Lucas Serme reaches quarter-finals of PSA Czech Squash Open 2023

Lucas Serme was denied a place in the semi-finals of the PSA Czech Squash Open 2023 by top seed and defending champion Nicolas Müller of Switzerland, after the Swiss No.1 claimed a tightly contested 11-8 11-9 12-10 victory at Centrum Viktoria in Brno.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Czech Squash Open 2023, Centrum Viktoria, Brno, Czech Republic
Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nicolas Müller (SUI) v [5] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-8, 11-9, 12-10
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) v [8] Declan James (ENG)
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) v [7] Rui Soares (POR)
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) v [6] Balázs Farkas (HUN)

UNSQUASHABLE player Lucas Serme defeated Viktor Byrtus 11-8 11-9 11-4 in 32 minutes to progress to the quarter-finals of the PSA Czech Squash Open 2023 being staged at Centrum Viktoria in Brno where he will face top seed and defending champion Nicolas Müller of Switzerland.

The 5th seeded Frenchman is the last remaining UNSQUASHABLE player after Yannick Wilhelmi, Owain Taylor and Lwamba Chileshe all fell in their second rounds matches to Nicolas Müller, Declan James and Yahya Elnawasany respectively.

Anna Serme, playing in her first competitive match since giving birth to her son in June, was unable to progress beyond Sofi Zrazhevska in the women’s 2nd round.

In the men’s 1st round, Yannick Wilhelmi defeated Austrian No.1 Aqeel Rehman, Owain Taylor beat Czech No.1 Martin Svec, Lwamba Chileshe overcame brother Temwa Chileshe, whilst Daniel Mekbib was forced to retired against Jakub Solnicky.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Czech Squash Open 2023, Centrum Viktoria, Brno, Czech Republic
Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nicolas Müller (SUI) v [5] Lucas Serme (FRA)
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) v [8] Declan James (ENG)
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) v [7] Rui Soares (POR)
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) v [6] Balázs Farkas (HUN)

Swiss No.1 and defending champion Nicolas Mueller defeated compatriot Yannick Wilhelmi 11-7 13-11 11-4 in the second round of the PSA Czech Squash Open in Brno. The top seeded Swiss, who is set to join forces with Yannick Wilhelmi at the forthcoming World Men's Team Championships in December, left no room for sentiment as the seasoned veteran, secured his spot in the quarter-finals with a clinic 40-minute performance.

Mueller’s opponent in the last eight will be 5th seed Lucas Serme of France, who defeated Czech Viktor Byrtus 11-8 11-9 11-4. Byrtus, Fellow Czech Jakub Solnicky suffered a similar fate, succumbing 11-8 13-11 11-5 to 2nd seed Patrick Rooney of England. Victories for Yahya Elnawasany and Rui Soares closed out the day's matches, affirming an immaculate sweep of victories for the top eight seeds after Declan James, Raphael Kandra and Balazs Farkas all secured their places in the competition's third day.

The narrative in the women's draw unfolded in a nearly identical fashion, with Anna Serme emerging as the sole seed failing to secure a quarter-final berth. Playing in her first competitive match since giving birth to her son in June, Anna Serme, unfortunately, fell short, enduring a straight-game defeat at the hands of Sofi Zrazhevska.

“It is my first match after a yearlong break and four months after giving birth so I didn’t really know what to expect,” added the Czech No.1 after her match. “My goal was to finish and not give up so in the end I am happy. Of course my competitive nature wanted to do better, but realistically there was not much more I could do. However, it is very motivating to be able to play again and I can’t wait to go back to training.”

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Czech Squash Open 2023, Centrum Viktoria, Brno, Czech Republic
2nd Round:
[1] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bt [9/16] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 11-7, 13-11, 11-4 (40m)
[5] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt [9/16] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (32m)
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 11-7, 11-3, 13-11 (48m)
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [9/16] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 11-3, 11-8, 13-15, 11-5 (56m)
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt [9/16] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 (36m)
[7] Rui Soares (POR) bt [9/16] James Peach (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (42m)
[6] Balázs Farkas (HUN) bt Miles Jenkins (ENG) 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (52m)
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 11-8, 13-11, 11-5 (39m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Czech Squash Open 2023, Centrum Viktoria, Brno, Czech Republic
1st Round:
[1] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bye
[9/16] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (29m)
[9/16] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt Alasdair Prott (SCO) 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1 (43m)
[5] Lucas Serme (FRA) bye
[8] Declan James (ENG) bye
Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [9/16] Martin Svec (CZE) 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (38m)
[9/16] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt [WC] Dariusz Filipowski (POL) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 (21m)
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bye
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bye
[9/16] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 (30m)
[9/16] James Peach (ENG) bt [WC] Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (35m)
[7] Rui Soares (POR) bye
[6] Balázs Farkas (HUN) bye
Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt [9/16] Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (13m)
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [9/16] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 11-5, 11-5 ret. (22m)
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bye

UNSQUASHABLE players Lucas Serme, Yannick Wilhelmi, Owain Taylor, Daniel Mekbib, Lwamba Chileshe & Temwa Chileshe will compete in the Professional Squash Association PSA Czech Squash Open 2023 to be staged in Brno in the Czech Republic from the 2nd to 5th November 2023.

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