Iván Pérez reached PSA Batch Squash Open Final in Paris

Iván Pérez of Spain was denied victory in a high-quality final of the PSA Batch Squash Open by Jakub Solnicky of the Czech Republic who recovered from losing the opening game to eventually claim a hard-fought four-game victory at the spectacular Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris, France.

The Spanish 3rd seed defeated Miko Äijänen of Finland 14-12 16-14 11-8 in the 2nd round, having received a bye in the 1st round, before claiming impressive four-game victories over Frenchmen Brice Nicolas & Toufik Mekhalfi in the quarter-finals & semi-finals respectively.

The Spaniard won the opening game of the final 11-4, but his Czech rival fought hard to claim a tight second game 11-9, before closing-out a tense 66-minute 4-11 11-9 11-4 11-7 victory.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Batch Squash Open, Jeu de Paume, Paris, France.
Final:
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [3] Iván Pérez (ESP) 4-11 11-9 11-4 11-7

Semi-Finals:
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10 (70m)
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [9/16] Macéo Lévy (FRA) 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9 (51m)

Quarter-Finals:
[9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (54m)
[9/16] Macéo Lévy (FRA) bt [4] Edwin Clain (FRA) 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 17-15 (65m)
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)

2nd Round:
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 11-2, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
[9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [7] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2 (64m)
[WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt [8] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (51m)
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [9/16] Miko Äijänen (FIN) 14-12, 16-14, 11-8 (55m)
[4] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [9/16] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 11-7 (56m)
[9/16] Macéo Lévy (FRA) bt [6] James Peach (ENG) 11-0, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (51m)
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [5] Owain Taylor (WAL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (41m)
[2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [9/16] Chung Yat Long (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (30m)

1st Round:
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bye
Manu Paquemar (FRA) bt [9/16] Guilherme Melo (BRA) 11-8 ret. (8m)
[9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt Lowie Delbeke (BEL) 10-12, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9 (38m)
[7] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bye
[8] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bye
[WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt [9/16] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 11-5, 2-11, 10-12, 14-12, 11-5 (59m)
[9/16] Miko Äijänen (FIN) bt Paul Gonzalez (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bye
[4] Edwin Clain (FRA) bye
[9/16] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Laouenan Loaëc (FRA) 11-3, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (41m)
[9/16] Macéo Lévy (FRA) bt [WC] Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (23m)
[6] James Peach (ENG) bye
[5] Owain Taylor (WAL) bye
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Elijah Thomas (NZL) 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 (27m)
[9/16] Chung Yat Long (HKG) bt [WC] Antoine Riehl (FRA) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (21m)
[2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bye

Iván Pérez of Spain will face Jakub Sonlicky of the Czech Republic in the final of the PSA Batch Squash Open being staged at the spectacular Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris, France after the Spaniard came out on top against Frenchman Toufik Mekhalfi in the semi-finals to reach his first PSA World Tour final since November, which also came on French soil at the PSA Cognac Squash Open.

Iván took a tight opening game 11-9, but then saw the Frenchman fight back to win the second. The third game proved more straightforward for the Spaniard, but the fourth went all the way to a tie-break, with the Pérez, the No.3 seed, eventually closing-out the game 12-10, to take a four-game victory & move through to the final with a hard-fought 11-9 6-11 11-3 12-10 victory in 70 minutes.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Batch Squash Open, Jeu de Paume, Paris, France.
Semi-Final:
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10 (70m)

Iván Pérez of Spain battled hard to secure a 54-minute 5-11 11-7 11-8 11-5 win over wild card Brice Nicolas of France in the quarter-finals of the PSA Batch Squash Open being staged at the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris, France.

Fellow UNSQUASHABLE players Daniel Mekbib or Lwamba Chileshe were both beaten in the quarter-finals.

Top seed Lwamba Chileshe of New Zealand lost in straight games to Frenchman Toufik Mekhalfi, whilst 2nd seed Daniel Mekbib of the Czech Republic was beaten by compatriot Jakub Solnicky. Despite Daniel taking the opening game 11-8, Solnicky fought back to win the next three games to advance to the semi-finals with a 8-11 11-4 11-6 11-6 in 43 minutes.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Batch Squash Open, Jeu de Paume, Paris, France.
Quarter-Finals:
[3] Iván Pérez (ESP) bt [WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (54m)
[9/16] Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt [1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (43m)

Iván Pérez of Spain battled hard to secure a 54-minute 5-11 11-7 11-8 11-5 win over wild card Brice Nicolas of France in the quarter-finals of the PSA Batch Squash Open being staged at the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris, France.

Lwamba Chileshe, Daniel Mekbib & Iván Pérez have all progressed to the quarterfinals of the PSA Batch Squash Open being staged at the Societe Sportive du Jeu de Paume in Paris, France.

Top seed Lwamba Chileshe of New Zealand will today face Toufik Mekhalfi of France following victory over a four-game victory over Manu Paquemar, Daniel Mekbib of the Czech Republic will play compatriot Jakub Solnicky having beaten Chung Yat Long of Hong Kong in his opening match, & Iván Pérez of Spain will play wild card Brice Nicolas, who defeated #teamunsquashable player Temwa Chileshe, following victory over Finland’s Miko Äijänen.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Batch Squash Open, Jeu de Paume, Paris, France.
2nd Round:
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 11-2, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
[WC] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt [8] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (51m)
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [9/16] Miko Äijänen (FIN) 14-12, 16-14, 11-8 (55m)
[2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [9/16] Chung Yat Long (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (30m)

1st Round:
[1] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bye
[8] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bye
[3] Ivan Perez (ESP) bye
[2] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bye