BRESS Breda Open RD2: Conroy and Long Down Higher Seeds

There were just a couple of surprises on the second day of the BRESS Breda Open in the Netherlands, with Irishman Sean Conroy and Hong Kong’s Chung Yat Long downing higher seeded players.

The Irishman is the No.10 seed for the competition, and he took on No.8 seed Guilherme Melo in the second round in Breda. The Brazilian took the opening game, only to see Conroy fight back to level the match at one game apiece. Following the end of the second, Melo had to retire from the contest, sending sending the Irishman into the last eight.

He will now take on compatriot Sam Buckley, the tournament’s No.4 seed, in an all-Irish clash. Buckley overcame the challenge of Zimbabwean No.1 Blessing Muhwati, winning 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 to advance to the quarter finals. 

The other man to cause an upset on the second day of the Challenger 5 level tournament was Hong Kong’s Chung Yat Long. He came up against No.7 seed Nicholas Calvert in the last 16, and came from behind to defeat the Aussie. Long lost the opener 11-6, but fought back to win 3-1, and to advance to the quarter finals.

Elsewhere, Switzerland’s Robin Gadola, the tournament’s top seed, safely made his way through. He defeated wildcard Scott Gillanders. Welshman Elliott Morris Devred, Scotland’s Alasdair Prott, the Czech Republic’s Jakub Solnicky and India’s Velavan Senthilkumar also are into the quarters.

There were no surprises in the women’s event on day two in the Netherlands. The only non-top eight seed to advance was Egypt’s Amina El Rihany. Due to a surprise result on the opening day, the No.13 seed took on Dutchwoman Renske Huntelaar, and won comfortably, spending just 17 minutes on court to advance to the last eight.

She is joined by compatriot and No.3 seed Haya Ali, with the pair now set to do battle in the quarter finals on Friday. Top seed Tessa ter Sluis was in fine form to defeat Siobhan Wilkins, dropping just six points across the entire contest in an 11-1, 11-5, 11-0 victory.

Sanne Veldkamp makes it two Dutchwomen in the quarter finals on home soil, with France’s Taba Taghavi, Scotland’s Katriona Allen, American Riya Navani and Irish No.1 Breanne Flynn completing the quarter final line-up.

The last eight of the BRESS Breda Open will take place on Friday, April 14. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Second Round Results: BRESS Breda Open
[1] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt [WC] Scott Gillanders (IRL) 3-1: 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6 (45m)
[5] Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt [15] Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 11-2 (45m)
[10] Sean Conroy (IRL) bt [8] Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7 rtd (30m)
[4] Sam Buckley (IRL) bt Blessing Muhwati (ZIM) 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 (40m)
[3] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [16] Nils Roesch (SUI) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
[11] Chung Yat Long (HKG) bt [7] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 3-1: 6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3 (50m)
[6] Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [13] Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (35m)
[2] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [12] Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (55m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
[1] Robin Gadola (SUI) v [5] Alasdair Prott (SCO)
[10] Sean Conroy (IRL) v [4] Sam Buckley (IRL)
[3] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) v [11] Chung Yat Long (HKG)
[6] Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) v [2] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)

Women’s Second Round Results: BRESS Breda Open
[1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) bt Siobhan Wilkins (ENG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 11-0 (25m)
[7] Riya Navani (USA) bt [10] Ellie Jones (SCO) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (25m)
[6] Sanne Veldkamp (NED) bt [14] Chloe Foster (WAL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (28m)
[4] Breanne Flynn (IRL) bt Daniek Krukkert (NED) 3-1: 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3 (35m)
[3] Haya Ali (EGY) bt Megan van Drongelen (NED) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (25m)
[13] Amina El Rihany (EGY) bt Renske Huntelaar (NED) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-2 (17m)
[5] Katriona Allen (SCO) bt [11] Katie Cox (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-2 (30m)
[2] Taba Taghavi (FRA) bt Elfi Markus (NED) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (20m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
[1] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v [7] Riya Navani (USA)
[6] Sanne Veldkamp (NED) v [4] Breanne Flynn (IRL)
[3] Haya Ali (EGY) v [13] Amina El Rihany (EGY)
[5] Katriona Allen (SCO) v [2] Taba Taghavi (FRA)