Czech Pro Series 2: Downer Defeats Svec For Maiden Victory

England’s Robert Downer has secured the Czech Pro Series 2 title in Prague, after defeating home favourite Matin Svec in a four-game final at the SquasClub Strahov, claiming his first victory on the PSA Tour as a result.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the Czech Pro Series 2 was limited to cross-border participation, with only those residing in Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the host nation Czech Republic, being allowed to enter.

Downer, the World No.106, who currently lives in the Czech capital, was the only Englishman in the draw, and as the No.5 seed, he might not have expected to get all the way. However, a surprise win for Ondrej Vorlicek in the opening round saw top seed Daniel Mekbib knocked out, meaning Downer’s path to the final was made a lot easier.

The Englishman got the better of Austria’s Jakob Dirnberger in the first round, before defeating Vorlicek in the quarter-finals. After a win over No.8 seed Yannik Omlor in the last four, he made it through to the final, and was still yet to drop a game.

The World No.106 fell behind in the final, with Svec taking the opening salvo, but Downer recovered to win the next three games, and comfortably win the title after a 41-minute battle with the tournament’s No.3 seed, who sits four places above the Englishman in the World Rankings.

After over a decade on Tour, Downer now has his first victory as a professional, having made it to two previous finals, including the Hampshire Open in 2019.

Results: Czech Pro Series 2
Final
[5] Robert Downer (ENG) bt [3] Martin Svec (CZE) 3-1: 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (41m)

Semi-Finals
[5] Robert Downer (ENG) bt [8] Yannik Omlor (GER) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 (32m)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) bt [2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 3-2: 11-9, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 (61m)

Quarter-Finals
[5] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (33m)
[8] Yannik Omlor (GER) bt [4] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 3-1: 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3 (46m)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) bt [7] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 3-1: 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-0: 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 13-11 (36m)

Round One
Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt [1] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-2: 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 (62m)
[5] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (33m)
[8] Yannik Omlor (GER) bt Marek Panacek (CZE) 3-1: 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (50m)
[4] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Valentin Rapp (GER) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (29m)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) bt Heiko Schwarzer (GER) 3-1: 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 (31m)
[7] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) bt [WC] Petr Nohel (CZE) 3-0; 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (31m)
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt [6] Roshan Bharos (NED) 3-2: 11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 (52m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt David Zeman (CZE) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (28m)