Odense Open RD1: Moller Leads Danish Hopes Into Second Round

Klara Moller will lead home hopes in the second round of the Odense Open on Wednesday, as the only Dane to win her opening day contest.

The Dane, who also reached the last 16 of the Challenger 10 level tournament in 2022, overcame Welshwoman Ali Loke in straight games. She won 12-10, 11-8, 11-3 to book her second round spot, where she will now take New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts.

Elsewhere in the women’s event, Taba Taghavi came through an all-French clash with compatriot Elise Romba. The pair went to a deciding fifth game, with Taghavi clinching it 11-9 after 39 minutes of action. 

A second Frenchwoman, in Lea Barbeau, also won in five, while there were also wins for the Egyptian duo of Malak Khafagy and Nadeen Kotb on the opening day. Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Yhann, German No.1 Katerina Tycova and Switzerland’s Ambre Allinckx were the other winners.

The Welsh duo of Emyr Evans and Owain Taylor were among those to take victories on the opening day in the men’s event. The latter defeated Colombia’s Andres Herrera in a tough four-games, while Evans beat German Valentin Rapp in straight games.

Six other nations saw players move into the last 16, with England’s Ben Coleman and Germany’s Yannik Omlor among them. Israeli Daniel Poleshchuk, New Zealand’s Lwamba Chileshe, Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi and Malaysian Mohammad Syafiq Kamal join them in the second round.

You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Action from Odense is being streamed throughout the week on the club’s YouTube channel. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Men’s First Round Results: Odense Open
Emyr Evans (WAL) bt Valentin Rapp (GER) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Mohamed Nasser (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-8 (54m)
Yannik Omlor (GER) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 3-0: 11-8, 13-11, 11-4 (37m)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Joeri Hapers (BEL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 (25m)
Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS) bt [WC] Joakim Jepsen (DEN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-3 (23m)
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [WC] Marcus Soby Jepsen (DEN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 (26m)
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt [WC] Theis Houlberg (DEN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (35m)
Owain Taylor (WAL) bt Andres Herrera (COL) 3-1: 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 14-12 (78m)

Men’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, March 8
[1] Balasz Farkas (HUN) v Emyr Evans (WAL)
Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) v [7] Addeen Idrakie (MAS)
[5] Bernat Jaume (ESP) v Yannik Omlor (GER)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) v [4] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)
[3] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS)
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v [8] Simon Herbert (ENG)
[6] Mazen Gamal (EGY) v Ben Coleman (ENG)
Owain Taylor (WAL) v [2] Rui Soares (POR)

Women’s First Round Draw: Odense Open
Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Ella Galova (FRA) 3-2: 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3 (45m)
Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) bt Jelena Dutina (SRB) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (21m)
Katerina Tycova (GER) bt [WC] Sarah Lauridsen (DEN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 (23m)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt Sofia Mateos (ESP) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-3 (34m)
Nadeen Kotb (EGY) bt Caroline Lyng (DEN) 3-1: 11-3, 11-2, 7-11, 11-1 (24m)
Klara Moller (DEN) bt Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-8, 11-3 (26m)
Lea Barbeau (FRA) bt Chloe Foster (WAL) 3-2: 12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 11-13, 11-6 (37m)
Taba Taghavi (FRA) bt Elise Romba (FRA) 3-2: 8-11, 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9 (39m)

Women’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, March 8
[1] Cindy Merlo (SUI) v Malak Khafagy (EGY)
Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) v [8] Torrie Malik (ENG)
[7] Alicia Mead (ENG) v Katerina Tycova (GER)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) v [4] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP)
[3] Nadia Pfister (SUI) v Nadeen Kotb (EGY)
Klara Moller (DEN) v [6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)
[5] Xin Ying Yee (MAS) v Lea Barbeau (FRA)
Taba Taghavi (FRA) v [2] Emilia Soini (FIN)