Xmas Challenger Qualifying Draws to a Close

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The final qualifying round of the Airport Xmas Challenger, PSA M5 tournament saw Tarek Shehata defeat top qualifying seed Remo Handl in a shock result to reach the main draw.

With the scores level at one game apiece, Shehanta cruised home by upping his game and winning both the third and fourth games to take an 11-7, 11-13, 11-3, 11-2 victory.

Shehata will now meet Frenchman Baptiste Masotti in the opening round of the main draw in what is sure to a big test for the Egyptian.

Elsewhere, second qualifying seed Daniel Mekbib is also through as he brushed aside the challenge of Jami Aijanen in straight games. The Czech World No.225 will now face Benjamin Fischer when the main draw gets under way.

Yannick Omlor also had a comfortable passage into the main draw as he defeated Miroslav Celler 3-0. Jonas Daehler awaits Omlor in the next round.

The other fixture saw English youngster Patrick Rooney advance thanks to a win over Carsten Schoor. Rooney, who reached the semi-final of the Sutton Coldfield International at his last PSA World Tour event, wrapped up the match with a 3-0 victory and will face Jaakko Vähämaa in the next round.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: Airport Xmas Challenger 2015
[2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt Jami Aijanen (FIN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-4
[3] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Carsten Shoor (GER) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-7
Yannik Omlor (GER) bt [6] Jan Ryba (CZE) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
[8] Tarek Shehata (EGY) bt [1] Remo Handl (SUI) 3-1: 11-7, 11-13, 11-3, 11-2

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Reiko Peter (SUI) v Bernat Jaume (ESP)
[Q] Patrick Rooney (ENG) v [6] Jaakko Vähämaa (FIN)
[7] Ahmed Hussein (EGY) v Steven London (ENG)
[Q] Tarek Shehata (EGY) v [4] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
[3] Benjamin Fischer (SUI) v [Q] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)
[Q] Yannik Omlor (GER) v [5] Jonas Daehler (SUI)
[8] Manuel Wanner (SUI) v Jakob Dirnberger (AUT)
Yuri Farneti (ITA) v [2] Sebastiaan Weenink (NED)

By James Hall