Denmark’s Kristian Frost Olesen enjoyed his best-ever run on the professional squash circuit when he lifted the inaugural Pilatus Cup after defeating fourth-seeded Frenchman Julien Balbo in the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at Sportpark Pilatus in the Swiss town of Kriens.
It was the climax of a genuine ‘giant-killing’ run by the unseeded 22-year-old from Odense who made his breakthrough in the opening round with a five-game defeat of USA’s third seed Gilly Lane.
But Frost, ranked 79 in the world, had enough left in his armoury to overcome top-seeded Englishman Chris Simpson, the world No48, in the semi-final before going on to despatch world No70 Balbo 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1 in the final.
“I didn’t expect to win the first round because my draw was really tough,” explained the jubilant Dane later. “So I had to change my flight at least when I won in the semis.
“I’m really happy about this win and I like to thank Mario (Tschopp) and all the guys who helped with the tournament.”
Balbo, who upset Italy’s second seed Stephane Galifi in a five-game semi-final marathon, was making no excuses: “Yesterday’s match was tough – but we are used to play many hard matches in a few days,” said the Grenoble-born 32-year-old.
“So I was not too tired, but it was so difficult to get points against Kristian because he’s such a good athlete. Congratulations to him.”
Olesen was celebrating his third appearance in a PSA Tour final – but his first title triumph.
Picture shows Olesen (centre) with Balbo (right) at the presentation ceremony
Final:
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [4] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1
Semi-finals:
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [1] Chris Simpson (ENG) 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [2] Stephane Galifi (ITA) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2
Quarter-finals:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Steve Finitsis (AUS) 11-5, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [Q] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 11-9, 11-5, 12-10
[2] Stephane Galifi (ITA) bt [Q] Andre Haschker (GER) 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5
1st round:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-5, 11-3, 11-7
Steve Finitsis (AUS) bt Amr Swelim (ITA) 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8
Lewis Walters (ENG) bt Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 15-13
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [3] Gilly Lane (USA) 10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3
[Q] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3
[Q] Andre Haschker (GER) bt Tom Pashley (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 12-10
[2] Stephane Galifi (ITA) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
Qualifying finals:
Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt Matias Tuomi (FIN) 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10
Andre Haschker (GER) bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-6, 11-4, 11-3
Jonas Daehler (SUI) bt Andrea Bianchetti (ITA) 11-9, 11-4, 11-3
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Cedric Kuchen (SUI) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
1st qualifying round:
Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt Pascal Bruhin (SUI) 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 (21m)
Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt Lukas Burkhart (SUI) 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-1 (58m)
Patrick Miescher (SUI) bt Dominik Braunfels (GER) 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (33m)
Andre Haschker (GER) bt Yannick Lindemann (SUI) 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 (22m)
Andrea Bianchetti (ITA) bt Manuel Wanner (SUI) 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5 (44m)
Jonas Daehler (SUI) bt Dominik Penkov (SUI) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (23m)
Cedric Kuchen (SUI) bt Remo Handl (SUI) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 2-11, 11-4 (82m)
