Batch Open RD1: Wildcard Nicolas Among First Round Winners

Wildcard Brice Nicolas caused an upset on the opening day of the Batch Open, as he moved through to the second round in Paris.

The World No.305 is the tournament’s wildcard, and took on Australian Nicholas Calvert in the opening round of the Challenger 5 level event, which is taking place at the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in the French capital.

Nicolas, who was featuring on the Tour for the first time in 2023, fell behind after losing a third game tie-break 12-10. He then had to save match balls in the fourth game, but fought through to win it 14-12, before going on to claim the fifth game comfortably to take the victory. He will now face New Zealand’s Temwa Chileshe, the No.8 seed, in the last 16.

Nicolas was one of four French winners on the opening day. Compatriots Manu Paquemar, Toufik Mekhalfi and Maceo Levy were all victorious as well. The latter downed fellow Frenchman, and the second tournament wildcard, Melvil Scianimanico, in straight games.

Elsewhere, last week’s PSA de Normandie victor, Finland’s Miko Aijanen, secured an opening day win. The Finn got the better of Paul Gonzalez to reach the second round. He is joined by Austrian No.1 Aqeel Rehman, Hong Kong’s Chung Yat Long and Jakub Solnicky of the Czech Republic.

The second round of the Batch Open takes place on Wednesday, April 19, and you can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from Paris is being streamed throughout the week on the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume’s YouTube channel, which you can watch here. You can also keep up to date with live scores, which are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

First Round Results: Batch Open
Manu Paquemar (FRA) bt Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-0: 11-8 rtd (8m)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Lowie Delbeke (BEL) 3-1: 10-12, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9 (38m)
[WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 3-2: 11-5, 2-11, 10-12, 14-12, 11-5 (59m)
Miko Aijanen (FIN) bt Paul Gonzalez (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-1: 11-3, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (41m)
Maceo Levy (FRA) bt [WC] Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (23m)
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 (27m)
Chung Yat Long (HKG) bt [WC] Antoine Riehl (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (21m)

Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, April 19
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) v Manu Paquemar (FRA)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) v [7] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA)
[8] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) v [WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA)
Miko Aijanen (FIN) v [3] Ivan Perez (ESP)
[4] Edwin Clain (FRA) v Aqeel Rehman (AUT)
Maceo Levy (FRA) v [6] James Peach (ENG)
[5] Owain Taylor (WAL) v Jakub Solnicky (CZE)
Chung Yat Long (HKG) v [2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)