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MRU Open 2023
Men's Draw
23 - 26 Feb
Calgary, Canadia, $12k |
ROUND
ONE
23Feb |
QUARTERS
24 Feb |
SEMIS
25 Feb |
FINAL
26 Feb |
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[1] David Baillargeon (CAN)
11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (29m)
Cory McCartney (CAN) |
David Baillargeon
11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (39m)
Ben Smith |
David Baillargeon
8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (40m)
Abhay Singh |
David Baillargeon
11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (40m)
Simon Herbert |
[8] Ben Smith (ENG)
7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (50m)
Emyr Evans (WAL) |
Joseph White (AUS)
12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (47m
[5] Christopher Gordon (USA) |
Joseph White
11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (38m)
Abhay Singh |
[4] Abhay Singh (IND)
11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (24m)
Jamie Ruggiero (USA) |
Finnlay Withington (ENG)
11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (41m)
[3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) |
Finnlay Withington
7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 1-11, 11-8 (50m)
Simon Herbert |
Simon Herbert
11-9, 11-9, 12-10 (33m)
Curtis Malik |
[6] Simon Herbert (ENG)
11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (22m)
Connor Turk (CAN) |
Edwin Clain (FRA)
11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (65m)
[7] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) |
Edwin Clain
13-11, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
Curtis Malik |
[WC] Brett Schille (CAN)
11-7, 11-1, 11-3 (25m)
[2] Curtis Malik (ENG) |
Final
Baillargeon Wins On Home Soil
David Baillargeon collects the MRU Open trophy
The MRU Open came to its conclusion on Sunday afternoon in Calgary with
home favourite David Baillargeon lifting the Challenger 10 level title.
Baillargeon came into this competition as the top seed, and with the
backing of the home support at Mount Royal University. He started his
week with a confident performance to overcome compatriot Cory McCartney
in straight games to get the tournament underway.
The Canadian then also got the better of England’s Ben Smith in straight
games as well, to move through to the semi-finals. In the last four,
Baillargeon then took on the in-form Abhay Singh, who has won five times
on Tour already this season. There would be no sixth win though, with
the Canadian coming from behind to win in four games.
The final saw Baillargeon take on Simon Herbert, after the Englishman
had defeated No.2 seed Curtis Malik in the semis in a surprise victory.
There would not be another surprise for Herbert, though. The
tournament’s top seed won in straight games to claim a second title in
his last three events, and his sixth victory overall. |
Semi Finals
Herbert Downs No.2 Seed To Reach Final
Simon Herbert (fore) got the better of compatriot
Curtis Malik to reach the final in Calgary
Simon Herbert came through an all-English clash with No.2 seed Curtis
Malik to reach the final of the MRU Open in Calgary, Canada.
The English duo were doing battle for the first time on Tour, and it was
a close contest throughout. Both players were evenly matched, but it was
the tournament’s No.6 seed that drew first blood, winning a tight
opening game 11-9.
He started strongly in the second but allowed Malik back into it.
However, it was the World No.81 who doubled his advantage. The third
then went to a tie-break, and once again Herbert was able to eek out the
win, securing a straight games victory to move through to his first
final in twelve months.
He will now take on the tournament’s top seed, David Baillargeon, in the
final on Sunday. The Canadian No.1 lost the first game of his semi-final
clash with India’s Abhay Singh, as the Indian showed the skills that
have seen him win five times on Tour already this season.
Baillargeon fought back strongly though. He claimed the second game
11-7, before then going on to win both the third and fourth games by an
11-5 scoreline to take the victory in four games. He moves through to
the final where he will face Herbert for the second time. The Canadian
took a straight games victory at the Carey Olsen Tortola Classic last
year.
The final between Baillargeon and Herbert will take place on Sunday,
February 26.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Quarter Finals
Seeds All Move Through To Semis
David Baillargeon and Ben Smith on court in Calgary
After some surprising results on the opening day in Calgary, the seeds
all took wins on quarter finals day at the MRU Open on Friday.
Top seed and home favourite David Baillargeon booked his place in the
last four wit a confident performance to overcome England’s Ben Smith.
The Englishman started well, but the Canadian No.1’s experience shone
through, and he was able to win in straight games to book his semi-final
spot.
He will now face India’s Abhay Singh, after the five-time winner on Tour
this year got the better of Australian Joseph White. Singh, who has been
in unbelievable form on the Challenger Tour this season, took a tight
first game 11-9, and that was crucial, as he then went on to win in
three to move through to another semi-final.
The other match in the last four at Mount Royal University on Saturday
afternoon will be between two Englishmen. No.2 seed Curtis Malik
overcame the challenge of Edwin Clain in a tight three-game battle. Both
of the opening two games went to tie-breaks, with Malik scraping through
them 13-11 and 12-10, before winning the third 11-6 to book his
semi-final spot.
He will now take on No.6 seed Simon Herbert in the semis, after he came
through an all-English battle with Finnlay Withington. Herbert was
behind after the opening game, but then found himself 2-1 up. The
English junior then fought back to win the fourth 11-1, but Herbert
showed his class, claiming the fifth game 11-8 to advance.Seeds All Move
Through To Semis.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Round 1
Withington Leads English Quartet Through
Finnlay Withington (right)
The MRU Open kicked off on Thursday at Mount Royal University in
Calgary, Canada, and England’s Finnlay Withington secured one of three
surprise wins.
The Englishman, who was part of the nation’s team to win the WSF World
Junior Team Championships in 2022, took on Mexico’s Alfredo Avila in the
first round. Avila was the No.4 seed, and already had several wins to
his name this season.
However, from the off it was the young Englishman that took control of
the contest. He won the first 11-8, and although the Mexican fought back
to win the second, Withington regained his composure and focus, to go on
to secure victory in four games, to book his spot in the quarter finals.
He will now take on fellow Englishman Simon Herbert, after the No.6 seed
defeated Canadian Connor Turk, dropping just 12 points across the three
games. Ben Smith and Curtis Malik made it four English players into the
last eight of the tournament, thanks to wins over Welshman Emyr Evans
and Canadian wildcard Brett Schille, respectively.
Withington was not the only unseeded player to take a surprise victory,
as both Australia’s Joseph White and Frenchman Edwin Clain knocked out
American opposition on day one.
White came up against No.5 seed Christopher Gordon in the opening round,
and a first game tie-break went his way. That was crucial as he then
opened up a two game lead, and despite the American winning the third,
White was able to close out the win in four to advance.
Clain took on No.7 seed Spencer Lovejoy on Thursday evening, and his
match followed the same pattern as White’s. The Frenchman won the
opening two games, and then had to focus after Lovejoy claimed the
third. However, he did so, with Clain moving through to the last eight.
The other two men to win on the opening day were top seed David
Baillargeon and the in-form Abhay Singh. Canada’s No.1 defeated
compatriot Cory McCartney, while Singh, who has a Tour-leading five
victories this season, downed Jamie Ruggiero, with both winning in
straight games.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Preview
David Baillargeon will be the top seed on home soil this
week
Continuing the Canadian run of events on the Challenger Tour this week
is the MRU Open, which begins on Thursday, February 23 in Calgary.
The Mount Royal University will play host to the Challenger 10 level
men’s competition, and will return to the Tour’s calendar for the first
time since February 2020.
On that occasion, Canadian No.1 David Baillargeon finished runner-up. As
this year’s top seed, he will be looking to go one better and to take
the title on home soil come Saturday afternoon in Calgary. He will be
aiming for his second victory of the season after winning the Wakefield
PSA just prior to the New Year.
It is not just the Canadian who will be looking for another win this
season. In total, ten of the 16 players in the draw have already won in
the 2022-2023 campaign, with six of those having tasted victory multiple
times.
Curtis Malik, Sam Todd and Alfredo Avila make up the rest of the top
four seeds, all with wins behind them this campaign. India’s Abhay Singh
is the Tour leader in 2022-2023, with five wins already, with three of
those being Challenger 10 level events.
England’s Ben Smith and Finnlay Withington, along with Frenchman Edwin
Clain, all have two wins, with Argentinian Jeremias Azana and Welshman
Emyr Evans both having one win to their name.
The American duo of Christopher Gordon and Spencer Lovejoy, along with
Englishman Simon Herbert, make up the rest of the top eight seeds for
the event. Brett Schille will be the competition’s wildcard, and the
second Canadian featuring on home soil this week.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
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