Viktor Berg Knocks Out Lavigne, Nicol Advances Easily

by Howard Harding
All content © 2002 Squashtalk

Dec 6, 2002

England's top-seeded Peter Nicol swiftly overcame the first hurdle in the defence of his world title in Belgium when he beat Welsh qualifier Gavin Jones 15-4 15-8 15-7 in 29 minutes on the opening day of the $155,000 Men's World Open Squash Championship in Antwerp.

It is more than three years since the 29-year-old London-based world No1 has
been able to defend the title he won for the first time in Egypt, in his third successive appearance in the final.

The former Scot's surprise second round opponent on Sunday will be qualifier
Davide Bianchetti. The Italian No1 defeated Ireland's former world No7 Derek
Ryan 15-11 15-13 15-7 in 53 minutes to claim the first upset of the tournament.

Canada's Viktor Berg also secured an unexpected place in the second round
after removing last month's world top twenty debutant Renan Lavigne. The
25-year-old from Toronto beat the Frenchman 15-12 7-15 15-13 15-13 in 63
minutes.

Jan Koukal, the Czech player who gained special entry to the qualifiers through a World Squash Federation (WSF) agreement with event owners the Professional Squash Association (PSA)¸ lost out in today's first round. After surviving two qualifying rounds, the 19-year-old from Prague was beaten 15-11 15-7 17-15 by England's three-times World Open quarter-finalist Simon Parke.

RESULTS: Men's World Open Squash Championship, Antwerp, Belgium

[full results on draw/results page]