Qualifying Begins in France

#PSAWorldTour

Benjamin Aubert and Charlie Lee were the only unseeded players to make it through the first qualifying round of the 3rd Open Squash Provence Chateau-Arnoux, PSA M5 event as the tournament got off to an electrifying start.

Aubert came up with a superlative performance to see off Dutchman Roshan Bharos in their encounter. Sixth seed Bharos took the first game but Aubert dug in and battled back to claim an unlikely 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 13-11 victory.

The Frenchman has a tough fixture against top seed Xavi Blasco in the next round after the Spaniard romped to a 3-0 victory over Karlis Pekstins.

Lee defeated number eight seed Roee Avraham despite the 75 places between the pair in the World Rankings. His reward is a tantalising tie with Sindre Roaldsoy who overcame England’s Matthew Cook.

Robert Dadds beat Omar El Tahry to set up a clash with Aitor Zunzunegui who saw off local player Jeremie Aissaoui while Mile Jenkins moved past David Schoumacher to set up a clash with Sam Ellis after the Bristol-based 22-year-old blitzed by Bertrand Hardy.

Results – First Qualifying Round: 3rd Open Squash Provence Chateau-Arnoux 2015
[4] Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt [L] David Schoumacher (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (18m)
[5] Sam Ellis (ENG) bt [L] Bertrand Hardy (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-8
[7] Aitor Zunzunegui (ESP) [L] bt Jeremie Aissaoui (FRA) 3-2: 10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-7
[2] Robert Dadds (ENG) bt Omar El Tahry (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
[3] Sindre Roaldsoy (NOR) bt Matthew Cook (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-3
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [8] Roee Avraham (ISR) 3-1: 13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9
Benjamin Aubert (FRA) bt [6] Roshan Bharos (NED) 3-1: 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 13-11
[1] Xavi Blasco (ESP) bt Karlis Pekstins (LAT) 3-0: 11-7, 11-1, 11-4

Draw – Final Qualifying Round
[4] Miles Jenkins (ENG) v [5] Sam Ellis (ENG)
[7] Aitor Zunzunegui (ESP) v [2] Robert Dadds (ENG)
[3] Sindre Roaldsoy (NOR) v Charlie Lee (ENG)
Benjamin Aubert (FRA) v [1] Xavi Blasco (ESP)