller and Grinham claim
Prague titles
Men's Event
England's Mark Fuller claimed his maiden
PSA World Tour title with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Douglas
Kempsell in the final of the Prague Open, PSA M5 tournament.
The number six seed earned his place in the showpiece event after superb
straight games victories over Daniel Poleshchuk and Sebastiaan Weenink
in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively while Kempsell
overcame home favourite Jan Koukal in his last four fixture.
Fuller, who had lost to Kempsell in all three of the pair's previous
encounters, started slowly with Kempsell in the driving seat throughout
the match's opening stages after a number of long and patient rallies.
However, Fuller managed to take four points without reply towards the
end of the game to take the lead with an 11-9 margin of victory. World
No.112 Kempsell stormed back though in the second game to level
proceedings.
Kempsell was appearing in his fourth final in his last five PSA World
Tour events and looked to be closing in on the victory when he claimed
the third game 11-8 to go ahead for the first time in the encounter. A
good start from Fuller in the fourth enabled the 30-year-old to draw
level and send the match into a dramatic fifth and final game after an
11-7 triumph.
The two traded frenetic blows as the encounter drew to a close but it
was Fuller who amassed four championship balls in the latter stages.
Kempsell saved three of them but couldn't return a tight forehand drive
from Fuller which brought the titanic battle to an end after 92 minutes
with an 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9 victory in Fuller's favour.
It was a fantastic week in Prague with a superbly organized
tournament, said Fuller.
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 a fantastic feeling to finally win one myself.
Result Final: Prague Open 2015
[6] Mark Fuller (ENG) bt [3] Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 3-2: 11-9, 7-11,
8-11, 11-7, 11-9 (92m)
Women's Event
Former World No.2 Natalie Grinham lifted her first PSA World Tour title
since 2013 with a 3-1 defeat of top seed Deon Saffery in the final of
the Prague Open, PSA W5 event.
The Dutchwoman booked her place in the final after defeating Egyptian
qualifier Hana Moataz in the semi-final stage while Saffery came through
in four games with a win over Mayar Hany.
The opening game was an entertaining affair that saw both players
achieve multiple game balls before Saffery eventually took the lead with
an 16-14 victory. The second was a very high-quality game which saw both
players move each other around the court with a multitude of sumptuous
shots that had the gathered spectators on their feet time and time
again. Grinham just managed to pull away to claim the game and draw
level.
37-year-old Grinham came out on top in a dramatic third game as well
which featured a number of high-octane rallies taking centre stage as
both players sought to gain the initiative. Grinham narrowly managed to
edge a 12-10 tie-break to take a 2-1 advantage heading in to game four.
She raced into an early lead courtesy of some mistakes from Saffery and
controlled the rest of the game to earn a 14-16, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5
victory, capturing her first PSA World Tour title of 2015 in the
process.
It was a nice match to play, said Grinham.
Deon is a very handy player. She has a great hold and sent me he wrong
way quite a few times. The third game was crucial.
Im happy I managed to get this one. I am really happy that I have won
my first PSA World Tour title since having my second child.
