Home Hero Mueller Makes Grasshopper Cup Quarters
by Howard Harding
25 April 2013 - Swiss number one Nicolas Mueller delighted the packed crowd at the Grasshopper Club in his home city of Zurich when he claimed an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the Grasshopper Cup after overcoming second-seeded Englishman Tom Richards in the first round of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event.
"Everybody at the Grasshopper Club knew this match was going to be a very close encounter between the number two seed and the local hero and so the game started," said event spokesman Mark Meyer. "High-paced and with great touch the players traded points up to nine-all.
"Then Richards slipped on a drop of sweat on the court floor, while rushing to pick up a ball in the back left corner. It was clear for all spectators that Richards - who was gasping in pain - would not be able to continue playing. After a 3-minute injury break the young Englishman had to resign and let Nici Müller through to the quarter final. We wish him fast recovery."
Mueller, the world No21 and winner of a sixth Swiss national title at the weekend, will now face another English opponent - title-holder Daryl Selby, ranked seven places higher in the world.
Selby set up a repeat of last year's final when he beat Malaysian qualifier Muhd Asyraf Azan 11-0, 11-4, 11-9 in 48 minutes.
But the biggest upset of the day came when Andrew Wagih Shoukry earned a place in the last eight after beating German wildcard Andre Haschker. Shoukry lost out in the qualifying finals - but became the event's second 'lucky loser' when German number one Simon Rosner was forced to withdraw as a result of illness.
The 22-year-old Egyptian took full advantage of his lucky break, defeating Haschker 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 to set up a quarter-final clash with top seed Borja Golan. The Spaniard was tested for almost an hour before seeing off Australian Ryan Cuskelly 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4.
Another intriguing first round battle took place between Eddie Charlton and Kristian Frost Olesen. The pair had already fought out a 105-minute qualifying final, with Englishman Charlton surviving 12-10 in the fifth to become a qualifier.
But Dane Frost Olesen was handed the first 'lucky loser' slot when Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet pulled out. And Charlton justified the earlier win when he beat Olesen for the second time in 24 hours, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 in 76 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Grasshopper Cup, Zurich, Switzerland
1st round:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4 (56m)
[LL] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [WC] Andre Haschker (GER) 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 (43m)
[Q] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [LL] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 (76m)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (47m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 5-11, 11-2, 11-9 (58m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-0, 11-4, 11-9 (48m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [2] Tom Richards (ENG) 9-9 ret.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v [LL] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) v [Q] Eddie Charlton (ENG)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
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