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Austrian Open 2022

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Austrian Open 2022, Europark Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria, PSA Challenger Tour 5
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Austrian Open 2022
Men's Draw
06 Jun - 09 Jul
Salzburg, Austria, $6k

Final:
James Peach (ENG) bt [1] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 4-11, 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (63m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [5] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 13-11 (46m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [2] Yannik Omlor (GER) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 (62m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [8] Robin Gadola (SUI) 11-13, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (59m)
[5] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [4] Diego Gobbi (BRA) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10 (30m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [7] Christopher Binnie (JAM) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (36m)
[2] Yannik Omlor (GER) bt [6] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) 10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5 (90m)

1st round:
[1] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Perry Malik (ENG) 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4 (62m)
[8] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) 11-1, 10-12, 11-2, 11-7 (42m)
[5] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Valeriy Fedoruk (UKR) 16-18, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 (65m)
[4] Diego Gobbi (BRA) bt Nilo Vidal (ESP) 11-1, 11-9, 11-5 (27m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [3] Ivan Perez (ESP) 11-8, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5 (59m)
[7] Christopher Binnie (JAM) bt Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (23m)
[6] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt [WC] Lukas Windischberger (AUT) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (28m)
[2] Yannik Omlor (GER) bt Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (37m)

REPORTS

Peach Claims Title After Incredible Run


James Peach (centre left) and Yannick Wilhelmi (centre right)

England’s James Peach concluded his unbelievable run at the men’s Austrian Open by defeating the tournament’s top seed to take the Challenger 5 level crown at Europark Salzburg on Saturday evening.

The Englishman came into the tournament as one of the eight unseeded players, but proceeded to take down the top three seeds, including top seed Yannick Wilhelmi in the final, to win the title, his second of the campaign.

Peach, who is the World No.167, began his week against Spain’s Ivan Perez, who was coming into the tournament off the back of winning the Carlisle Squash Club 50th Anniversary Open just a few days previously. Despite that, the Englishman was able to rally from being 2-1 down in their opening day contest in Salzburg, winning the last two games to win in five.

He then went on to get the better of No.7 seed Christopher Binnie in a four-game contest in the last eight of the competition, before then overcoming the challenge of No.2 seed, Germany’s Yannik Omlor. The Englishmanhad to regroup after he saw the German fight back in their semi-final contest, before winning the deciding game to win the match.

In the final, Peach came up against the tournament’s top seed, Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi. For the second day in succession, the Englishman led after three games, but saw his opponent fight back to win the fourth, with the top seed winning it on a tie-break 12-10. However, Peach was able to steady himself once again, to go on and win the fifth and final game to take the title, the biggest of his career to date.
Rehman Through, Peach Downs No.3 Seed


Aqeel Rehman (Left)

The opening day of the men’s Austrian Open saw some shocks, some five-gamers, and more importantly for the home crowd in Salzburg, Austrian No.1 Aqeel Rehman surviving a scare to make it through to the quarter finals of the Challenger 5 level tournament.

Rehman, the World No.128 and No.5 seed for the competition, took on Ukrainian No.1 Valeriy Fedoruk in the opening round of the event, and the first game of their contest on the glass court at the Europark shopping complex in Salzburg went deep into a tie-break.

The Ukrainian won it 18-16, before Rehman fought back to lead the match after three games. Fedoruk then clinched the fourth game 11-9 to send the tie into a deciding game, where it was Rehman who came out the winner, taking a 3-2 victory after an hour’s play.

The only shock of the day saw England’s James Peach dump out No.3 seed Ivan Perez, who came into the competition after winning the Carlisle Squash Club 50th Anniversary Open just three days earlier. Peach found himself behind in the contest after the Spaniard won the third 12-10. However, from there, the Englishman won the next two games to seal the win, advancing to the last eight after 59 minutes of action.

The tournament’s top seed, Yannick Wilhelmi, also needed to go the distance in his opening match of the competition, with the Swiss player eventually getting the better of England’s Perry Malik. Like Peach, he was behind after three, but fought back to win the next two games to take victory in the longest match of the day. He will now face compatriot Robin Gadola in the last eight.

The quarter finals of the men’s Austrian Open will take place on Thursday, July 7, with the last eight going head-to-head for places in the semi-finals. You can keep up to date with

For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or follow
PSA Challenger Events on 
Twitter or Facebook.
 
Men's Preview

After Switzerland’s Celine Walser claimed the women’s title in Salzburg on Saturday, the men’s Austrian Open begins on Wednesday, July 6 at the same venue, the Europark, with 16 men aiming to take home the title come Saturday afternoon.

Another Swiss player, in Yannick Wilhelmi, will be the top seed for the men’s Challenger 5 level competition, with German Yannik Omlor, and new Carlisle Squash Club Open champion Ivan Perez as the nearest competitor for the crown.

There will be three Austrians in action on home soil. Aqeel Rehman and Jakob Dirnberger will be joined by wildcard Lukas Windischberger as the home favourites for the event, while Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie will be the sole non-European in the 16-strong field.

For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or follow
PSA Challenger Events on 
Twitter or Facebook.
 

Austrian Open 2022
Women's Draw
30 Jun - 02 Jul
Salzburg, Austria, $3k

Final:
[4] Celine Walser (SUI) bt [2] Katerina Tycova (GER) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 (44m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Celine Walser (SUI) bt [1] Saskia Beinhard (GER) 9-11, 14-12, 16-14, 12-10 (48m)
[2] Katerina Tycova (GER) bt [7] Taba Taghavi (FRA) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-0 (37m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Saskia Beinhard (GER) bt [6] Ella Galova (FRA) 15-13, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6 (44m)
[4] Celine Walser (SUI) bt [8] Aylin Günsav (GER) 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 (15m)
[7] Taba Taghavi (FRA) bt [3] Léa Barbeau (FRA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (22m)
[2] Katerina Tycova (GER) bt [5] Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 13-15, 11-8 (60m)

First Round:
[1] Saskia Beinhard (GER) v Tereza Siroka (CZE)
Alina Poessl (SUI) v [6] Ella Galova (FRA)
[8] Aylin Gunsav (GER) v Tamara Holzbauerova (CZE)
Juliette Permentier (NED) v [4] Celine Walser (SUI)
[3] Lea Barbeau (FRA) v Lilou Brevard-Belliot (FRA)
Catherine Holland (SCO) v [7] Taba Taghavi (FRA)
[5] Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) v Salma El Aify (EGY)
[WC] Sabrina Rehman (AUT) v [2] Katerina Tycova (GER)
Walser Clinches First Tour Title


Celine Walser (right) and Katerina Tycova (left)

The final of the women’s Austrian Open was always going to produce a new first time winner on Tour title, it was just a matter of who. In the end, Switzerland’s Celine Walser took the victory, defeating Germany’s Katerina Tycova to move into the winners’ circle for the first time in her career.

Walser came into the Challenger 3 level women’s tournament as the No.4 seed, and she started her campaign on the glass court at Europark Salzburg with a comfortable victory over compatriot Stephanie Muller to move through to the last eight.

She then spent just 15 minutes on court in the quarters to defeat the first of three Germans she would face, in No.8 seed Aylin Gunsav. Walser then overcame the challenger of the tournament’s top seed, World No.73 Saskia Beinhard, in a four-game battle, one which saw Walser take all of her three game victories on tie-breaks, to move through to Saturday’s final.

In the final in Salzburg, Walser took on the No.2 seed, and another German, in Katerina Tycova. She dropped the first game 11-9, but fought back to win the next two to hold the advantage in the contest. The fourth game went to a tie-break, but the Swiss player was able to claim the title, winning it 13-11, to become the latest first-time winner on Tour.

For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or follow
PSA Challenger Events on 
Twitter or Facebook.
 
Walser And Tycova To Meet In Final


Katerina Tycova

It was a busy day at Europark Salzburg, with six matches taking place across two rounds, and there are just two women left in the Austrian Open, with Switzerland’s Celine Walser and Germany’s Katerina Tycova through to Saturday’s final.

The quarter finals of the Challenger 3 level competition saw just a single surprise, as No.7 seed Taba Taghavi came through the all-French encounter with compatriot and No.3 seed Lea Barbeau, winning in straight games in just 22 minutes, to advance to the semi-finals. She was joined by the rest of the top four seeds, in Germany’s Saskia Beinhard and Katerina Tycova, and Swiss player Celine Walser.

Into the semi-finals, and there was German representation in both matches. In the opening match of the last four, top seed Beinhard took on Switzerland’s Celine Walser, and it was the No.4 seed that eventually came through after a match that featured three tie-breaks.

Beinhard, the World No.73, took a tight first game 11-9 to hold the advantage in the match, and the contest would not see a game decided by more than two points throughout. Walser levelled the match after a 14-12 success in the second, before then also winning the third on a tie-break 16-14 to lead for the first time. The Swiss World No.127 fought through to win the fourth, also on a tie-break, to advance to her first final since November 2020.

She will take on Germany’s Katerina Tycova in the final on Saturday, after the World No.130 got the better of France’s Taba Taghavi in a four-game contest, coming from behind to take the win. The German lost the first game 11-7 but fought back to win the next two to hold the advantage in the match. She then stormed through the fourth game to take the win, and move through to the final.

The final of the women’s Austrian Open will take place on Saturday, July 2, with Germany’s Katerina Tycova and Switzerland’s Celine Walser to do battle for the title at the Europark Salzburg.

For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or follow
PSA Challenger Events on 
Twitter or Facebook.
 
Women's Preview

Peychar Focussing On Performances

The Austrian Open will take place across the next two weekends in Salzburg, with the women’s Challenger 3 level tournament taking place from Thursday, June 30 to Saturday, July 2 at Europark Salzburg.

The 16-strong draw will take to the glass court at the Europark Salzburg on Thursday afternoon, with the German duo of Saskia Beinhard and Katerina Tycova being the top two seeds for the competition, with the latter aiming to claim her maiden win on Tour.

Fellow German Aylin Gunsav will also be among the top eight seeds, along with the French trio of Lea Barbeau, Ella Galova and Taba Taghavi, Switzerland’s Celine Walser and Austrian No.1 Jacqueline Peychar.

Peychar is the home favourite for the tournament, and she will be the No.5 seed this week in Salzburg. After winning the Austrian Nationals title earlier this month, she is coming into this Challenger 3 level tournament with confidence in her game and her body.

“I‘m super excited to be playing the Austrian Open for the first time and finally having a women‘s PSA event in Austria,” she explained.

“I‘m feeling pretty good at the moment, just last week I won my fourth national title. This year, I struggled a bit with some injuries so it was difficult to find some consistency in training and competing, but my body settled down and I’m feeling stronger every day.”

As the No.5 seed, Peychar is expected to reach the quarter finals of the event, but she will be aiming further, especially on a court that she knows so well, having played there several times in the past.

“As far as my expectations go, I always try to top my seeding, but at the moment my main focus is to show up and perform at the highest level I can. If that means a first round exit, then that’s alright,” the Austrian admitted.

“Thanks to Aqeel Rehman’s hard work with organising the Austrian Squash Challenge every year! We have been having our Austrian League Finals at the Europark for the past few years, so I‘m familiar with the venue, the glass court and conditions there, which is always nice.

“Every win on home soil is special, I just want to keep playing as long as possible and I know if I bring my ‘A’ game, I‘ll be a very tough one to crack for anyone in the draw!”

The event takes place from Thursday, June 30 to Saturday, July 2 at Europark Salzburg, where Jacqueline Peychar will be the home favourite for the tournament. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or follow
PSA Challenger Events on 
Twitter or Facebook.