Main Draws For Doubledot Media PSA Decided

The main draws for the Doubledot Media PSA being held in Christchurch have been decided.

With a number of kiwis in the qualifying draw there was always hope that there would be a strong contingent representing New Zealand in the main draw. After the first round of qualifying however the number of kiwis decreased with only 4 left fighting for a place in the main draw. 

There was always a guarantee of a kiwi reaching the main draw with Kashif Shuja and Ben Grindrod playing off in the final round of qualifying. Shuja's experience on the court showed through with his younger opponent just not being able to find his stride, Shuja winning in 4. Evan Williams was our other kiwi to make it through to the main draw. Williams made light work of his English opponent with the match lasting only 3 games and a grand total of 24minutes. The other players to make it through to the main dra included Matias Tuomi of Finland who beat local Joe Williams after Williams had an epic five setter the day before. Muhammad Hannan of Malaysia claimed the final spot in the main draw sending Courtney West of Australia back across the ditch. 

The Men's main draw starts tonight with a strong draw of players from New Zealand and around the world. Raphael Kandra of Germany is seeded first and will be the tournament favourite. After getting knocked out in the quarter finals in Palmerston North. Kandra will be looking to claim a title this time round, however he will have a tough battle ahead of him to get there. Rex Hedrick of Australia is second seed and bowed out in the Palmerston North tournament at the same stage as Kandra and will also be looking to improve on his final placing. Third seeds Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Declan James come in at third and fourth seeds respectively and with James having reached the finals of the Palmerston North event he is sure to be on a high. Kiwi Paul Coll has the highest seeding of the kiwis at fifth and having frequented the Burnside Squash Club on numerous occassions he will be sure to use this home court advantage to benefit him. 

The Women's draw sees Siyoli Waters of South Africa taking the first seed but New Zealander Megan Craig will make sure she doesn't get an easy ride to the title with Craig seeded second in the tournament. Third seed Sina Wall of Germany and fourth seed Lakeesha Rarere of Australia will make sure both players are kept honest on their way through. 

Games to be streamed are below with full Women's draw being found here and the Men's draw here

Men's Main Draw Round 1 Games - Thursday

The following games will be streamed here

6pm - [Q] Muhammad Hannan (MAS) vs [7] Matthew Hopkin (AUS)

7pm - [Q] Evan Williams (NZL) vs [3] Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND)

8pm - Matthew Serediak (CAN) vs [5] Paul Coll (NZL)

9pm - [8] Lance Beddoes (NZL) vs [Q] Kashif Shuja (NZL)

The following games will be streamed here

6pm - [1] Raphael Kandra (GER) vs Christopher Binnie (JAM)

7pm - [6] James Huang (TPE) vs Lewis Walters (JAM)

8pm - [4] Declan James (ENG) vs [Q] Matias Tuomi (FIN)

9pm - [WC] Chris van der Salm (NZL) vs [2] Rex Hedrick (AUS)

Women's Main Draw Round 1 Games - Friday

The following games will be streamed here

2pm - [1] Siyoli Waters (RSA) vs [L] Ruby Turnbull (NZL)

3pm - Hyo Ju Seo (KOR) vs [3] Sina Wall (GER)

4pm - Eleanor Epke (NZL) vs [8] Danielle Fourie (NZL)

5pm - [7] Madeleine Gill (USA) vs Hwayeong Eum (KOR)

The following games will be streamed here

2pm - [L] Ruby Beresford (NZL) vs [5] Jessica Turnbull (AUS)

3pm - [6] Jasmine Chan (AUS) vs [L] Nadia Hubbard (NZL)

4pm - [4] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) vs [L] Ella Dromgool (NZL)

5pm - Yura Choi (KOR) vs [2] Megan Craig (NZL)

First Round Qualifying Results

(1) Matias Tuomi (FIN) - bye

(L) Joe Williams (NZL) beat (8) Jason van der Valt (NZL) - 9/11, 11/8, 6/11, 15/13, 11/9 (58 min)

(7) Courtney West (AUS) beat Sion Wiggin (NZL) - 10/12, 11/7, 11/4, 11/8 (39 min)

(4) Muhammad Hannan (MAS) beat (L) Jayden Millard (NZL) - 11/9, 11/4, 11/6 (20 min)

(3) Kashif Shuja (NZL) beat Luke Jones (NZL) - 11/8, 11/8, 12/14, 11/7 (37 min)

(5) Ben Grindrod (NZL) beat (L) Jackson Beresford (NZL) - 11/2, 11/7, 12/10 (21 min)

(6) Evan Williams (NZL) beat (L) Tim Preston (NZL) - 11/8, 11/1, 11/3 (17 min)

(2) Mark Fuller (ENG) - bye

Final Qualifying Round Results

(1) Matias Tuomi (FIN) beat (L) Joe Williams (NZL) - 12/10, 11/8, 2/11, 6/11, 11/5 (42 min)

(4) Muhammad Hannan (MAS) beat (7) Courtney West (AUS) - 3/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/2 (29 min) 

(3) Kashif Shuja (NZL) beat (5) Ben Grindrod (NZL) - 11/7, 4/11, 11/7, 11/5 (40 min) 

(6) Evan Williams (NZL) beat (2) Mark Fuller - (ENG) - 11/2, 11/6, 11/9 (24 min)