Top Seeds Tumble In Liguria Upsets

Two of the top three seeds tumbled out of the Liguria Open on the first day of action in the new PSA Tour event in Genova, Italy.

Dutchman Dylan Bennett was the biggest casualty. The 21-year-old second seed from Eindhoven was beaten 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-9, 11-3 in 51 minutes by Julien Balbo. The unseeded Frenchman goes on to meet New Zealand's Callum O'Brien, the seventh seed who removed French qualifier Yann Perrin 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9.

In a mixed day for Frenchman, third seed Laurent Elriani also failed to make it beyond the first round. In his first PSA event since celebrating his 30th birthday this month, UK-based Elriani twice levelled his match against qualifier Chris Ryder - but the 25-year-old Englishman ultimately prevailed 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-10 (2-0) in 72 minutes.

Local representation in the semi-finals is assured after unseeded Italian Luca Mastrostefano upset Hungary's eighth seed Andras Torok 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 in 36 minutes. The 2005 Italian champion now takes on top-seeded compatriot Davide Bianchetti, who beat English qualifier Jonathan Harford 11-2, 11-8, 11-3.

1st round:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [Q] Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-2, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
Luca Mastrostefano (ITA) bt [8] Andras Torok (HUN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
[4] Bradley Hindle (AUS) bt [Q] Andrea Capella (ITA) 10-11 (2-4), 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 (62m)
[6] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Marco Vercesi (ITA) 11-4 ret. (8m)
[5] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2 (58m)
[Q] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [3] Laurent Elriani (FRA) 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-10 (2-0) (72m)
[7] Callum O'Brien (NZL) bt [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (48m)
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [2] Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-9, 11-3 (51m)