Coppinger & Davies Dash Austrian Open Hopes In Vienna

Hopes of local success in the Austrian Open were dashed when both Andreas Fuchs, a qualifier from Vienna, and Aqeel Rehman, the top seed from Salzburg, crashed out of the semi-finals of the PSA Tour event at Squashclub Manhattan in Vienna.

Rehman, 21, went down 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 in 41 minutes to fourth seed Stephen Coppinger. The UK-based South African, who is enjoying an excellent run of form in only his seventh month on the PSA Tour, is one match away from a hat-trick of titles in his third Tour final appearance this year.

Coppinger will face Welshman Ricky Davies, who needed only 29 minutes to end the dream run of qualifier Andreas Fuchs, beating the 28-year-old former National champion from Vienna 11-8, 11-8, 11-1.

Fifth seed Davies is clearly inspired by playing in Austria: The 25-year-old from Caldicot in Wales is celebrating his second appearance PSA Tour final, after making his first in the Salzburg Open earlier in March.

Semi-finals:
[4] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [1] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (41m)
[5] Ricky Davies (WAL) bt [Q] Andreas Fuchs (AUT) 11-8, 11-8, 11-1 (29m)