Madeira International RD1: Buckley Downs Compatriot Conroy

The opening day of the Madeira International took place at the Galo Active Health Club on the Portuguese island of Madeira, with the first round of the Challenger 10 level men’s draw seeing a couple of surprise results, including a win for Ireland’s Sam Buckley.

The first came from the clash between two Irishmen on the first day, with Sam Buckley getting the better of his nation’s No.1 player, Sean Conroy. The latter actually led 2-1 after three games, but failed to score a point in the fourth game, with Buckley wrestling back the momentum to then go on and win the fifth game as well. He will now face top seed and home favourite Rui Soares in the second round on Thursday.

The other upset on the first day in Madeira saw the Czech Republic’s Marek Panacek get the better of England’s Stuart MacGregor in a five-game battle. Panacek took a two game lead, including taking the first on a tie-break, but saw the Englishman fight back to send the match into a deciding game. However, the Czech secured the fifth, regrouping to win it 11-8 after 71 minutes of action, and he will face Hungary’s Balazs Farkas, the No.3 seed, in the second round.

Elsewhere on the opening day, Simon Herbert got the better of Perry Malik in an all-English battle, winning in four, while Spain’s Sergio Garcia Pollan overcame compatriot Javier Martin, and will now face another Spaniard, in No.7 Ivan Perez, on Thursday afternoon.

The seeded players will come into the draw on the second day in the men’s event, while the women’s Challenger 3 level competition will also get underway, with 16 women aiming for glory. Germany’s Katerina Tycova and Scotland’s Katriona Allen will be the top two seeds for the tournament.

The action continues at the Madeira International on Thursday, September 8, with action form both courts at the Galo Active Health Club being streamed live on the Galomar TV YouTube channel. You can also keep up to date with live scores from the tournament here.

Men’s First Round Results: Madeira International
Sam Buckley (IRL) bt Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-2: 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-0, 11-6 (54m)
Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 1-11, 12-10, 11-6 (46m)
Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt Javier Martin (ESP) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (60m)
Richie Fallows (ENG) bt Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (29m)
Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Stuart MacGregor (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 2-11, 11-8 (71m)
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Vinicius Leao Rodrigues (BRA) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 (30m)
Valentin Rapp (GER) bt Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (39m)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-1: 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (42m)

Men’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Thursday, September 8
[1] Rui Soares (POR) v Sam Buckley (IRL)
Simon Herbert (ENG) v [6] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY)
[7] Ivan Perez (ESP) v Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP)
Richie Fallows (ENG) v [4] Ben Coleman (ENG)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) v Marek Panacek (CZE)
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) v [8] Emyr Evans (WAL)
[5] Ronald Palomino (COL) v Valentin Rapp (GER)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) v [2] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

Women’s First Round Draw: To Be Played Thursday, September 8
[2] Katriona Allen (SCO) v Catarina Nunes (POR)
Mariana Ventura Martins (POR) v [7] Anastasiia Kostiukova (UKR)
[5] Sofia Aviero Pita (POR) v Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (BRA)
Jasmin Kalar (ENG) v [4] Kiera Marshall (ENG)
[3] Lea Barbeau (FRA) v Kincso Szasz (ROM)
Maria Tovar (COL) v [8] Aylin Gunsav (GER)
[6] Ella Galova (FRA) v Nour Ramy (EGY)
Ellie Jones (ENG) v [1] Katerina Tycova (GER)