Golan Celebrates Second Title In A
Week In Toulouse
Mighty Spaniard Borja Golan
secured his second PSA World Tour squash title in six days - both as a
qualifier - when he upset favourite Simon Rosner in the final of the
$15,000 Movida International Toulouse Open at Movida Castanet
in the French city of Toulouse.
The success marks the latest chapter
in the triumphant comeback of the former world No10 - the highest-ranked Spanish
player of all-time - who suffered an enforced eight-month layoff after
undergoing major knee surgery last year.
But after winning last week's 1-star
La Ciotat International Open, Golan was fully tested in the final two
rounds of the 1½ star PSA Tour event in its third successive year in
Toulouse.
The 27-year-old from Santiago de
Compostela was taken to five games in the semi-finals by second seed Rafael F
Alarcon - the top-ranked Brazilian making his first Tour appearance in
Europe since October 2008.
In the final, Golan lined up against
the fast-improving Simon Rosner, the German number one who was
celebrating his second successive appearance in the Toulouse final.
And the 22-year-old world No33 from
Paderborn took the opening two games - and looked to be heading for his first
Toulouse title success.
But Borja battled back to take
control of the match - and, after his second 80-minute encounter in a row,
emerged triumphant in an 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 scoreline.
"This has been the hardest two weeks
since I first started playing PSA events," admitted the jubilant Spaniard after
winning the 21st Tour trophy of his career.
"I'm really happy with this win
because it was a really hard tournament: Every match I played, from the first
round, could have been the final of this tournament!
"I would like to thank the
organisers for making such a good tournament.
"Now I don't want to see a racquet
for two weeks before I then begin training for the new season, where I will have
a new goals.
"It is so nice to be back playing
again after a long injury - but it is even better winning!" Golan concluded.
Golan Gets
Galifi Again In France
Spanish
comeback king Borja Golan recorded his second win over Stephane Galifi
in less than a week when he beat the higher-ranked Italian to reach the
semi-finals of the Movida International Toulouse Open, the $15,000
PSA World Tour squash event at Movida Castanet in the French city
of Toulouse.
It was the
latest chapter in Golan's return to PSA Tour action after major knee
surgery last year. The 27-year-old from Santiago DC won last week's La Ciotat
International Open in France as a qualifier - beating Galifi in the final -
and is again storming through the Toulouse field having survived the
qualification draw.
The former
world No10 beat fifth seed Galifi 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5. Golan's reward is
battle for a place in the final against second seed Rafael F Alarcon.
But the
experience Brazilian was taken the full distance by Max Lee before
beating the No8 seed from Hong Kong 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9.
The top half
of the draw produced the anticipated semi-final featuring the top seed and the
No4 seed. German favourite Simon Rosner eased to victory over Gregoire
Marche, beating the unseeded Frenchman 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 - while
fourth-seeded Italian Davide Bianchetti endured five games against
Kashif Shuja before overcoming the sixth seed from New Zealand 9-11, 11-7,
11-5, 6-11, 11-6.
Golan
Continues March In Toulouse
Fresh from his
surprise victory in last week's La Ciotat International Open in France,
Spanish qualifier Borja Golan maintained his giant-killing form in the
Movida International Toulouse Open by upsetting third seed Chris
Ryder to reach the quarter-finals of the $15,000 PSA World Tour
squash event at Movida Castanet in the French city of Toulouse.
Making an
impressive Tour comeback after major knee surgery, Golan has now qualified in
his third successive event - and recovered from a game down to beat Englishman
Ryder 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9.
The former
world No10, now ranked a lowly 95, will face fifth seed Stephane Galifi,
the Italian he beat in the La Ciotat final.
Galifi
survived a marathon encounter against Ivan Yuen, fighting back from two
games down to beat the unseeded Malaysian 5-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 in 80
minutes.
There will be
unexpected French interest in the last eight provided by Gregoire Marche,
the unseeded 20-year-old from Aix-en-Provence who ousted Australia's No7 seed
Steve Finitsis 10-12, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7.
Marche now
lines up against Simon Rosner, the top seed from Germany who defeated
Australian Bradley Hindle 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5. | 
