Qualifier Pett Scores Birthday Upset In Santiago PSA
by Howard Harding
20 October 2011 - English qualifier Olivier Pett celebrated his 23rd birthday in fine style in the first round of the Santiago Open in Spain when he upset fellow countryman Adrian Waller to secure a surprise place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at Shopping Center Area Central in Santiago de Compostela.
Pett, from Sussex, battled back from a game down to beat 21-year-old Waller, ranked 32 places higher, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 in 56 minutes.
But it was Frenchman Gregoire Marche who earned the biggest scalp when he despatched England's No4 seed Chris Simpson 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8.
The unseeded 21-year-old from Aix-en-Provence goes on to meet Czech number one Jan Koukal, who beat English qualifier Charles Sharpes 10-12, 11-7, 11-1, 11-4.
And wildcard Carlos Cornes Ribadas set up a dream all-Santiago quarter-final clash when he stunned experienced Hungarian Mark Krajcsak 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 13-11, 12-10.
Ranked outside the world top 400, 22-year-old Santiago club hero Cornes now faces Santiago-born and raised Borja Golan, the top-ranked Spaniard.
Third seed Golan, the event's champion in 2008, ousted English qualifier Joe Lee 11-7, 11-3, 11-6.
RESULTS: PSA International 25 Santiago Open, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
1st round:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Stephane Galifi (ITA) 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 (50m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Charles Sharpes (ENG) 10-12, 11-7, 11-1, 11-4 (33m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [4] Chris Simpson (ENG) 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 (66m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (41m)
Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 13-11, 12-10 (63m)
[Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (56m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Fabien Verseille (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (15m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Jan Koukal (CZE)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Olivier Pett (ENG)
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