Aqeel Rehman, a world-ranked member of the PSA since 2005, today won his maiden PSA World Tour title after triumphing in the final of the Tasmanian Open in Tasmania, Australia.
The 26-year-old from Salzburg made his long-awaited breakthrough when he beat Argentina’s Gonzalo Miranda 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 in the climax of the PSA Challenger 5 event at Eastside Squash in Bellerive to become the first Austrian ever to win a men’s pro squash title.
It was the culmination of a long few days for the Austrian, who was pushed hard throughout the tournament.
“Every match I played went to at least four games and in the semi-finals (against Elvinn Keo) I was down 8-3 in the fifth, so I nearly didn’t even make the final,” he said.
“I can’t believe it – I’ve been on the tour for so many years I didn’t think it was going to happen. It took me a while to get one, but it feels even better now.”
Rehman moved to England earlier this year to train with renowned British coach David Pearson and he said the move was now paying off.
“All the work I’ve been doing over the last two months is now catching up with me – I’m playing really well and am feeling confident,” he said.
“Hopefully I can break the top 100 with this result as well – something I have been aiming for as well for such a long time.
“I want to thank to my family back home in Austria who have been supporting me so much over the years – and also my coach David Pearson, who I have been working with since this year in Harrogate, since when my performances have really improved so much.
“Also thanks to Nick Gould, who has helped me out with my training back in Austria to prepare for this trip. I’m just so happy at the moment!!!!”
Final:
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 (49m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt James Earles (ENG) 11-5, 12-10, 13-11 (41m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10 (60m)
Quarter-finals:
James Earles (ENG) bt [1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-8, 9-11, 16-14, 9-11, 12-10 (84m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 14-12 (58m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [6] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4 (47m)
2nd round:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Florent Pontiere (FRA) 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (83m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Ravi Dixit (IND) 11-6, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10 (42m)
[8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) bt [Q] Luke Sims (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 (28m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Hon Fung Wong (HKG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (38m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt James Huang (TPE) 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-4 (55m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (21m)
[6] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3 (50m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [Q] JaeJin Yoo (KOR) 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 (56m)
1st round:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [Q] Cedric Kuchen (SUI) 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (47m)
Florent Pontiere (FRA) bt Arthur Moineau (FRA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (34m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Joseph Watts (NZL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)
Ravi Dixit (IND) bt [5] Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5 (47m)
[8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) bt [Q] Richard Birks (ENG) 0-11, 11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7 (44m)
[Q] Luke Sims (AUS) bt Cameron Stafford (CAY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (55m)
Hon Fung Wong (HKG) bt Dan Busby (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (22m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Kevin Moran (SCO) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 (36m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt [Q] Jack Jago (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (25m)
James Huang (TPE) bt [Q] Chris Tasker-Grindley (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 2-0 ret. (34m)
Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (37m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [7] Jamie McErvale (AUS) 3-11, 11-9, 1-11, 11-8, 11-6 (59m)
[6] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Sunil Seth (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (26m)
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7 (56m)
[Q] JaeJin Yoo (KOR) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-7, 2-11, 11-6, 11-7 (28m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Tarek Salah Shehata (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3 (75m)
Qualifying finals:
Luke Sims (AUS) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 12-10, 11-9, 3-11, 11-13, 11-8 (76m)
Jack Jago (ENG) bt Marcos Jassik (ARG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 (19m)
Richard Birks (ENG) bt Wesley Cusick (AUS) 13-11, 11-8, 11-4 (30m)
Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Alexandre Baruzzi (BRA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (19m)
Sunil Seth (AUS) bt David Mulcahy (AUS) 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 (17m)
JaeJin Yoo (KOR) bt Daniel Stephen Wright (AUS) 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (27m)
Chris Tasker-Grindley (ENG) bt Jong Myoung Park (KOR) 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 (56m)
Cedric Kuchen (SUI) bt Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 (20m)
1st qualifying round:
Luke Sims (AUS) bye
Andrew Fraser (AUS) bt Paul Brewtnall (AUS) 10-12, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
Marcos Jassik (ARG) bt Jason Faulkner (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 12-14, 11-5
Jack Jago (ENG) bye
Richard Birks (ENG) bt Hamish Laws (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
Wesley Cusick (AUS) bt Harry Booth (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5
Alexandre Baruzzi (BRA) bt Mitchell Bird (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6
Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Michael Cooke (RSA) 11-2, 11-5, 11-1
Sunil Seth (AUS) bye
David Mulcahy (AUS) bt Daniel Jones (AUS) 11-7, 11-1, 11-8
JaeJin Yoo (KOR) bt Rod Harker (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
Daniel Stephen Wright (AUS) bt Tom Strugnell (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3
Chris Tasker-Grindley (ENG) bt Mark Hudson (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-1
Jong Myoung Park (KOR) bt Paul Tuffin (NZL) 11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11
Darcy Evans (AUS) bt Jack Strugnell (AUS) 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4
Cedric Kuchen (SUI) bye
