In a rare Tour event climax between two qualifiers, England’s Joel Hinds emerged triumphant in the final of the IG Markets Open de Paris to win the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event at Société Sportive de Jeu de Paume et de Racquets in the French capital Paris.
Hinds, the 25-year-old world No 117 from Birmingham, made his breakthrough in the opening round when he upset top seed Rafael Alarcon 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 in 40 minutes. It was in the final rally of the game that Brazilian number one Alarcon cut his hand, creating a wound which required several stitches.
Hinds (pictured) went on to tackle local hero Joan Lezaud in the semi-finals, beating the third-seeded Frenchman 11-3, 11-13, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 in 75 minutes to reach the ninth Tour final of his career.
His opponent, fellow qualifier Alejandro Garbi Caro, was leading Spanish interest in the event. The 30-year-old from Castellon removed second seed Ahmad Al-Saraj in the first round, beating the Jordanian 15-13, 14-12, 14-12 in 79 minutes in one of the longest straight-game matches on record.
Two wins later saw Caro, ranked 155 in the world, in the second Tour final of his career.
But despite his marathon semi, Hinds still produced a devastating performance in the final to see off the Spaniard 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 to claim the third PSA World Tour title of his career.
Final:
[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 12-10, 11-5, 11-5
Semi-finals:
[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-3, 11-13, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 (75m)
[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (37m)
Quarter-finals:
[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Declan James (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
[3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-1 (80m)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [4] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)
[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (40m)
1st round:
[Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [1] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)
Declan James (ENG) bt [Q] James Earles (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (55m)
[Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (16m)
[3] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 2-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (45m)
[4] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Yousif Nizar Saleh (KUW) 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (40m)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt Johan Bouquet (FRA) 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 1-1 ret.
Steven London (ENG) bt [WC] Quint Mandil (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)
[Q] Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt [2] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 15-13, 14-12, 14-12 (79m)
Qualifying finals:
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Antoine-Camille Petrucci (FRA) 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 (40m)
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Tim Weber (GER) 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10 (66m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6 (53m)
Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Ondrej Ertl (CZE) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (25m)
1st qualifying round:
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Damien Volland (FRA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (30m)
Antoine-Camille Petrucci (FRA) bt Martin Svec (CZE) 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5 (42m)
Tim Weber (GER) bt Jerome Dadot (FRA) 5-11, 6-7 ret.
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt David Haley (WAL) 11-1, 11-3, 11-8 (30m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (39m)
Douglas Kempsell (SCO) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-5, 11-1, 11-8 (35m)
Ondrej Ertl (CZE) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (40m)
Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
