City Of Devonport Open: Wildcard MacDonald Scores First PSA Win To Reach RD2 In Tasmania

The City of Devonport Tasmanian Open 2023 got underway today six upsets taking place across the 16 matches, the most notable of which coming from local wildcard Brendan MacDonald who overcame twelfth seed Wailok To in five games. Switzerland’s Sven Stettler also booked a place in round two after No.4 seed Rhys Dowling was forced to retire injured after the third game.

The win for wildcard MacDonald was his first ever on the PSA tour as he competed in only his second ever event. The 19-year-old took a 2-0 lead against Hong Kong’s To and despite the No.12 seed battling back to equalise at 2-2. MacDonald secured the fifth game 11-7 to win 3-2.

There were three more surprise Australian winners on day one as Jack Hudson scored a win over Switzerland’s Miguel Mathis in four games to advance. With the score tied at 1-1, it was Hudson who moved ahead in the third game to win 11-7 and then carry that momentum into the fourth to steal it 12-10. Recent Eastside Open runner-up Dylan molinaro continued his impressive form as he beat Malaysia’s Bryan Lim Tze Kang in a hard fought four games whilst Tate Zak Norris overcame compatriot James Lloyd in a 53-minute clash.

Both top seeds safely progressed through round one as they overcame Mason Smales and Suraj Kumar Chand to reach round two. Top seed Endo needed just 20 minutes to defeat Smales whilst Scotland’s recent winner Alasdair Prott was through in just 22 minutes.

Results: City of Devonport Tasmania Open 2023 – Round One
[1] Tomotaka Endo (JAP) bt Mason Smales (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)
[WC] Brendan MacDonald (AUS) bt [12] Wailok To (HKG) 3-2: 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7 (40m)
[15] Shamil Wakeel (SRI) bt Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-1, 11-6 (36m)
[7] Ho Ka Hei (HKG) bt [WC] Jamie Pattison (AUS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (24m)
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt [WC] James Nicholas (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-2 (19m)
[14] Mohamed Gohar (EGY) bt [WC] Sunil Seth (GUY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (15m)
[16] Paul Gonzalez (FRA) bt [WC] Javed Ali (AUS) 3-1: 11-3, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (34m)
Sven Stettler (SUI) bt [4] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 3-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 0-0 retired (20m)
[3] Harley Lam (HKG) bt Cameron Darton (AUS) 3-1: 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10 (46m)
Jaejin Yoo (KOR) bt [9] Hollis Robertson (USA) 3-0: Walkover
Jack Hudson (AUS) bt [11] Miguel Mathis (SUI) 3-1: 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10 (41m)
Dylan Molinaro (AUS) bt [5] Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (51m)
[6] Elijah Thomas (NZL) bt [WC] Benjamin Hudson (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 (25m)
Tate Zak Norris (AUS) bt [13] James Lloyd (AUS) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (53m)
[10] Naoki Hayashi (JPN) bt [WC] Remi Young (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (23m)
[2] Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt Suraj Kumar Chand (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (22m)

Draw: City of Devonport Tasmania Open 2023 – Round Two
[1] Tomotaka Endo (JAP) v [WC] Brendan MacDonald (AUS)
[15] Shamil Wakeel (SRI) v [7] Ho Ka Hei (HKG)
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [14] Mohamed Gohar (EGY)
[16] Paul Gonzalez (FRA) v Sven Stettler (SUI)
[3] Harley Lam (HKG) v Jaejin Yoo (KOR)
Jack Hudson (AUS) v Dylan Molinaro (AUS)
[6] Elijah Thomas (NZL) v Tate Zak Norris (AUS)
[10] Naoki Hayashi (JPN) v [2] Alasdair Prott (SCO)