Open de Mulhouse: Kobayashi Claims Second Title of 2021

Japan’s Ryosei Kobayashi secured his second victory of 2021, thanks to a win over Sebastien Bonmalais in the final of the Open de Mulhouse in France.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was allowed regional-only entries, meaning those based in Europe were permitted to enter the Challenger 5 level event.

Kobayashi, who won the 2nd Sylvester Trophy in March, dropped a game in each of his first two matches, before showing his class and dominance in the latter stages.

After receiving a bye through to the second round, the Japanese No.1 defeated wildcard Paul Gonzalez, before getting the better of Robin Gadola to make it into the semi-finals.

There, he came up against No.3 seed Farkas Balazs, but he brushed the Hungarian aside, winning in straight games in 36 minutes. He then came up against the tournament’s top seed, Sebastien Bonmalais, in the final, winning 3-0.

Kobayashi claimed the sixth title of his career, with all of those coming in the last two years. He also becomes the eighth player to secure multiple titles this year.

Results: Open de Mulhouse
Final
[2] Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) bt [1] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [7] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 3-1: 4-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-8 (42m)
[2] Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) bt [3] Farkas Balazs (HUN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (36m)

Quarter-Finals
[1] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [8] Ivan Perez (ESP) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (36m)
[7] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [4] Robert Downer (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-4, 10-12, 13-11 (62m)
[3] Farkas Balazs (HUN) bt [5] Valentin Rapp (GER) 3-1: 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 (58m)
[2] Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) bt [6] Robin Gadola (SUI) 3-1: 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (41m)

Round Two
[1] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 3-0: 4-0 rtd (2m)
[8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (32m)
[7] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Edwin Clain (SUI) 3-1: 12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6 (48m)
[4] Robert Downer (ENG) bt David Zeman (CZE) 3-1: 15-13, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
[3] Farkas Balazs (HUN) bt Miguel Mathis (SUI) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 (21m)
[5] Valentin Rapp (GER) bt Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 (55m)
[6] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (30m)
[2] Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) bt [WC] Paul Gonzalez (FRA) 3-1: 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (39m)

Round One
[WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt Marek Panacek (CZE) 3-1: 11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12 (44m)
Nilo Vidal (ESP) bt Nils Roesch (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (34m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [WC] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (23m)
David Zeman (CZE) bt Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) 3-1: 11-4, 13-11, 4-11, 11-7 (51m)
Miguel Mathis (SUI) bt Heiko Schwarzer (GER) 3-1: 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 (43m)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Tobias Weggen (GER) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-1 (21m)
Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt Quint Mandil (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-8 (25m)
[WC] Paul Gonzalez (FRA) bt Joel Jaume Izcara (ESP) 3-1: 5-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)