Sihltal Classic: Steinmann Causes Shock, Allinckx On Top Again

For the second time in three weeks, Ambre Allinckx was victorious on the PSA Challenger Tour, while Dimitri Steinmann caused a shock as the pair won the titles at the Sihltal Classic in Zurich, Switzerland.

The PSA Challenger 10 level event was a domestic-only tournament, meaning only players based in Switzerland could feature due to regulations about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allinckx continued her dominant form on from the Liechtenstein Open, where she took her first victory on the PSA World Tour. The 18-year-old, who had jumped up to World No.80 following the victory, was successful again in Zurich this week.

Her second title came after she defeated the top two seeds at Sihlsports over the weekend. It started with a five-game win over Swiss No.2 Nadia Pfister, where she had to win the last two games to come from 2-1 down to win 3-2.

She needed to come from behind in the final against the tournament’s top seed, and Swiss No.1, Cindy Merlo. After losing the first, Allinckx fought back to win 3-1, claiming the second title of her young career.

The men’s final followed on from the women’s and there was a huge shock, as top seed, and World No.30, Nicolas Mueller, lost to a fellow Swiss player for the first time in well over a decade. He his the reigning 14-time Swiss Nationals champion, having won the tournament every year since 2007.

In the Sihltal Classic, however, it was Dimitri Steinmann that took the glory, defeating his higher-ranked compatriot in a four-game final in Zurich. He claimed the eighth title of his PSA World Tour career, and his second this year following a win at the Linear Logistics Bankers Hall Club Pro Am prior to the six-month suspension of the tour due to COVID-19.

Having taken out No.4 seed Cedric Kuchen in the semi-finals, Steinmann was faced with the tough task of taking on Nicolas Mueller, but he was up to the job, despite falling behind after the opening game.

The 23-year-old, who currently occupies his highest ever World Rankings position of World No.59, came from a game down to defeat the Swiss No.1 in four games, breaking Mueller’s great run against compatriots.

Result – Women’s Final: Sihltal Classic
[3] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt [1] Cindy Merlo (SUI) 3-1: 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (40m)

Result: Men’s Final: Sihltal Classic
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt [1] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1: 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-7 (64m)