Challenger Tour Roundup: Peach Downs In-Form No.2 Seed Svec To Advance In Galway

Round two of the Garavan’s Bar West of Ireland Open concluded yesterday with two upsets taking place in Galway. England’s James Peach scored the win of the day as he defeated the in-form No.2 seed Martin Svec from Czech Republic. Svec recently secured his place in the PSA World Championships by winning the European Qualifier in France but was unable to back up his level against a determined Peach.

The Yorkshireman took a tight opening game 11-9 before dominating the following games, claiming both 11-4 to book his place in the quarter finals. He’ll now face compatriot Finnlay Withington, who needed just 26 minutes to defeat Soctland’s Alasdair Prott.

Recent London Classic semi-finalist Declan James scored the other seeding upset of the day as he beat No.4 seeded Welshman Emyr Evans. James has been retuning from injury but has now started to find his best form as he attempts to move back up the rankings. James was in total control of the contest from start to finish and won 3-0, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 in 41 minutes. He’s now set up a last eight meeting with Czech’s Daniel Mekbib, who moved past New Zealand’s Lwamba Chileshe in straight games.

In the top half of the draw there will be an all-Czech match up in the last eight as Viktor Byrtus and Jakub Solnicky both scored wins to reach the quarter finals and also an all-Pakistani clash as top seed Muhammad Asim Khan and Noor Zaman will square off for spots in the semi-finals.

Results: Round Two
[1] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) bt Laouenan Loaëc (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 13-11, 11-7 (43m)
[6] Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Brice Nicolas (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (32m)
[8] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)3-1: 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (56m)
[3] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt Sam Buckley (IRL) 3-2: 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6 (64m)
Declan James (ENG) bt [4] Emyr Evans (WAL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (41m)
[7] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (42m)
[5] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Alasdair Prott (SCO) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 (26m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [2] Martin Svec (CZE) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (45m)

Draw: Quarter Finals
[1] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) v [6] Noor Zaman (PAK)
[3] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) v [8] Jakub Solnicky (CZE)
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) v [7] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)
[9/16] James Peach (ENG) v [5] Finnlay Withington (ENG)

Elsewhere, the BRESS Breda Open 2024 got underway yesterday in the Netherlands as 16 players booked places in the second round of the Challenger 6 event.

44-year-old Rene Mijs scored the only upset on day one in the men’s event as he overturned a 140 ranking deficit to defeat World No.240 Sven Stettler from Switzerland. Mijs captured a tight opening game 12-10 before looking more comfortable in the next two games to secure the 3-0 win and move into the second round.

In the opening match of the day, England’s Will Salter produced a battling performance to defeat Switzerland’s Louai Hafez in an 82-minute five-game thriller. Salter lead 2-0 in the match but back came Hafez. The Swiss claimed games three and four in close fashion 13-11, 11-9 to set up a decider. The Englishman came through strongly in the final game, winning 11-8 to advance.

Less than a week after making her maiden tour final, women’s wildcard Laila Sedky carried on her impressive form by downing 9/16 seed Marie van Riet in four games to move into round two. The pair shared two close opening games before the American powered through in the following two games to win 11-2, 11-6.

Czech’s Karolina Sramkova and Wales’ Chloe Foster also scored upsets against higher seeded Katriona Ross and Nika Urh, respectively. Whilst the home crowd were treated to a stunning performance by local Renske Huntelaar as she defeated Scotland’s Carys Jones in four games to delight the Dutch crowd.

Results: Men’s Round One
[9/16] Will Salter (ENG) bt Louai Hafez (SUI) 3-2: 11-3, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8 (82m)
[9/16] Mitchell Kahnert (CAN) bt Jakub Pytlowany (POL) 3-1: 11-6, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6 (48m)
[9/16] Manuel Paquemar (FRA) bt [WC] Tristan Keenan (NED) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-8 (20m)
Rene Mijs (NED) bt [9/16] Sven Stettler (SUI) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (32m)
[9/16] Blessing Muhwati (ZIM) bt Arno Diekmann (NAM) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (27m)
[9/16] Joshua Phinera (FRA) bt Lowie Delbeke (BEL) 3-1: 4-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (42m)
[9/16] Theis Houlberg (DEN) bt Rob Thirst (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (23m)
[9/16] Antonin Romieu (FRA) bt Lukas Windischberger (AUT) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (28m)

Draw: Men’s Round Two
[1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) v [9/16] Will Salter (ENG)
[5] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) v [9/16] Mitchell Kahnert (CAN)
[8] Nilo Vidal (ESP) v [9/16] Manuel Paquemar (FRA)
[4] Joeri Hapers (BEL) v Rene Mijs (NED)
[3] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) v [9/16] Blessing Muhwati (ZIM)
[6] Sebastiaan Hofman (NED) v [9/16] Joshua Phinera (FRA)
[7] Jose Gallegos (CHI) v [9/16] Theis Houlberg (DEN)
[2] Rowan Damming (NED) v [9/16] Antonin Romieu (FRA)

Results: Women’s Round One
Renske Huntelaar (NED) bt [9/16] Carys Jones (SCO) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 (33m)
[WC] Laila Sedky (USA) bt [9/16] Marie van Riet (BEL) 3-1: 13-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (41m)
[9/16] Fleur Maas (NED) bt Jelena Dutina (SRB) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 (14m)
Karolina Sramkova (CZE) bt [9/16] Katriona Ross (SCO) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-1 (41m)
[9/16] Emilia Korhonen (FIN) bt Suzanne Peters (NED) 3-0: 11-1, 11-2, 11-6 (18m)
Chloe Foster (WAL) bt [9/16] Nika Urh (SLO) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (23m)
[9/16] Tamara Holzbauerová (CZE) bt Jasmine Thirst (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 (28m)
[9/16] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) bt Megan van Drongelen (NED) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (18m)

Draw: Women’s Round Two
[1] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) v Renske Huntelaar (NED)
[8] Erin Classen (AUS) v [WC] Laila Sedky (USA)
[5] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) v [9/16] Fleur Maas (NED)
[3] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v Karolina Sramkova (CZE)
[4] Léa Barbeau (FRA) v [9/16] Emilia Korhonen (FIN)
[6] Ana Munos (FRA) v Chloe Foster (WAL)
[7] Maria Tovar (COL) v [9/16] Tamara Holzbauerová (CZE)
[2] Alison Thomson (SCO) v [9/16] Mariam Ashraf (EGY)