PSA de Normandie QF: Tovar Gatecrashes Semi-Finals

Colombia’s Maria Tovar has gatecrashed the last four of the PSA de Normandie, after she defeated No.3 seed Ella Galova on Friday evening.

The pair were playing for the first time on the Tour, and the 24-year-old Colombian, who came into the draw unseeded, started slowly. She lost the opening game 11-5, but then battled back to win the second game 11-8. 

Tovar, the younger sister of Colombian No.1 Laura, fell behind for a second time after the third game. However, she battled once more, and levelled the match to send it into a deciding game. After winning that fourth 11-8, she had the momentum on her side, and went on to win the fifth 11-5, booking her place in the last four.

She will now play No.2 seed Lauren Baltayan, another Frenchwoman, in the semis. Baltayan, playing her match of the tournament, She defeated England’s Polly Clark in four games. The other match in the last four will see top seed Caroline Lyng take on Welshwoman Lowri Roberts. The pair both won their quarter final matches in straight games.

The top four seeds all safely made it through in the men’s event. Reigning World Junior Champion Rowan Damming, the tournament’s top seed, is among them. The Dutchman defeated France’s Laouenan Loaec in four games. He will now take on the Czech Republic’s Ondrej Vorlicek, the No.3 seed, in the last four.

The other men’s semi-final will feature home interest. No.2 seed Toufik Mekhalfi will take on Finnish No.1 Miko Aijanen for a place in the final. Mekhalfi defeated England’s Will Salter in a four game battle, while the Finn had to win two tie-breaks, in his contest with Maceo Levy.

The semis of the PSA de Normandie will be played on Saturday, April 15, with the action being streamed live on Facebook. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Quarter Final Results: PSA de Normandie
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt [7] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-1: 11-6, 11-4, 1-11, 11-7 
[3] Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt Brett Schille (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
[4] Miko Aijanen (FIN) bt Maceo Levy (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 13-11, 11-9 (47m)
[2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Will Salter (ENG) 3-1: 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5 (53m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 15
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) v [3] Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE)
[4] Miko Aijanen (FIN) v [2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: PSA de Normandie
[1] Caroline Lyng (DEN) bt [8] Lilou Brevard-Belliot (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (17m)
[4] Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [6] Ana Munos (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (20m)
Maria Tovar (COL) bt [3] Ella Galova (FRA) 3-2: 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5 (52m)
[2] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) bt [5] Polly Clark (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7 (35m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 15
[1] Caroline Lyng (DEN) v [4] Lowri Roberts (WAL)
Maria Tovar (COL) v [2] Lauren Baltayan (FRA)