Qualifying Complete In Zurich $25K PSA Grasshopper
from Squashsite365
April 24, 2012 - Qualifying finals for the PSA $25k Grasshopper Cup in Zurich promised main draw spots for five players (one lucky loser), and provided a couple of nailbiting finishes for the Zurich crowd to enjoy ...
The first qualification final of the day featured Davide Bianchetti against Steve Finitsis. In a crucial first game where Steve kept the rallies long and aled 6/2, Davide managed to claw himself back to 8/10, Steven then missing three games balls whereupon Davide squeezed the game 15/13 after 30 minutes. In the second game Davide played very tight squash, ever so precise, which led to a string of mistakes from Finitsis, for 11/4 in 13 minutes. The tough Australian hung in in the third up to 6/8 but then had to let the experienced Italian go; 11/8 in 13 minutes. All in all 56 minutes of high paced, solid good squash.
The crowd, assuming the coming match would be hard fought and long, took their seats at 6 p.m. André Haschker and Joan Lezaud lived up to the expectations, battling for 84 minutes on a fast court with a bouncy ball. Both very good movers on the court, André and Joan entertained the spectators with long and hard four games which they shared 16/14, 2/11, 11/7, 9/11.
André, who has been a league player for the Grasshopper Club in Switzerland for many years, just about grasped the last game in his favour 13/11, much to the excitement of the home crowd.
Parallel another very long encounter had begun: Aqeel Rehman faced in Raphael Kandra an opponent he had lost to a couple of times, each time very closely.
This time it turned to be even closer then ever before: Aqeel took the first in 9 minutes 11/9, dropped the second and third games 6/11 and 5/11 in 9 and 6 minutes. Then the Austrian got back in the game, taking the fourth 12/10 in 13 minutes and then even had a match ball in the fifth aet at 11/10. Raphael just didn’t let go and served his match ball right into the nick for a 3/2 win.
Last match of the day was an all French encounter between Julien Balbo and Fabien Verseille. Fabien took the better start took strong presence around the middle of the court and winning the first 11/6.
After a slow start Fabien got the momentum on his side and closed the second convincingly 11/5. Julien had to retire cause of an upper leg injury.
So, two upset results, four qualifiers, and the despite two players losing 13/11 in the fifth the Lucky Loser spot went to 'lucky' Steve Finitsis ...
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