Kristian Olesen Captures Historic Israel Crown from PSA Media 23 February 2014
- Denmark's Kristian Frost Olesen became the first player to win a PSA
World Tour title in Israel when he beat Frenchman Christophe Andre in
the final of the Global Relocations Israel Open, a PSA Challenger 5
event at the Ra'anana Squash Centre in Ra'anana. Olesen, the event's
top seed, reached the final after surviving a tough semi-final test
against England's No.4 seed Tom Ford, winning in four games after 82
minutes to make his 12th Tour final. Sixth seed Andre made
his breakthrough in the quarter-finals, ousting second-seeded Austrian
Aqeel Rehman before overcoming higher-ranked compatriot Geoffrey Demont
in the next round to reach the second Tour final of his career. Olesen, the World
No.57 from Odense, needed 68 minutes to get the better of Andre before
securing his 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 victory over the Reunion Island-born
26-year-old ranked more than 100 places lower. The historic triumph marks Olesen's ninth PSA Tour title. The nation's inaugural
international circuit event was greeted with delight by the Israeli
number one Daniel Poleshchuk, who was seeded five in the event.
"By hosting the first ever PSA tournament in Israel, local players -
both junior and senior – had a unique opportunity to see squash played
at a hitherto unseen level. "As far as juniors are
concerned, they saw that not only must they hone their skills but also
their level of fitness," added the 18-year-old Maccabi Games gold
medallist who studies at Millfield School in England and is ranked 155
in the world. "Furthermore it will give a much needed boost for
the sport we love. "On a personal level,
it was a great honour for me not only to be representing my country,
but also to be part of the team hosting international players, most if
not all, visiting my beautiful country for the first time."
RESULTS: Global Relocations Israel Open, Ra'anana, Israel 1st round: [1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Rui Soares (POR) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (35m) [8] Ollie Holland (ENG) bt [Q] George Parker (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (32m) [Q] David Haley (WAL) bt [7] Wojtek Nowisz (POL) 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (37m) [4] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [WC] Roee Avraham (ISR) 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (32m) [3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Anthony Brindle (GIB) 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 (28m) [Q] Bart Ravelli (NED) bt [5] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3 (45m) [6] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Claudio Pinto (POR) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (33m) [2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Phillip John Bull (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (26m)
Quarter-finals: [1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [8] Ollie Holland (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 11-7 (48m) [4] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [Q] David Haley (WAL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-1 (43m) [3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [Q] Bart Ravelli (NED) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (42m) [6] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt [2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 (63m)
Semi-finals: [1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [4] Tom Ford (ENG) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (82m) [6] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt [3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 (42m)
Final: [1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [6] Christophe Andre (FRA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (68m)
