26-Jun, Final: [1] Jonathan Kemp (Eng) bt [2] Davide Bianchetti (Ita)       11/9, 7/11, 11/10(5-3), 11/4 (61m)

25-Jun, Semis: [1] Jonathan Kemp (Eng) bt [8] Luca Mastrostefano (Ita)        11/4, 11/5, 11/4 [2] Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt [3] Saurav Ghosal (Ind)        11/8, 11/7, 3/11, 11/7

23-Jun, Round One:
All eyes on Germany
in Athens ...
Petros Tzamaloukas reports from Athens

Favourites Jonathan Kemp and Davide Bianchetti showed some of their great skills as they overcame Ahmed Swaify and Arthur Gaskin, respectively, in the first  round at Athens Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.

Bianchetti scored a comfortable win, playing at the same time as Italy was playing the Czech Republic in the World Cup.

Luca Mastrostefano was watching some of the football during his compatriot's squash match and I am sure they could have done with something like a wireless connection to Davide's ear ! I hope Juventus don't get relegated to the Italian serie B before the end of the tournament ... it will be a disaster !!!

Greek wild-card Nikos Moustroufis fought hard in the first game but couldn't continue at the same pace for in last two games as he went out to Hungary's Andras Torok, while Dutchman Rene Mijs and Englishman Jago Nardeli showed some resistance to Amr Mansi and Luca Mastrostefano.

The match of the day was between Czech Jan Koukal, who was disappointed to see his country exit from the World cup minutes before his match, against Spain's Garbi Caro. The Spaniard led 2-0 before Koukal came back to win the match in five, leaving both of the players really tired.

In the evening there was the Welcome party with the players enjoying some fine Greek cuisine and a Magic Show from the amazing Alexander the Magician, son of Panna Vasiliou, ex-squash champion.

Some of the players who lost  have left for some relaxing (or not???) days in beautiful Mykonos. Some others of the others enjoyed the Greek nightlife in Balux !

Greek Tragedy in
Athens Qualifying ...
Petros Tzamaloukas reports from Athens

Qualification round complete in Athens and all the top four seeds lost to their strong opponents ! After a day full of battles in very hot and bouncy conditions all the players gave their best and left the court with a few kilos less ...

Successful qualifiers are Rene Mils (plays Mansi), Ahmed Swaify (plays Kemp), Morten Sorensen (plays Ghosal) and Garbi Caro (plays Koukal).

The first round started on Wednesday morning at 12.00 with former Greek champion Panna Vasiliou falling to the youth of Spaniard Garbi Caro. All the matches ended in three with only the fourth match between Mijs and Smet ending going to four games.

The second round started at 17.00 with Sorensen prevailing over Greek champion Fabian Kalaitzis 3/1. Sorensen showed some of his great skills and fitness in a bouncy centre court over Fabian who was tired after his Tuesday success in Cyprus, this was his second match in 24 hours including a late evening flight.

Next match was between Spain's Garbi Caro and Greece's Petros Tzamaloukas, playing in his home court. Garbi Caro proved to be a Greek killer and dashed Greek qualifying hopes, prevailing in three games.

The last two matches were both five setters with Mijs over Elkeiy and Swaify over Holdeberger.
 

Greek Open goes PSA

Preview from Petros Tzamaloukas

The Greek Open, to be held from 21-25 June, has a long long tradition.

The Athens Lawn Tennis and Squash Club (O.A.A.) has seen some of the world's best playing in this tournament, the likes of Peter Nicol, Jonah Barrington, Gamal and Mohamed Awad, Ahmed Barada, Ahmed Faizy, Peter Marshall, Ahmed Safwad, Mark Cairns, Paul Gregory, Danny Meddings ....... a long and illustrious list !

Now for the first year it is not invitational any more but a PSA event and the strong line up features Jonathan Kemp from England and Davide Bianchetti from Italy as favourites.

Local hopes are on Petros Tzamaloukas and Nikos Moustroufis, playing on their home courts, and of course current Greek champion Fabian Kalaitzis.