Nicolas Mueller last Swiss standing
Fourteen-time Swiss national champion Nicolas Mueller battled back from 1-0 down to defeat Baptiste Masotti and keep home hopes alive at the Grasshopper Cup.
In the best-of-three format up until the semi finals in Zurich, Mueller lost the opener 11-3 before overturning the deficit to win the second and third games 11-4, 11-6 to progress to the second round.
Mueller, who’s the most decorated Swiss national champion, is the last player standing from the host nation of the Gold-level event following the exits of Switzerland No.1 Dimitri Steinmann, Yannick Wilhelmi and tournament wildcards Louie Hafez, David Bernet, Cindy Merlo and Ambre Allinchx.
“It’s always good to get a win on home soil. It was a quick-fire match – Baptiste [Masotti] and I played about 18 minutes for three games and there weren’t many long rallies. I’m very happy about that,” Mueller said.
“It’s always been a childhood dream of mine to play in this Grand Central station in Zurich.
“There’s a lot of friends and family who came out to support me so it’s always nice to see them. Hopefully it’s going to be the same in two days’ time.”
World No.17 Steinmann was defeated by Iker Pajares, with the Swiss No.1 saving four of the Spaniard’s match balls to force the clash into a tiebreak.
However Pajares was able to convert in the tiebreak to claim an impressive 11-8, 13-11 victory and axe Switzerland’s No.1 in the first round.
In the women’s draw, Rowan Elaraby continues her comeback from injury after recovering from 1-0 down against Ka Yi Lee to win 2-1 against the Hong Konger.
Elaraby, featuring in her third tournament since she broke a bone in her foot at last year’s World Championships, marked her first appearance in Zurich since 2023 by notching a 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 win over Lee.
“It’s really nice be standing here again after a while. It feels amazing to be able to play on court again,” she said.
“Today I think I felt a little bit edgy, she’s a very tricky player and I know she has the best shots when the court is open.
“I was always on my toes and a bit scared as well for my foot. This was in the back if my mind, but a win is a win and I’m really glad to be back playing and winning matches.”
Meanwhile Grace Gear held off fellow Englishwoman Katie Malliff 14-12, 7-11, 11-2 to reach the second round, and Nour Heikal toppled her Egyptian compatriot Hana Moataz 11-7, 11-3 in 13 minutes.
ROUND ONE RESULTS
Men’s: Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt. Ramit Tandon (IND) 2-0: 11-6, 11-9 (29m); Juan Vargas (COL) bt. Louai Hafez (SUI) 2-0: 11-3, 11-7 (29m); Declan James (ENG) bt. Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 2-0: 15-13, 11-8 (37m); Greg Lobban (SCO) bt. Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) 2-0: 11-4, 12-10 (42m); Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt. Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 2-1: 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 (19m); Iker Pajares (ESP) bt. Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 2-0: 11-8, 13-11 (41m); Abhay Singh (IND) bt. David Bernet (SUI) 2-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 (53m); Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt. Gregoire Marche (FRA) 2-0: 11-5, 11-5 (25m)
Women’s: Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt. Cindy Merlo (SUI) 2-0: 11-9, 11-8 (14m); Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt. Amina El Rihany (EGY) 2-0: 12-10, 11-7 (19m); Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt. Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 2-0: 11-4, 11-5 (18m); Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt. Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 2-0: 11-7, 11-1 (19m); Nour Heikal (EGY) bt. Hana Moataz (EGY) 2-0: 11-7, 11-3 (13m); Grace Gear (ENG) bt. Katie Malliff (ENG) 2-1: 14-12, 7-11, 11-2 (29m); Melissa Alves (FRA) bt. Nadien Elhammamy (EGY) 2-0: 11-3, 11-0 (16m); Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt. Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 2-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
