Gibraltar Open RD1: Jenkins Takes Out Top Seed

England’s World No.161 Miles Jenkins overcame No.1 seed Martin Svec to book his place in the quarter-finals of the men’s Gibraltar Open, PSA Challenger 5 event taking place at the Europa Sports Centre.

Jenkins – the 28-year-old based in Woking – came back from a game down to complete a 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 victory in 38 minutes to set up a last eight clash with India’s Velavan Senthilkumar, who defeated No.7 seed Toufik Mekhalfi 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5.

Elsewhere, Spain’s Edmon Lopez also scored an upset win as the World No.125 took out No.5 seed Perry Malik, winning by an 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7 scoreline. The 26-year-old will now go up against No.3 seed Emyr Evans after the Welshman dispatched Czech Republic’s Jakub Solnicky 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3.

No.2 seed Ivan Perez got his tournament under way with a 3-1 against Switzerland’s Robin Gadola, a match which saw Perez come back from a game down to then win three games in succession on a tie-break.

His quarter-final opponent will be No.8 seed Owain Taylor, who dispatched Elliott Morris Devred in five games, recording an 11-4, 6-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 triumph.

Englishman James Peach and Czech Republic’s Daniel Mekbib were the other victors on day one. They beat Stuart Macgregor and Manu Paquemar, respectively, to set up a quarter-final match.

In the women’s event, No.2 seed Torrie Malik suffered the same fate as her brother Perry, going down 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 12-14, 11-8 to Egypt’s Hana Ismail. Ismail will now play No.6 seed Keira Marshall in the next round.

There was also an upset to be found in the match featuring World No.119 Klara Møller and World No.147 Katriona Allen, with the latter winning in five games to ensure she will play Austrian No.4 seed Jacqueline Peychär next.

There was no danger for top seed Marta Dominguez Fernandez, who cruised to a 3-0 win over Wales’ Lowri Roberts and she will play France’s Lauren Baltayan for a place in the semi-finals.

The quarter-finals of the Gibraltar Open will take place on Thursday June 29, with play getting under way at 18:00 (GMT+2). You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook.

Result – Men’s First Round: 2023 Gibraltar Open

Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt [1] Martin Svec (CZE) 3-1: 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (38m)

Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [7] [7] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 (54m)

Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt [5] Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)

[3] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3 (49m)

[4] James Peach (ENG) bt Stuart Macgregor (SCO) 3-1: 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 14-12 (61m)

[6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (29m)

[8] Owain Taylor (ENG) bt Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) 3-2: 11-4, 6-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 (60m)

[2] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Robin Gadola (SUI) 3-1: 7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 14-12 (64m)

Draw – Quarter-Finals: To Be Played June 29th

Miles Jenkins (ENG) v Velavan Senthilkumar (IND)

Edmon Lopez (ESP) v [3] Emyr Evans (WAL)

[4] James Peach (ENG) v [6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)

[8] Owain Taylor (ENG) v [2] Ivan Perez (ESP)

Result – Women’s First Round: 2023 Gibraltar Open

[1] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) bt Lowri Roberts (WAL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 12-10 (32m)

Emilia Korhonen (FIN) bt [7] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 15-13, 11-6 (26m)

[5] Saran Nghiem (ENG) bt Caroline Lyng (DEN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (22m)

[3] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) bt Siena Hall (GIB) 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-0 (13m)

[4] Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) bt Sofía Mateos (ESP) 3-2: 11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)

Katriona Allen (SCO) bt [8] Klara Møller (DEN) 3-2: 9-11, 13-11, 13-15, 11-5, 11-7 (53m)

[6] Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Marie Van Riet (BEL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (23m)

Hana Ismail (EGY) bt [2] Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 12-14, 11-8 (67m)

Draw – Quarter-Finals: To Be Played June 29th

[1] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) v Emilia Korhonen (FIN)

[5] Saran Nghiem (ENG) v [3] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP)

[4] Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) v Katriona Allen (SCO) 

[6] Kiera Marshall (ENG) v Hana Ismail (EGY)