Le Roux Romps To Barcelona Success
by Howard Harding
3 October 2011 - Shaun le Roux dismissed Dutchman Piedro Schweertman in the final of the long-established Ciutat de Barcelona Open to become the first South African winner of the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash event at Shopping Center L'Illa Diagonal in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
The UK-based 25-year-old made his breakthrough in the semi-finals. Seeded three and ranked 96 in the world, Le Roux brushed aside world No63 Davide Bianchetti, the Italian favourite, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3.
Unseeded Schweertman also pulled off a major shock in the other semi - battling to a five-game win over second seed Bradley Hindle 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6.
But there was no holding back Cape Town-born Le Roux in the final as the third seed romped to an 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 victory over Schweertman, ranked 25 places below.
The triumph marks Le Roux's first Tour title success of the year - but the fourth of his career.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Ciutat de Barcelona Open, Barcelona, Spain
1st round:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9
Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [Q] Hugo Varela (ESP) 11-9, 14-16, 11-1, 12-10
[Q] Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) bt Bart Ravelli (NED) 4-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-2
[3] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5
Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt [4] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 11-8, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6
Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3
Karim A G A Samy (EGY) bt [Q] Ivan Flores (ESP) 13-15, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
[2] Bradley Hindle (MLT) bt Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5
[3] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2
Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 9-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3
[2] Bradley Hindle (MLT) bt Karim A G A Samy (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[3] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt [2] Bradley Hindle (MLT) 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6
Final:
[3] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Piedro Schweertman (NED) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
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