PSA de Normandie RD1: Salter, Schille and Tovar Cause Opening Day Upsets

England’s Will Salter, Canadian Brett Schille and Colombia’s Maria Tovar all caused upsets on the opening day of the PSA de Normandie.

The Englishman took on compatriot Lewis Doughty in the first round of the Challenger 3 level competition in Le Havre, and ran out a comfortable winner. He took the opening game 11-8, and from there, would only drop four more points, an in straight games win.

He is joined in the second round of the men’s draw by Canadian Brett Schille. The World No.205 got the better of the tournament’s No.8 seed, Manu Paquemar. The Canadian lost the opening game 12-10, but fought back to win in four, advance to the quarter finals of the competition.

Elsewhere, top seed Rowan Damming cruised to a straight games victory, while the French trio of Toufik Mekhalfi, Maceo Levy and Laouenan Loaec all delighted the home crowd to advance. Finnish No.1 Miko Aijanan and the Czech Republic’s Ondrej Vorlicek complete the quarter final line-up.

There was just a single surprise result in the women’s event, as Colombian Maria Tovar got the better of England’s Amelie Haworth. The English junior came in as the tournament’s No.7 seed, but Tovar won a quick-fire contest in four games. She won 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3 to make her way into the last eight. 

The French pair of Ana Munos and Lilou Brevard-Belliot were among those to make the last eight of the tournament, with the latter having to come through a five game battle against training partner Rose Lucas Marcuzzo on Thursday evening.

The PSA de Normandie continues on Friday, April 14 with the quarter finals of the PSA Challenger 3 level competition. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s First Round Results: PSA de Normandie
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt Miguel Mathis (SUI) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 13-11 (35m)
[7] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) bt [WC] Axel Diet (FRA) 3-2: 2-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9 (45m)
Brett Schille (CAN) bt [8] Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-1: 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 (52m)
[3] Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt Sven Stettler (SUI) 3-2: 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 (59m)
[4] Miko Aijanen (FIN) bt David Bernet (SUI) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (30m)
[5] Maceo Levy (FRA) bt Aaron Allpress (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 12-10 (36m)
Will Salter (ENG) bt [6] Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-1, 11-3 (33m)
[2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Baptiste Bouin (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (35m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) v [7] Laouenan Loaec (FRA)
Brett Schille (CAN) v [3] Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE)
[4] Miko Aijanen (FIN) v [5] Maceo Levy (FRA)
Will Salter (ENG) v [2] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA)

Women’s First Round Results: PSA de Normandie
[8] Lilou Brevard-Belliot (FRA) bt Rose Lucas Marcuzzo (FRA) 3-2: 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 (35m)
[6] Ana Munos (FRA) bt Catherine Holland (SCO) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (25m)
[4] Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt Ines Guyot (FRA) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7
Maria Tovar (COL) bt [7] Amelie Haworth (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3
[5] Polly Clark (ENG) bt Sofie Hausknotzova (CZE) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-2

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
[1] Caroline Lyng (DEN) v [8] Lilou Brevard-Belliot (FRA)
[6] Ana Munos (FRA) v [4] Lowri Roberts (WAL)
[3] Ella Galova (FRA) v Maria Tovar (COL)
[5] Polly Clark (ENG) v [2] Lauren Baltayan (FRA)