Czech squash star Jan Koukal charged to his sixth PSA World Tour title of the year when he beat England’s Adrian Waller in the final of the Baltimore Cup, the $10,000 event in its sixth year at Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, USA.
The second seed from Prague faced surprise opponent Waller after the fourth seed from England upset top-seeded compatriot Chris Simpson in straight games in the semi-finals.
Waller, a former British junior champion at U13, U15, U17 and U19 age-groups, battled for four games against his higher ranked opponent – but it was Koukal who prevailed 11-9, 3-11, 11-7, 12-10 to collect the 17th Tour title of his career.
The success is the latest chapter in a notable year for Koukal. The 27-year-old world No53 has competed in the main draws of 17 Tour events since January 2010 – reaching eight finals and finishing on the winner’s podium six times in events in the USA, Canada, Brazil and Spain.
Final:
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [4] Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-9, 3-11, 11-7, 12-10
Semi-finals:
[4] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [1] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [5] Shaun le Roux (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [6] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
[4] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [8] Kamran Khan (MAS) 11-7, 11-6, 11-0
[5] Shaun le Roux (ENG) bt [Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [7] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6
1st round:
[1] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
[6] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt Neil Hitchens (ENG) 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
[4] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [Q] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8
[8] Kamran Khan (MAS) bt Patrick Bedore (CAN) 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6
[5] Shaun le Roux (ENG) bt Karim AGA Samy (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2
[Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [3] Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-5, 8-4 ret.
[7] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 14-12, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9
Qualifying finals:
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) w/o
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 3-2 ret.
1st qualifying round:
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) 11-7, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Michael East (USA) 11-2, 11-3, 11-5
Jonathan Uriel Ramos Islas (MEX) bt Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) 11-9, 11-3, 11-7
Josh Cardwell (AUS) bt Lefika Ragontse (BOT) 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8
Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) bt Taylor Tutrone (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Fernando Lopez (MEX) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) bt Ryan Thompson (RSA) 11-7, 21-19, 2-11, 7-11, 11-9
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Neil Cordell (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-6
