Bianchetti
Battles To Salzburg Success
RESULTS:
PSA Challenger 5 Austrian Open, Salzburg, Austria
Experienced
Italian Davide Bianchetti celebrated his 25th appearance in a PSA
World Tour final in style by winning the Austrian Open at the
Squash & Tennis Centre Gneis in Salzburg.
The
34-year-old from Brescia reached the final of the PSA Challenger 5 squash
event in its third year in Salzburg after beating local star Aqeel Rehman
in the semi-finals.
Unseeded
Rehman, the tournament organiser ranked 107 in the world, delighted the Gneis
crowd by toppling third seed Rasmus Nielsen in the opening round.
Top seed
Bianchetti faced rising German star Jens Schoor, the No2 seed, in the
final.
The seasoned
Italian, a former world No24, took the first game - but 24-year-old Schoor
struck back in the second to reach game-ball at 10-9 up. However, it took the
German number two another five attempts to finally to close out the game to draw
level.
Bianchetti
rediscovered his touch in the third to take the lead again - but again the young
German fought back in the fourth to lead 6-3.
"But, due to
an incredible run by the favourite, Davide was able to win the next eight points
in a row to avoid a deciding game," explained Rehman. "The 34-year old from
Brescia won the game after 75 minutes of play."
The 11-7,
14-16, 11-8, 11-6 victory marks Bianchetti's 12th Tour title - but his first
since July 2009.
1st round:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [Q] Martin Mosnik (SLO) 11-4, 8-11,
11-6, 11-3 (41m)
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [Q] Rory Pennell (ENG) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8,
11-5 (56m)
Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-3,
11-2, 11-6 (28m)
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [3] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 11-7, 10-12, 11-13,
11-6, 11-7 (81m)
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Johan Bouquet (FRA) 11-8, 10-12,
9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (69m)
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
(38m)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [Q] Florent Pontiere (FRA) 12-10, 11-4,
11-7 (31m)
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-6, 3-11, 11-8,
11-4 (32m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 11-9, 11-13,
11-9, 11-3
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) 11-8, 8-11,
11-3, 11-8
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 6-11, 7-11, 15-13,
11-3, 11-9
Semi-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-6, 11-5,
13-11
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt [4] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-8, 13-11,
11-7 (37m)
Final:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [2] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 14-16,
11-8, 11-6 (75m)
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