Aqeel Rehman only Austrian left to keep the flag up at EUROPARK

von Aqeel Rehman · 10. Mai 2017

It was big action today on the all glasscourt at EUROPARK shopping mall when the first round of the main draw started with eight matches on schedule. Players from 15 different nations are competing for the title and 5.000 USD prize money as well as PSA world ranking points.

It all started with an upset when Scottish qualifier Rory Stewart beat the Italian number seven seed Yuri Farneti 3/0.

Qualifier Miko Äjianen caused another upset when he beat sixth seed Mark Broekman from England in three games.

But after that it went according to the seeding. Spanish number three seed Edmon Lopez showed no mercy for the next qualifier Chris Leiper, also from Scotland and also eight seed Adrian Ostbye from Norway celebrated a 3/0 victory over Englishman Robert Dadds, as well as top seed Christopher Binnie from Jamaica who took German youngster Yannik Omlor out of the tournament with another 3/0 victory.

With a close 3/2 from fourth seed Mohammad Alsarraj over David Zeman from Czech Republic all top four players made it into the quarterfinal, thanks to a 3/0 win from home favorite and organizer Aqeel Rehman against Nick Mulvey from England. He managed to stay on top of the quick Englishmen from the beginning on.

Unfortunately the Salzburg based Austrian record Champion will be the only home player in the tournament left, as Wildcard Jakob Dirnberger, also born in Salzburg lost in a close five game battle against young Swiss player and fifth seed Dimitri Steinmann. It was a good performance of Jakob though who could count on home support. But Dimitri was too good in the deciding fifht game.

Highlights of both matches will be shown on Austrian national television on Thursday.

These are the results from today:

[Q] Rory Stewart (SCO) – [7] Yuri Farneti (ITA) 11/3, 12/10, 11/4 32min

[3] Edmon Lopez (ESP) – [Q] Chris Leiper (SCO) 11/5, 11/7, 11/4 25min

[8] Adrian Ostbye (NOR) – Robert Dadds (ENG) 11/8, 11/6, 11/4 29min

[Q] Miko Äjianen (FIN) – [6] Mark Broekman (ENG) 11/4, 12/10 11/7 26min

[4] Mohammad Alsarraj (JOR) – [Q] David Zeman (CZE) 9/11, 11/9, 4/11, 11/0, 11/5 34min

[1] Christopher Binnie (JAM) – Yannik Omlor (GER) 11/8, 11/7, 11/4 37min

[5] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) – [WC] Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 11/7, 6/11, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3 50min

[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) – Nick Mulvey (ENG) 11/5, 11/8, 11/8 30min

These are the matches for tomorrow:

15:45: [1] Christopher Binnie (JAM) – [Q] Miko Äjianen (FIN)