RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 IG Markets
Open de Paris,
Paris, France
Happy Hinds Takes
Paris Open Prize
In a rare Tour event climax between two
qualifiers, England's Joel Hinds emerged triumphant in the final of the IG
Markets Open de Paris to win the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 5
squash event at Société Sportive de Jeu de Paume et de Racquets in the
French capital Paris.
Hinds, the 25-year-old world No 117 from
Birmingham, made his breakthrough in the opening round when he upset top seed Rafael
Alarcon 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 in 40 minutes. It was in the final rally of the
game that Brazilian number one Alarcon cut his hand, creating a wound which
required several stitches.
Hinds went on to tackle local hero Joan
Lezaud in the semi-finals, beating the third-seeded Frenchman 11-3, 11-13,
5-11, 11-8, 11-6 in 75 minutes to reach the ninth Tour final of his career.
His opponent, fellow qualifier Alejandro
Garbi Caro, was leading Spanish interest in the event. The 30-year-old from
Castellon removed second seed Ahmad Al-Saraj in the first round, beating
the Jordanian 15-13, 14-12, 14-12 in 79 minutes in one of the longest
straight-game matches on record.
Two wins later saw Caro, ranked 155 in the
world, in the second Tour final of his career.
But despite his marathon semi, Hinds still
produced a devastating performance in the final to see off the Spaniard 12-10,
11-5, 11-5 to claim the third PSA World Tour title of his career.
1st round:[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [1] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
(40m)Declan James (ENG) bt [Q] James Earles (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5,
11-4 (55m)[Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-4
(16m)[3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 2-11, 11-3, 11-3,
11-6 (45m)[4] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Yousif Nizar Saleh (KUW) 11-8, 11-5,
8-11, 11-9 (40m)Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt Johan Bouquet (FRA) 6-11, 11-6,
11-5, 1-1 ret.Steven London (ENG) bt [WC] Quint Mandil (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
(40m)[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt [2] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 15-13,
14-12, 14-12 (79m)
Quarter-finals:[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Declan James (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)[3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) 6-11, 9-11,
11-9, 11-6, 11-1 (80m)Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [4] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 4-11,
13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-5, 11-4,
11-9 (40m) Semi-finals:[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-3, 11-13, 5-11,
11-8, 11-6 (75m)[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (37m) Final:[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 12-10,
11-5, 11-5
