Joel’s joy at revenge victory
By Squash Mad Reporter
Top seed Joel Hinds survived an all-English challenge in the final of the City Hall PSA Challenger Estarreja to win the inaugural PSA Challenger 5 squash event at the Complexo de Desporto e Lazer de Estarreja in Estarreja, Portugal.
Hinds reached the final after defeating third-seeded Frenchman Geoffrey Demont in the semi-finals – a win which took the Birmingham-based 27-year-old into his 12th Tour final.
Second seed Ford, fresh from his Tour title triumph last week at the Anadia Challenger also in Portugal, had to see off compatriot Alex Ingham, the No.6 seed, in the other semi.
With 27 ranking positions separating the two finalists as they took to the court, world No.72 Hinds was eager to avenge his shock defeat by the lower-ranked Ford in the Anadia semi-finals.
Hinds led throughout the first two games, and scored five points in a row from 6-8 down in the third to claim his 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 revenge win.
“The athletes received their awards and Joel Hinds, on behalf of the athletes, highlighted the good organization, his happiness of winning in Estarreja, the pleasure of having faced Tom in the final and the fact that Estarreja provided a good week,” said tournament spokesman Paulo Pinto.
The win marked the fifth PSA World Tour title of Hinds’ career, and his second this year.
PSA Challenger 5 City Hall PSA Challenger Estarreja, Estarreja, Portugal
1st round:
Rui Soares (POR) bt [LL] Rui Ferreira (POR) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
[Q] Dani Pascual (ESP) bt Tatu Knuutila (FIN) 11-9, 12-10, 11-9
[Q] Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-5, 11-2, 13-11
[6] Alex Ingham (ENG) bt Claudio Pinto (POR) 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7
[5] Michael Harris (ENG) bt [Q] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3
Julian Tomlinson (ENG) bt [Q] Sam Ellis (ENG) 8-11, 14-12, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5
[8] Mark Fuller (ENG) bt Miroslav Celler (SVK) 11-3, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9
[2] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [Q] Manuel Wanner (SUI) 11-9, 11-7, 12-10
[3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [Q] Lyell Fuller (ENG) 7-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8
Angus Gillams (ENG) bt [Q] Joeri Hapers (BEL) 11-8, 11-2, 11-3
Jaakko Vahamaa (FIN) bt Xavier Blasco Marchal (ESP) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
[4] Chris Fuller (ENG) bt [WC] Pedro Damaso (POR) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3
[7] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt Tristan Eysele (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
[Q] James Bamber (ENG) bt Phil Nightingale (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt Anthony Brindle (GIB) 11-6, 15-17, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt David Wardle (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7
2nd round:
Rui Soares (POR) bt [Q] Dani Pascual (ESP) 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8
[6] Alex Ingham (ENG) bt [Q] Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) 7-11, 11-8, 13-11, 12-10
[5] Michael Harris (ENG) bt Julian Tomlinson (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3
[2] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [8] Mark Fuller (ENG) 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7
[3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Angus Gillams (ENG) 11-7, 9-11, 17-15, 11-9
[4] Chris Fuller (ENG) bt Jaakko Vahamaa (FIN) 14-12, 11-8, 11-1
[7] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt [Q] James Bamber (ENG) 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 11-8, 11-8, 11-2
Quarter-finals:
[6] Alex Ingham (ENG) bt Rui Soares (POR) 16-14, 11-4, 12-10
[2] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [5] Michael Harris (ENG) 11-7, 12-14, 11-4, 11-9
[3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [4] Chris Fuller (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [7] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7
Semi-finals:
[2] Tom Ford (ENG) bt [6] Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2
Final:
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [2] Tom Ford (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8
Picture courtesy of PSA