Weekend RoundUp: Gilis and Grayson Clinch Irish Open Titles

New Zealand’s World No.48 Campbell Grayson and Belgium’s World No.29 Nele Gilis claimed the men’s and women’s Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open titles, respectively, over the weekend as a number of PSA Challenger Tour events came to an end.

Number three seed Grayson powered past India’s Mahesh Mangaonkar in straight-games in the final to claim his 13th PSA title by an 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 scoreline in 45 minutes.

It’s the Kiwi’s first title since the 2017 Squash XL Open when he defeated Scotland’s Greg Lobban in the final.

Meanwhile, Gilis also claimed the title in straight-games after a dominant 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 victory in 35 minutes over South Africa’s Alexandra Fuller.

It’s the American’s second successive title after winning the Bermuda Open last time out.

Results:
Johannesburg Open
Men’s Final
[1] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt [2] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (33m)

Women’s Final
[2] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [1] Milnay Louw (RSA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 (39m)

SRAM PSA 2

Men’s Final
[2] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [1] Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 3-1: 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8 (69m)

Women’s Final
[1] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [4] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (36m)

Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open
Men’s Final
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [7] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)

Women’s Final
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt [4] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)

Bourbon Trail Event No.4
Final
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [3] Marie Stephan (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (23m)

* View all the results from the PSA Challenger Tour

World No.90 Idrakie survived a comeback from compatriot Mohd Syafiq Kamal to defeat the top seed by an 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8 scoreline in 69 minutes and win his sixth PSA title.

While, Watanabe came from a game down to defeat Malaysia’s Ooi Kah Yan by a 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 scoreline to claim her second PSA title.

Finally, United States’ World No.81 Marina Stefanoni reigned victorious at the Bourbon Trail Event No.4 as she eased past France’s Marie Stephan in straight-games.

The win marks Gilis’ sixth PSA title and her second of the season after winning the Open International de Squash de Nantes at the start of the season.

Elsewhere at the Johannesburgh Open, Colombia’s Juan Camilo Vargas and England’s Jasmine Hutton both prevailed against home hopes to claim the titles in South Africa.

Top seed Vargas overcame number two seed South Africa’s Jean-Pierre Brits to claim his third PSA title of his career. Meanwhile, Hutton defeated top seed South Africa’s Milnay Louw to take home the plaudits after she won by an 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 scoreline to win her maiden PSA title.

At the SRAM PSA 2 tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia it was home favourite Addeen Idrakie and Japan’s Satomi Watanabe who claimed the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.