Patagonia Open SF: Top Seed Downed As Wilhelmi and Mekhalfi Through

The European duo of Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi and France’s Toufik Mekhalfi will meet in the final of the Villa la Angostura Patagonia Open this weekend.

The Swiss No.3 came into the Challenger 10 level competition, the first on this year Tour de las Americas, as the No.4 seed. In the semi-finals, he took on top seed Spencer Lovejoy for a place in the final.

Wilhelmi found himself behind after three games, with Lovejoy winning the third 11-8. However, the World No.102 was able to fight back, and he took the fourth game 11-9 to send the match into a deciding fifth game. Despite being ranked 14 places lower than the American, Wilhelmi came through the fifth comfortably to advance to the final, his first since July of last year.

He will take on France’s Toufik Mekhalfi in the final on Sunday. The Frenchman is the No.7 seed for this week’s competition, and he caused another upset on Saturday evening in the last four.

Mekhalfi got the better of England’s Tom Walsh, the tournament’s No.3 seed, to advance. After losing the opener 11-3, the Frenchman fought back brilliantly to go 2-1 up. Walsh won the fourth to extend the contest, but Mekhalfi was able to win the fifth game 11-9 to move through to the final.

The final of the Villa la Angostura Patagonia Open, between Wilhelmi and Mekhalfi, will take place on Sunday, May 7. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Semi-Final Results: Tour De Las Americas Villa la Angostura Patagonia Open
[4] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [1] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-2: 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4
[7] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [3] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-2: 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9

Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, May 7
[4] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v [7] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA)