Gregory Wins Hungarian Open To Score Biggest PSA Prize

It was third time lucky for France's Gregory Gaultier when he overcame England's Lee Beachill in a marathon climax of the Hungarian Open at the Római Teniszakadémia in Budapest to secure the biggest PSA Tour title of his career.

Third seed Beachill, who upset Australian favourite Anthony Ricketts in a 75-minute five-game semi-final, took the early initiative in only his second PSA Tour meeting with the 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence.

But Gaultier, the second seed who was runner-up in the 5-star event for the past two years, took the next two games to reclaim the advantage. Much to the delight of the enthusiastic Budapest crowd surrounding the all-glass court, Beachill claimed the fourth to draw level.

However, Gaultier maintained his 100% Tour average over his English rival when he clinched a 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 victory to win the $50,000 title in 84 minutes.

The triumph marks the first PSA Tour title of the year for Gaultier, who became French National champion for the first time in February, then the European Individual champion for the third successive time in June.

But it brings to nine the number of Tour trophies the French international has collected since his maiden success in Spain in September 2001 when he won the Ciutat de Barcelona Open.

Final:
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] Lee Beachill (ENG) 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 (84m)