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Austrian Open 2017
08-13 May, Salzburg, Austria, $5k |
13-May, Final:
Home win for Aqeel
The final of the Austrian Open in the
EUROPARK shopping mall was the dream final between the top seed
Chris Binnie from Jamaica and local Hero and number two
seed Aqeel Rehman, who was also organising the event.
On the final day of the Austrian Squash challenge there was a
busy schedule with a big raffle, a show programme of american
football and a doubles exhibition.
At 16:30 it was time for the PSA final. There was a packed
crowed with every single seat and spot in the gallery taken.
Both players started very solid with long
basic rallies. Towards the end of the game it was Aqeel who
managed to create a little lead and took the first game 11/7.
The next two games were very one sided to the Jamaican.
Christopher kept playing very strong and solid, letting the
Austrian Champion not pass him. Chris took the lead after
winning game two and three 11/6 and 11/1.
It looked like Aqeel would not be able to turn around the game
but he showed better focus in the fourth game. The rallies were
very even again, with great effort of both players. The
spectators saw intense rallies and lots of court coverage from
the athletes.
At 8/7 to Chris there wa sa disputed pick up
drop shot from Aqeel, who was sure the ball was up. However the
referee was not sure and Chris show great sportsmanship to
aknowledge the point to Aqeel.
Unfortunately for Chris it was somehow a turnig point as he lost
the game 8/11 and in the fifth game it was also the local
favorite who kept the momentum on his side, racing to a 7/2
lead. The Jamaican looked tired but he still made it very tense
as he fought back point after point to 6/7.
From then on it went point to point and the Austrian kept the
slight two point lead until 10/8. Chris saved one match ball,
but eventually Aqeel won the next rally to win the game 11/9
after 62 min. It was his eight PSA tour title and his second
home win after 2013 when he overcame Chris Ryding.
Thanks to all the sponsors who made this event possible,
especially the EUROPARK. The Austrian Squash Challenge was a two
week event with many hands-on activities for the spectators and
great advertising for the squash. Even national TV came around
for some shooting!
The shopping mall and the city of Salzburg confirmed their will
to host this event at least until 2019!
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Austrian Open News
Photos by
alutche-photography.com
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Austrian Open 2017
08-13 May, Salzburg, Austria, $5k |
Round One
10 May |
Quarters
11 May |
Semis
12 May |
Final
13 May |
[1] Chris Binnie (Jam)
11/8, 11/7, 11/4 (37m)
Yannik Omlor (Ger) |
[1] Chris Binnie
13/11, 11/8, 6/11, 9/11, 11/6 (81m)
[Q] Miko Aijanen |
[1] Chris Binnie
11/5, 11/9, 6/11, 11/4 (51m)
[3] Edmon Lopez |
[1] Chris Binnie
11/7, 6/11, 1/11, 11/8, 11/9 (62m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman
8th PSA (and 2nd Austrian) title for Aqeel |
[6] Mark Broekman (Eng)
11/4, 12/10, 11/7 (26m)
[Q] Miko Aijanen (Fin) |
[5] Dimitri Steinmann (Sui)
11/7, 6/11, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3 (50m)
[wc] Jakob Dirnberger (Aut) |
[5] Dimitri Steinmann
11/8, 11/5, 11/5 (30m)
[3] Edmon Lopez |
[3] Edmon Lopez (Esp)
11/5, 11/7, 11/4 (25m)
[Q] Chris Leiper (Sco) |
[Q] David Zeman (Cze)
9/11, 11/9, 4/11, 11/0, 11/5 (34m)
[4] Mohammad Alsarraj (Jor) |
[4] Mohammad Alsarraj
13/11, 5/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/9 (60m)
[Q] Rory Stewart |
[4] Mohammad Alsarraj 10/12, 11/4, 11/6,
7/11, 11/5 (49m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman |
[Q] Rory Stewart (Sco)
11/3, 12/10, 11/4 (32m)
[7] Yuri Farneti (Ita) |
Robert Dadds (Eng)
11/8, 11/6, 11/2 (29m)
[8] Adrian Ostbyte (Nor) |
[8] Adrian Ostbyte
11/8, 11/9, 7/11, 12/10 (47m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman |
Nick Mulvey (Eng)
11/5, 11/8, 11/8 (30m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (Aut) |
Qualifying:
09-May, Finals:
Miko Aijanen (Fin) 3-1 Michael Babra (Swe)
11/5, 11/3, 8/11, 11/4 (38m)
Rory Stewart (Sco) 3-0 Tess Jutte (Ned)
11/8, 11/7, 11/9 (31m)
David Zeman (Cze) 3-1 Martin Mosnik (Slo)
8/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/8 (36m)
Chris Leiper (Sco) 3-0 Hendrik Vossing (Ger)
12/10, 11/2, 11/1 (27m)
08-May, Round One:
Michael Babra (Swe) 3-0 Alex Harmi (Aut)
13/11, 11/0, 11/8
Miko Aijanen (Fin) 3-0 Kevin Waldner (Aut)
11/9, 11/3, 11/8
Tess Jutte (Ned) 3-0 Simon Draxler (Aut)
11/7, 11/9, 11/3
Rory Stewart (Sco) 3-0 Lukas Windischberger (Aut)
12/10, 11/6, 11/7
David Zeman (Cze) 3-0 Mario Reichl (Aut)
11/3, 11/6, 11/7
Martin Mosnik (Slo) 3-0 Vojtech Rybe (Cze)
11/4, 11/8, 11/9
Chris Leiper (Sco) 3-0 Christopher Ressel (Aut)
11/3, 11/1, 11/0
Hendrik Vossing (Ger) 3-0 Michael Zanner (Aut)
11/2, 11/2, 11/0
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11-May, Quarters:
Top seeds through to semis in Salzburg
Today the quarterfinals of the Austrian Open were
on programme in the EUROPARK Shopping mall as a part of the
Austrian Squash Challenge.
Top seed Christopher Binnie started against Qualifier Miko
Äjianen. It was a very disputed game with a lot of collisions.
Äjianen managed to come back from 0/2 down in games to level at
2 all. But Binnie stayed cool and took the deciding game 11/6
after a 81min battle.
Qualifier Rory Stewart nearly caused for an upset too against
fourth seed Mohammad Alsarraj from Jordan. The Scottsman wasn’t
able to take the first game at 10/8 and also missed a great
chance at 2/1 lead in games and 8/2 in the fourth. Sarraj turned
the match around and won 11/9 in the fifth game.
Edmon Lopez from Spain made some time up after beating Dimitri
Steinmann 3/0.
The last match was local hero Aqeel Rehman against Adrian
Ostbye. Aqeel took the first two games before the Norwegian
fought back to 2/1. But Aqeel was able to close the match in the
fourth.
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Austrian Open News
Photos by
alutche-photography.com
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10-May, Round One:
Qualifiers Stewart and Aijanen progress
as Aqeel flies Austrian flag ...
It was big action today on the all glasscourt at
EUROPARK shopping mall when the first round of the main draw
started with eight matches on schedule.
Players from 15 different nations are competing for the title
and 5.000 USD prize money as well as PSA world ranking points.
It all started with an upset when Scottish
qualifier Rory Stewart beat the Italian number seven seed
Yuri Farneti 3/0.
Qualifier Miko Äjianen caused another upset when he beat
sixth seed Mark Broekman from England in three games.
But after that it went according to the seeding. Spanish number
three seed Edmon Lopez showed no mercy for the next
qualifier Chris Leiper, also from Scotland and also eight seed
Adrian Ostbye from Norway celebrated a 3/0 victory over
Englishman Robert Dadds, as well as top seed Christopher
Binnie from Jamaica who took German youngster Yannik Omlor
out of the tournament with another 3/0 victory.
With a close 3/2 from fourth seed Mohammad Alsarraj over
David Zeman from Czech Republic all top four players made it
into the quarterfinal, thanks to a 3/0 win from home favorite
and organizer Aqeel Rehman against Nick Mulvey from
England. He managed to stay on top of the quick Englishmen from
the beginning on.
Unfortunately the Salzburg based Austrian
record Champion will be the only home player in the tournament
left, as Wildcard Jakob Dirnberger, also born in Salzburg
lost in a close five game battle against young Swiss player and
fifth seed Dimitri Steinmann. It was a good performance
of Jakob though who could count on home support. But Dimitri was
too good in the deciding fifht game.
Highlights of both matches will be shown on Austrian national
television on Thursday.
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Austrian Open News
Photos by
alutche-photography.com
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09-May, Qualifying Finals:
Scottish double in Salzburg
The second round of qualifying for the
Austrian Open at EUROPARK shopping mall started with Tess Jutte
from Holland against Rory Stewart from Scotland.
Rory was more dominant and produced more pressure and was able
to win the match 3/0.
The second player to qualify was Miko Äijanen. The Finn won the
Nordic affair against Michael Babra from Sweden with 3/1.
The next match was a Slavic affair between Martin Mosnik and
David Zeman. Czech Zeman won this match 3/1 against Martin, who
just made the qualification draw after a late withdrawl.
The last match of the day was between Hendrik Vössing from
Germany against Chris Leiper from Scotland. The Scotsman was too
strong from the beginning on and won the match 3/0.
So tomorrow the main draw starts with eight matches from 12 Noon
on.
The highlights will be the matches of the two Salzburg-boys
Jakob Dirnberger against Dimitri Steinmann and Aqeel Rehman
against Nick Mulvey at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Austrian national television will be on site for some shooting
as well.
08-May, Qualifying Round One:
Locals bow out in Salzburg
Austria's only PSA world ranking
tournament started on monday at the EUROPARK shopping mall,
which is part of the Austrian Squash Challenge.
Players from 15 nations are fighting for 5.000 USD prize money
and world ranking points. It is the 13th edition of this PSA
Event in Salzburg and the third time in the shopping mall on the
all glass court.
The qualifiers started on the first day with seven Austrians
trying to compete against the international pros. Unfortunately
none of the locals were able to cause an upset, but it was a
great experience for all of them playing on such a great venue
in front of their home crowd.
The match of the day was between Martin Mosnik from Slovenia
against Vojtech Ryba. Martin got a call to play the same
morning, so he took his chance to drive up to Salzburg and beat
the 5th seed Ryba in games.
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Austrian Open News
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PREVIEW:
The Austrian Open this year will take place on the all
glasscourt in the shopping mall EUROPARK in Salzburg for the
third time in a row. This PSA tournament will be the 13th
edition in a row in the birth city of Mozart and Red Bull.
The all glasscourt, which is owned by Austrian record elven
times national champion Aqeel Rehman, is put up at one of
europe's most sucessfull shopping malls EUROPARK for two weeks
from 2-13 May.
During the first week several public events have been taking
place such as the VIP tournament with Olympic and World
Champions, the School&Kids Day with around 200 Kids joining a
coaching clinic as well as the Victor Elite Series Final, an
Austrian tournament series won by Jacqueline Peychär and Aqeel
Rehman.
The second week will see international players from 14 countries
playing the Austrian Open PSA M5 tournament.
Top seed Chris Binnie is drawn to meet second seed and local
favourite Aqeel Rehman in the final. With Jakob Dirnberger there
is another Austrian player in the main draw, which starts on
Wednesday 10th May.
The qualification starts on Monday 8th May with eight more
locals to hopefully make their way into the main draw.
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Austrian Open News
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