England’s Olivier Pett was the surprise winner of the Brit Insurance Metrosquash Windy City Open at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.
The 22-year-old qualifier from Sussex made his breakthrough in the opening round of the men’s PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event when he toppled top seed Ryan Cuskelly, of Australia, in straight games.
Competing in his first Tour event for ten months, Pett went on to overcome two more Australians before reaching his maiden Tour final, where he faced Jan Koukal – the second-seeded Czech number one who was celebrating his 24th PSA final appearance.
Undaunted by his more experienced opponent, Pett conquered Koukal 13-11, 11-6, 11-4 to record the first Tour title success of his career.
Final:
[Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt [2] Jan Koukal (CZE) 13-11, 11-6, 11-4
Semi-finals:
[Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt [Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [4] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-5, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 3-11, 11-6
[Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [Q] Mark Heather (ENG) 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [Q] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 12-14, 11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 11-9
1st round:
[Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt [1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7
Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 12-10
[Q] Mark Heather (ENG) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7
[Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [3] Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Jonas Laursen (DEN) 13-11, 11-3, 11-5
[Q] Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Shaun le Roux (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 11-4
Dick Lau (HKG) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 11-2
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-2, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9
Qualifying finals:
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9
Mark Heather (ENG) bt Matthew Serediak (CAN) 14-12, 15-13, 14-16, 11-5
Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Beau River (USA) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Alex Grayson (NZL) 15-13, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3
1st qualifying round:
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 12-10, 11-6, 11-8
Fred Reid (CAN) bt Ed Gadient (USA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
Mark Heather (ENG) bt Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) 11-13, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
Matthew Serediak (CAN) bt Des Vindici (USA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Jack Herold (USA) 11-2, 11-3, 11-5
Beau River (USA) bt Sam McCartney (USA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Alex Grayson (NZL) bt Leo Au (HKG) 12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Rodrigo Torres (COL) w/o
