Batch Open QF: Seeds Fall On Quarter Finals Day

It was a surprising quarter finals day at the Batch Open in Paris, as three of the top four seeds were defeated on Thursday.

The longest match of the day came between two Frenchman, as Maceo Levy got the better of No.4 seed Edwin Clain. Clain was one of the twelve winners on Finals Day at the PSA World Championships Qualifying Event last week, and came into this tournament in good form.

He started the all-French semi-final strongly, winning the opening two games to hold a commanding lead. However, Levy fought back, and despite being ranked 64 places lower than his compatriot, he fought back brilliantly. Two quick games and the match was level, and Levy then had match balls in the fifth, at 10-6 up.

That’s when the match really got going, as Clain saved all four to send the contest into a tie-break. Levy went 11-10 and a double bounce was called to give the Frenchman the match. However, Clain swore that it was good, and as training partners and close friends, Levy believed his compatriot, and agreed to play a let. Clain then had match ball at 12-11, but Levy saved it before eventually going on to secure the victory with a 17-15 win in the fifth.

“I hesitated for an instant, but the bottom line is I did not want to win this way. Would have I had regrets if I’d lost? We’ll never know,” Levy said after the match.

Levy will now take on the Czech Republic’s Jakub Solnicky after the World No.127 got the better of the tournament’s No.2 seed, and fellow Czech player, Daniel Mekbib. Solnicky lost the opening game 11-8, but fought back to win the next three, dropping no more than six points in any of those three games, to advance to the semis.

In the top half of the draw, there was more French delight. Toufik Mekhalfi moved through to the semis as he downed top seed Lwamba Chileshe. He sits 36 places below the Kiwi in the world rankings, but dropped just 11 points in a comprehensive victory. Mekhalfi won 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 to advance to the last four in Paris. 

The Frenchman will now take on Spain’s Ivan Perez, the only member of the top four seeds to advance to the semi-finals. The Spaniard, who is the No.3 seed for the competition, downed wildcard Brice Nicolas. The Frenchman won the opening game, but Perez battled through to take the win in four games to set up a clash with Mekhalfi in the last four.

The Batch Open continues with the semi-finals on Friday, April 21, and you can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from Paris is being streamed throughout the week on the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume’s YouTube channel, which you can watch here. You can also keep up to date with live scores, which are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Quarter Final Results: Batch Open
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 3-1: 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (54m)
Macéo Levy (FRA) bt [4] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-2: 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 17-15 (65m)
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 21
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) v [3] Ivan Perez (ESP)
Macéo Levy (FRA) v Jakub Solnicky (CZE)