21-Jun, Final:
[Q] Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt [2] Julien Balbo (Fra)                       12/10, 11/3, 11/6 (55m)

Galifi takes Toulouse Title

After trouncing the top seed in the semi-finals, French qualifier Stephane Galifi went on despatch second-seeded compatriot Julien Balbo in the final of the Movida International to claim the inaugural title at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

It was the climax of a stunning week for the unranked 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence who was competing in his first Tour event for three years.

Galifi started his giant-killing run with a first round win over Dutchman Tom Hoevenaars, the No8 seed - and then beat fellow Frenchman Romain Tenant to make the semi-finals.

A sensational straight games victory over favourite top seed Davide Bianchetti, the world No30 from Italy, took Galifi into the seventh Tour final of his career.

But, despite enjoying excellent form which saw the world No55 from Chambery reach the final of the Scott Wealth Management Open earlier this month in California, Balbo was no match for his surprise opponent in the final.

Galifi stormed to victory in 55 minutes to record the fourth PSA Tour title of his career - but his first since winning the Atlanta Open in May 2005.
 

"For a first serious Squash event for a long time hosted in Toulouse, we may draw many positive conclusions upon this first edition of the Movida International Squash Open.

"As far as we can tell, everything went on without incident, and it seems that pretty much all the people taking part in this past week, players, partners, volunteers, spectators, will keep a nice memory from these few days.

"Hopefully our event will appeal for others to come in France, and from next year on with much bigger impact and quality here in Toulouse..

A big thank thus to everybody, everybody, to SiteSquash and  SquashSite for highlighting the tournament ... may Squash keep growing..."

20-Jun, Semis: 

[Q] Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt [1] Davide Bianchetti (Ita)                  11/4, 12/10, 11/9 (49m)
[2] Julien Balbo (Fra) bt [5] Amr Mansi (Egy)            11/4, 12/10, 7/11, 10/12, 12/10 (88m)

All-French final in Toulouse ...

French qualifier Stephane Galifi produced his third - and most stunning - giant-killing victory in a row in the semi-finals of the Movida International when he beat top seed Davide Bianchetti in straight games to reach the final of the inaugural event at Movida Castanet in Toulouse.

Competing in his first Tour event for three years, the unranked 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence defeated Bianchetti, the world No30, in 49 minutes. In the seventh Tour final of his career - but the first since winning the Atlanta Open in May 2005 - Galifi now takes on fellow Frenchman Julien Balbo.

The second seed from Chambery battled for 88 minutes to overcome fifth-seeded Egyptian Amr Mansi. Balbo is also celebrating his seventh appearance in a PSA Tour final - and his second in a row after reaching the climax of the Scott Wealth Management Open earlier this month in California.

19-Jun, Quarters:

[1] Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt [6] John Rooney (Irl)                      11/6, 11/8, 11/3 (62m)
[Q] Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt Romain Tenant (Fra)                         11/3, 11/7, 11/1 (36m)
[5] Amr Mansi (Egy) bt [4] Bradley Hindle (Aus)        10/12, 11/8, 1/11, 11/9, 11/6 (82m)
[2] Julien Balbo (Fra) bt Johan Bouquet (Fra)                               11/8, 11/5, 11/6 (48m)

Galifi gains semi-final
spot in Toulouse

Two French semi-finalists were guaranteed as the quarter-finals got under way at the Movida Club in Toulouse, but it was qualifier Stephane Galifi, returning to competitive action after almost three years, who stole the show. Galifi eased to victory against Romain Tenant, while in the other all-French match second seed Julien Balbo ended the run of our intrepid reporter Johan Bouquet, also in straight games.

Galifi meets top seeded Italian Davide Bianchetti, who needed over an hour to overcome Ireland's John Rooney in three games, in the semis. Balbo faces Egypt's Amr Mansi, who came from 2/1 down to beat Bradley Hindle in the longest match of the evening.
  

"Tough match, he played well ... good luck to him tomorrow, and thanks to the organisation."



"Really tough match, like one hour and a half, the conditions were really warm today, I'm happy I managed to win. We both played well, but I think I really wanted to win inside me, that's why I was pushing myself really hard, and I would like to thank Steve and Johan for the organisation, good tournament, nice place, hope it will continue from next year on."

"Heat wave has hit the place, conditions are very tough, hot court with a high tin, the bodies are put under a lot of stress.

"But the most important thing is to get by, match by match, and maybe, who knows, get to the end…"

"I played very badly, a lot of accumulated nervous and physical tiredness, a few sleepless nights, but it was for a good cause, the organisation of the event… Never easy to wear two “hats”, player/promoter…

Tonight’s match against Juju was not of a high standard, I couldn’t push, he was very consistent, and I just couldn’t do much. And I started to chat away, and that’s a sign of weakness. But well, I’m progressing and getting better, little by little. Got a lot of work to do to get further…

"I’m so happy, as everything is going my way at the moment, the Toulouse audience is so fantastic, who could ask for anything more!

"If only, just go till the end of the adventure…"

"A bit disappointed not to go one step further, found a big hurdle in my way! I wanted to win very much, but Stephane played very well.

"Tactically, I was in a sort of dead end, when I was picking up the pace, I was killing myself, and when I was slowing down, I lost precision. Surely, it should have been the reverse! But still, all very positive, and it gives you the envy of pushing one step further...

"Superb welcome here, by the way…

18-Jun, Round One:
Good day for the
French in Toulouse

The first round of the Movida International saw four Frenchman through to the quarter-finals, with two of them guaranteed to progress to the semi-finals.

The first all-French quarter-final will be between Romain Tenant and Stephane Galifi. Tenant came from two games down to oust third-seeded compatriot Mathieu Castagnet while Galifi, returning to competitive action after an enforced two-year layoff, continued his run from qualifying to beat Tom Hoevenaars, the eighth seed.

The winner of that clash will meet Italian top seed Davide Bianchetti or Ireland's sixth-seeded John Rooney, who both won their opening matches in straight games.

Second seed Julien Balbo also progressed without dropping a game, and he will meet our very own reporter Johan Bouquet, who survived an 80-minute marathon, finally beating Robbie Temple 15/13 in the fourth.

The remaining quarter-final will be contested by fourth and fifth seeds Bradley Hindle and Amr Mansi who beat young English qualifiers Olly Pett and Joe Lee.

Photo Gallery

En Français

"I think I played well today in patches, but at times I became too defensive and let him back in when I had a lead. He used his experience and played the big points very well.

"At first I was gutted to lose another match so close in the fifth game. Straight after the match Stephane Galifi came over and told me that I should not be disappointed about the match and that soon I will be winning matches like this, so I would like to thank him for cheering me up!"

11/4, 12/10, 11/9 (49m)

[Q] Stephane Galifi

12/10, 11/3, 11/6 (55m)

[2] Julien Balbo

Romain Tenant
11/3, 11/7, 11/1 (36m)
[Q] Stephane Galifi

11/4, 12/10, 7/11, 10/12, 12/10 (88m)

[2] Julien Balbo

17-Jun, Qualifying Round One:

Joe Lee (Eng) bt Peter Creed (Wal)                                      11/7, 11/5, 11/9 (35m)
Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt Fabien Verseille (Fra)                      11/7, 11/5, 11/5 (25m)
Olivier Pett (Eng) bt Rene Mijs (Ned)                 6/11, 11/3, 8/11, 12/10, 11/7 (64m)
Philip Nightingale (Eng) bt Joan Lezaud (Fra)                      11/9, 11/3, 11/2 (35m)

16-Jun, Qualifying Round One:

Joe Lee (Eng)                                                                                               bye
Peter Creed (Wal) bt  Alexis Deneuville (Fra)                                11/3, 11/8, 11/3
Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt Michal Reid (Can)                                    11/6, 11/6, 11/9
Fabien Verseille (Fra) bt Steve Alcock (Eng)                               11/7, 12/10, 11/7
Olivier Pett (Eng) bt Bart Ravelli (Ned)                                         11/7, 11/3, 11/8
Rene Mijs (Ned) bt Cameron Douglas (Fra)                                   11/4, 11/7, 11/8
Joan Lezaud (Fra) bt Thibault Gouti (Fra)                    9/11, 7/11, 11/7, 11/4, 11/9
Philip Nightingale (Eng)                                                                              bye

Philip Nightingale (Eng) bt Joan Lezaud (Fra)
      11/9, 11/3, 11/2 (35m)

"Not a good match for me today, it really was one match too far - now I'm looking forward to a well-deserved holiday!"





"I played well all through the match. I have trained very hard for a long time and hadn't seen much
return on my investment, so the other week I had a very short holiday, then did four days of focussed
training up to this tournament. Bottom line is I needed a break to enjoy my squash again, which
is what I did tonight.

"Physically I feel good, mentally I feel relaxed and confident, and all because I am really enjoying the experience. Tonight I was able to work him well into the corners and I felt happy to take it in when I had the opportunity and it all came together well."

Joe Lee (Eng) bt Peter Creed (Wal)
      11/7, 11/5, 11/9 (35m)

"I played very well in the first two games. I felt that I was playing good length and that he was doing most of the work. He played better in the third and I lost my length a little bit, but managed to see it through."





"I started very negative in the first two games and played too high-risk squash, which let him dictate too many rallies. I started to settle a bit in the third game and found my length, although it was to late in the match. I need to start believing in myself again, and get some confidence back."

Rene Mijs & Bart Ravelli

En Français

Olivier Pett (Eng) bt Rene Mijs (Ned) 6/11, 11/3, 8/11, 12/10, 11/7 (64m)

"TOUGH GAME!

I am feeling very tired at the moment, it has been a hard few weeks but I am very happy with the way I played. I was put under pressure from the word go and I knew I would have to work hard mentally.

"I am confident within myself at the moment and I am really enjoying myself. A few months ago this would have been 3-0 not to me unfortunately, but thanks to my family and close work with
coaches I'm feeling good."





"I felt a bit tired after the third game so I was happy to win that one. The fourth was close, should
have won that one but he did alright..."

Steve Alcock, promoter, and Johan Bouquet, player and reporter!

Stéphane Galifi (Fra) bt
Fabien Verseille (Fra)
      11/7, 11/5, 11/5 (25m)

"I'm glad to qualify, but was extremely disappointed to have to play my half-brother - I would have preferred to play anyone else, but that's life.

"But I'm feeling good about my squash, and tomorrow the serious business begins ...





"Once again, not a lucky draw! Just played a local who has a rather good touch, I lose 3/0, we could have played the match at home mind you!

"Still, a bit disappointed to have been unable to make the rallies last longer. We played the first game at a very fast pace, but after that, he kept it pretty tight and found his shots.

"I hope he’ll get as far as possible in the event…"

En Français