Seeds untroubled in Christchurch

The top four seeds at the Christchurch International Open have all progressed safely to the quarter-finals.

Jan Koukal and Adam Murrills were the villains of the opening round of the 2014 Doubledot Media Christchurch International Open, beating New Zealand hopes Ben Grindrod and Andrew Ellis respectively to advance to the quarter-finals.  Top seeded Koukal was effective in his trademark lob and drop style of play against Grindrod, forcing his younger opponent to all corners of the court.  Grindrod was rewarded for his tenacity with the third game, ensuring he would not go home empty-handed.  Murrills flew out to an early lead in the first set of his match against Burnside club member Ellis, and held it all the way through to an 11-2 result.  While the next two were closer, Murrills always seemed to be in control, and sealed his quarter-final berth in just 22 minutes.

Earlier in the evening the two match-ups of countrymen provided excellent and grueling viewing spectacles.  Qualifier Tristan Eysele came back from a two game deficit to beat South African compatriot JP Brits in 68 minutes; the night only got worse for Brits as the Baby Boks were beaten by England in the Junior Rugby World Cup.  Addeen Idrakie was very nearly upset by fellow Malaysian Hannan Tarmidi.  Tarmidi took a 2-1 advantage before Idrakie was able to stamp his control on a match notable for some incredible retrieving, eventually winning in 71 minutes.

Aqeel Rehman was the most clinical of the seeded players, seeing off the dogged Manoel Pereira in straight sets.  Matias Tuomi came through a torrid four-setter with Frenchman Arthur Moineau.  After the first game was won by Moineau and the second went to a tie-breaker, one sensed that winner of the second set would most likely go on to take the match.  So it proved, with Tuomi holding his nerve in a series of crucial points to take the set 18-16.  From there he eased to a four set win in 68 minutes.

The final matches of the night saw two veterans of the PSA tour advance to a quarter-final match-up against each other.  Second seed Mike Corren controlled the pace exceptionally well against young Malaysian Sanjay Singh, playing from the tee and regulating the tempo of the match to his liking.  Although he dropped the third set, victory seemed assured, and so it proved as Corren advanced in 47 minutes.  Qualifier Kashif Shuja also dropped the third game in his match against Finn Jaako Vahama, but was highly convincing in the first and fourth games to progress, taking Kiwi hopes with him, in 37 minutes.

First Round Results

(1)  Jan Koukal (CZE) bt (Q) Ben Grindrod (NZL) 11-7 11-9 10-12 11-8 (32 minutes)
(Q)  Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt (7) Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 9-11 8-11 12-10 11-7 11-8 (68 minutes)
(5)  Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt (Q) Hannan Tarmidi (MAS) 11-7 7-11 9-11 11-5 11-6 (71 minutes)
(4)  Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt Arthur Moineau (FRA) 6-11 18-16 11-6 11-5 (68 minutes)
(3)  Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Manoel Pereira (BRA) 11-5 11-9 11-4 (43 minutes)
(6)  Adam Murrills (ENG) bt (WC) Andrew Ellis (NZL) 11-2 11-9 11-7 (22 minutes)
(Q)  Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt (8) Jaako Vahama (FIN) 11-4 11-9 3-11 11-4 (37 minutes)
(2)  Mike Corren (AUS) bt Sanjay Singh (MAS) 11-6 11-5 7-11 11-9 (47 minutes)

Quarter-final match-ups:

(1)  Jan Koukal vs (Q) Tristan Eysele
(5)  Addeen Idrakie vs (4) Matias Tuomi
(3)  Aqeel Rehman vs (6) Adam Murrills
(2)  Mike Corren vs (Q) Kashif Shuja