Koukal Steps On the Gas In Medicine Hat, Alberta from PSA Media February 3, 2014
- Czech squash star Jan Koukal despatched three higher-seeded players
en-route to lifting the Holtrand Gas City Pro-Am trophy in Canada,
thereby notching up the 28th PSA World Tour title of his career. The sixth-seeded
30-year-old from Prague reached his 48th career final at the PSA
Challenger 10 event at Medicine Hat Downtown YMCA in Medicine Hat,
Alberta, after successive straight games upsets over fourth seed Rex
Hedrick and No.5 seed Ben Coleman. It was defending
champion Leo Au that awaited World No.71 Koukal in the final. But
the top seed from Hong Kong had been taken the full distance by Raphael
Kandra in the semis before finally emerging victorious over the No.3
seed from Germany in 102 minutes. "Koukal pressed his
strategy from the beginning of the final, taking an all-important first
game after being down 8-3 in the first," reported tournament promoter
Taylor Martin. "Au did not have the lightning speed we saw in the
semi-final versus Raphael, so it was evident that the 102 minute
semi-final match took a toll on the young player from Hong Kong. "Jan still had to work
hard to upset the first seed and his attacks on court came out far more
in this match than the ones played leading up to it. Koukal has
been in both final matches that have been held in Medicine Hat, and now
has his name etched on the championship trophy." Koukal maintained his 3/0 win run throughout the event by clinching the match 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 in 48 minutes. When asked before the match if his game plan was to win in three games, Koukal replied: "That's always my game plan!" Martin was delighted
with the event: "Jan lived up to his word by taking the
tournament with a perfect win record. What an amazing performance
from all the players we had this year." Presentation picture
features Jan Koukal (2nd left) with his championship trophy, and the
title sponsors of the event from Holtrand Holdings, (L to R) Mark
Holtom, Matt Teel and Mark Swaenepoel.
RESULTS: Holtrand Gas City Pro-Am, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Final: [6] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [1] Leo Au (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (48m)
