PSA Des Hauts De France – Wam 2023: Trio of Home Upsets Take Centre Stage on Day One in Wambrechies

Event wildcard Joshua Phinera scored the result of the day in the opening round of the PSA Des Hauts De France – Wam 2023 as he overcame Spain’s Nilo Vidal in straight games to reach round two of the Challenger 15 event. All three games were very tight with Phinera taking them all 11-9 in just over half an hour to progress. He’ll now face top seeded Colombian Juan Camilo Vargas in round two with a quarter final place up for grabs.

Compatriot Baptiste Bouin also scored an upset on day one as he defeated Switzerland’s Miguel Mathis in straight games. After setting himself up with a 2-0 lead, Bouin hung on well to close out the third game 14-12 and book his place in the last 16.

Former World No.15 Declan James is making his comeback after injury and faced compatriot Noah Meredith in the opening round. James managed to win in straight games to set up a last 16 meeting with No.4 seed Edwin Clain.

Melvil Scianimanico was the last to secure an upset after he ousted Belgium’s 9/16 seed Joeri Hapers in a. five game thriller. The Frenchman trailed 2-0 to Hapers but fought back in great style to win the final three games 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 and complete the comeback in 68 minutes. He now faces compatriot Maceo Levy for a place in the final eight.

Results: RD1
[WC] Joshua Phinera (FRA) bt [9/16] Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (31m)
Baptiste Bouin (FRA) bt [9/16] Miguel Mathis (SUI) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 14-12 (43m)
[9/16] Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) bt [WC] Antoine Allard (BEL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (33m)
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) bt Noah Meredith (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (35m)
[9/16] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (34m)
[9/16] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt Omar Elkattan (EGY) 3-1: 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 13-11 (56m)
Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) bt [9/16] Joeri Hapers (BEL) 3-2: 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (68m)
[9/16] David Bernet (SUI) bt [WC] Titouan Isambard (FRA) 3-2: 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3 (64m)

Draw: RD2
[1] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v [WC] Joshua Phinera (FRA)
[6] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) v Baptiste Bouin (FRA)
[8] Valentin Rapp (GER) v [9/16] Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE)
[4] Edwin Clain (FRA) v [9/16] Declan James (ENG)
[3] Yannik Omlor (GER) v [9/16] Robert Downer (ENG)
[5] Ivan Perez (ESP) v [9/16] Brice Nicolas (FRA)
[7] Macéo Lévy (FRA) v Melvil Scianimanico (FRA)
[2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) v [9/16] David Bernet (SUI)