Junior Gaultier takes Czech Open over Canadian Berg
Dec 19, 2001 Tomas Barva from Prague and Howard Harding from London © 2001 SquashTalk, may not be reproduced without express permission.
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London, Dec 19 2001
Berg
and Gaultier Surprise Seasoned Veterans
 |
| Gregory Gaultier in Prague (photo - T Barva for Squashtalk © 2001 ) |
 |
| Viktor Berg (photo - T Barva for Squashtalk © 2001 ) |
France's Gregory Gaultier rounded off a magnificent final year as a junior when he lifted the Dunlop & VD Walke Czech Squash Open title in Prague - seven days before his 19th birthday.
Seeded seven, Gaultier began his Czech charge in the quarter-finals when he resisted a spirited fight-back by second seed Adrian Grant to upset the Englishman 15-8 15-7 7-15 13-15 15-2. After overcoming Grant's compatriot John Russell, the third seed, in straight games in the semi-finals, the Aix-en-Provence teenager took the title when he defeated unseeded Canadian Viktor Berg 15-10 12-15 15-6 15-6 in the final.
Edmonton-born Berg reached his fourth PSA Tour final following the shock upset of the tournament - a 15-9 15-12 13-15 17-15 semi-final victory over Irish favourite and former world No7 Derek Ryan. Victor Berg started the match complaining of stomach problems but in very nice and fast-paced match, lasting about 80 minutes out-played top seed Derek Ryan.
The Second semi-final match displayed a completely different style - long rallies featuring length --- Unfortunately, though, only in the first game. Because of knee problem John Russell put up minimal resistance in the last two games and lost to Gregory Gaultier 3-0.
Gregory Gaultier began the year in style by becoming the British Junior Open champion in the first week of January - and followed this by clinching the European Junior title in April. Outside the world top 100 at the beginning of the year, the 18-year-old claimed his first senior PSA Tour title in September in Barcelona, and reached a career-high 63 world ranking the following month.
RESULTS: Dunlop & VD Walke Czech Squash Open, Prague, Czech Republic
1st round:
[1] Derek Ryan (IRL) bt Mohamed Medhat Morsi (EGY) 15-11 15-1 15-13
[5] Hadrian Stiff (ENG) bt [Q] Christian Drakenberg (SWE) 15-9 15-10 12-15
15-10
Viktor Berg (CAN) bt [4] Mohamed Essam Hafiz (EGY) 15-9 11-15 15-17 15-12
15-9
[Q] Alex Stait (ENG) bt [8] Alberto Manso (ESP) 15-6 15-6 15-6
[Q] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt [5] Mikkel Korsbjerg (DEN) 15-13 15-12 15-9
[3] John Russell (ENG) bt Scott Handley (ENG) 17-16 12-11 ret.
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 15-6 17-15 15-13
[2] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Ben Howell (ENG) 15-8 15-14 10-15 15-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Derek Ryan (IRL) bt [5] Hadrian Stiff (ENG) 15-9 15-8 15-8
Viktor Berg (CAN) bt [Q] Alex Stait (ENG) 15-9 13-15 15-12 7-15 15-10
[3] John Russell (ENG) bt [Q] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) 15-7 15-13 15-12
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Adrian Grant (ENG) 15-8 15-7 7-15 13-15
15-2
Semi-finals:
Viktor Berg (CAN) bt [1] Derek Ryan (IRL) 15-9 15-12 13-15 17-15
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] John Russell (ENG) 15-11 15-3 15-7
Final:
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Viktor Berg (CAN) 15-10 12-15 15-6 15-6
