Mathieu Mauls Mueller In European Upset
by Howard Harding
May 25, 2012 - Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet produced a notable upset on the second day of action in the European Individual Squash Championships in Finland when he beat Switzerland's 3/4 seed Nicolas Mueller 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 to claim an unexpected place in the men's semi-finals of the European Squash Federation event at Talihalli in Helsinki.
Castagnet controlled the game and Mueller, ranked 24 in the world, never really found his game pace. "I was confident I could win," said the world No 42 from Aix-en-Provence. "I've played Nicolas several times in the Swiss league and I know how to play him," added the 25-year old after reaching his first semi-final in the individual European Championships.
Castagnet will now meet Borja Golan, the second seed from Spain who despatched Finland's Henrik Mustonen 11-1, 11-5, 11-7.
But there was local success in the other half of the men's draw where experienced 3/4 seed Olli Tuominen delighted his hometown crowd with an 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 win over France's Julien Balbo.
But top seed Simon Rosner had a scare when he dropped the first two games to France's Gregoire Marche. "I beat him in five games in the El Gouna International Open in April, so I knew I could expect a tough match," said the 6 foot 2 inch tall German giant after his 8-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 win.
"Tomorrow's game will be a tough one as well," added Rosner, the world No19 from Paderborn. "Olli plays in front of a home crowd, so he will be even tougher than usual!"
Dutch star Natalie Grinham remained on course to win her third title in four years when she comfortably beat Coline Aumard of France 11-6, 11-4, 11-6.
The top seed will now meet Lucie Fialova, a 3/4 seed from the Czech Republic, who beat France's Laura Pomportes, also in straight games.
On the other side of the draw, second seed Camille Serme of France earned a comfortable 3/0 victory over compatriot Maud Duplomb, a 9/16 seed. "I am glad it was not that closely fought match, so I'll be in shape tomorrow," said the smiling Serme after the game.
"Now I am going to sit down with my coach and we'll develop a plan for tomorrow," added the world No10 from Paris, hoping to make the final for the second year in a row.
Serme will be challenged by Gaby Huber of Switzerland, who dropped the first game against Orla Noom of Netherlands and fought a close second game before marching to a 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-2 victory.
RESULTS: European Individual Squash Championships, Helsinki, Finland
Men's 1st round:
[9/16] Roman Svec (CZE) bt Tatu Knuutila (FIN) 11-4, 11-2, 11-8
[9/16] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Marcin Karwowski (POL) 11-3, 11-2, 11-7
[5/8] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Dmitry Ivanov (RUS) 11-3, 11-2, 11-1
[5/8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Janne Jarvinen (FIN) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9
Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [9/16] Piedro Schweertman (NED) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10
[9/16] Sebastiaan Weenink (NED) bt Denys Podvornyi (UKR) 11-1, 11-7, 11-9
[3/4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
[9/16] Bart Ravelli (NED) bt Alexey Severinov (RUS) 11-0, 11-4, 11-8
Frank Hartkoren (NED) bt [9/16] Kostiantyn Rybalchenko (UKR) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
[5/8] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Sergey Belyaev (RUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
[5/8] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Jaakko Vahamaa (FIN) 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
[9/16] Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt Wojciech Nowisz (POL) 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6
[9/16] Ruslan Sorochynskyi (UKR) bt Martin Svec (CZE) 11-3, 11-3, 5-11, 11-3
2nd round:
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [9/16] Roman Svec (CZE) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
[5/8] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt [9/16] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-7
[5/8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 11-2, 11-2, 12-10
[3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [9/16] Sebastiaan Weenink (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-3
[3/4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [9/16] Bart Ravelli (NED) 14-12, 5-11, 11-3, 11-9
[5/8] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Frank Hartkoren (NED) 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
[5/8] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [9/16] Matias Tuomi (FIN) 11-3, 11-4, 11-9
[1] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [9/16] Ruslan Sorochynskyi (UKR) 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
Quarter-finals:
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [5/8] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-1, 11-5, 11-7
[5/8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4
[3/4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [5/8] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8
[1] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [5/8] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 8-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
Women's 1st round:
[9/16] Anna Jurkun (POL) bt Emilia Korhonen (FIN) 16-14, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7
[9/16] Julia Lecoq (FRA) bt Ekaterina Marusan (RUS) 11-5, 11-2, 11-4
[9/16] Dominika Witkowska (POL) bt Aliis Allas (EST) 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
[9/16] Xisela Aranda Nunez (ESP) bt Irina Belyaeva (RUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-2
Melissa Meulenbelt (NED) bt [9/16] Emilia Soini (FIN) 8-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10
2nd round:
[2] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [9/16] Anna Jurkun (POL) 11-1, 11-6, 11-1
[9/16] Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt [5/8] Olga Ertlova (CZE) 7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
[5/8] Orla Noom (NED) bt [9/16] Julia Lecoq (FRA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-6
[3/4] Gaby Huber (SUI) bt [9/16] Dominika Witkowska (POL) 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
[3/4] Lucie Fialova (CZE) bt [9/16] Xisela Aranda Nunez (ESP) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6
[9/16] Laura Pomportes (FRA) bt [5/8] Birgit Coufal (AUT) 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
[5/8] Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [9/16] Saara Valtola (FIN) 11-5, 11-1, 11-7
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Melissa Meulenbelt (NED) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4
Quarter-finals:
[2] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [9/16] Maud Duplomb (FRA) 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
[3/4] Gaby Huber (SUI) bt [5/8] Orla Noom (NED) 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-2
[3/4] Lucie Fialova (CZE) bt [9/16] Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [5/8] Coline Aumard (FRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
Men's semi-final line-up:
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) v [5/8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[1] Simon Rosner (GER) v [3/4] Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Women's semi-final line-up:
[2] Camille Serme (FRA) v [3/4] Gaby Huber (SUI)
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) v [3/4] Lucie Fialova (CZE)
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