Ostrava Squash Open: Panacek Wins Maiden Title On Home Soil

It was a day to remember for the Czech Republic’s Marek Panacek, as the 19-year-old claimed his maiden Tour title, beating England’s James Peach to win on home soil at the Ostrava Squash Open on Sunday afternoon.

After receiving a bye through to the second round of the Challenger 5 level competition, Panacek started his campaign with a straight games victory over Brazil’s Vini Rodrigues, before then getting the better of compatriot Viktor Byrtus in five in the quarter finals. He had to come from a game down to take victory in his last eight contest, winning the last two games 11-3 and 11-4, respectively, to make it through to the last four.

In the semi-finals, the 19-year-old Czech star took on the tournament’s top seed, Diego Gobbi, and the pair were level after two games. However, from there, Panacek was able to withstand any pressure that the Brazilian threw at him, winning the third 11-6, before taking the fourth on a tie-break 14-12 to advance to the final, his first on Tour.

The final saw Panacek take on England’s James Peach, who had been in sensational form, reaching three successive finals, with a victory among them. The Englishman took the first game 12-10 to hold the lead, but from that point, Panacek took control, and dropped just 13 points across the next three games to win in four, securing his maiden Tour title, and to the delight of the home crowd in Ostrava.

You can go back and watch all the action from the Ostrava Squash Open on the PSA Challenger Tour’s YouTube channel, along with stream from previous tournaments, and interviews with rising stars of the game.

Results: Ostrava Squash Open
Final
[4] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [6] James Peach (ENG) 3-1: 10-12, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7 (53m)

Semi-Finals
[4] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [1] Diego Gobbi (BRA) 3-1: 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 14-12 (52m)
[6] James Peach (ENG) bt Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 (30m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Diego Gobbi (BRA) bt [8] Marc Lopez (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-1, 11-6 (23m)
[4] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [5] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-2: 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 (62m)
Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) bt Noah Meredith (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (36m)
[6] James Peach (ENG) bt [2] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 3-2: 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9 (63m)

Round Two
[1] Diego Gobbi (BRA) bt Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-8 (31m)
[8] Marc Lopez (ESP) bt Lukas Windischberger (AUT) 3-1: 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9 (46m)
[5] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-1: 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4 (36m)
[4] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Vini Rodrigues (BRA) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 (34m)
Noah Meredith (ENG) bt [3] Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-2: 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 (58m)
Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt [7] David Zeman (CZE) 3-1: 2-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (46m)
[6] James Peach (ENG) bt Jordan Warne (ENG) 3-0; 11-9, 11-3, 11-7 (28m)
[2] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Abdelrahman Nassar (EGY) 3-0: 15-13, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)

Round One
Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt [WC] Alex Kelar (CZE) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (19m)
Lukas Windischberger (AUT) bt Adam Sinkule (CZE) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (20m)
Nicolas Serna (COL) bt Heiko Schwarzer (GER) 3-2: 12-10, 9-11, 16-14, 8-11, 11-5 (58m)
Vini Rodrigues (BRA) bt Pavel Bodis (CZE) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 11-1 (16m)
Noah Meredith (ENG) bt Lubos Walter Jr (CZE) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (22m)
Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt Petr Nohel (CZE) 3-1: 2-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (46m)
Jordan Warne (ENG) bt Aron Astray (ESP) 3-2: 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9 (63m)
Abdelrahman Nasser (EGY) bt [WC] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (35m)