Mueller & El Noamany Win Pioneer Titles In Cologne

Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller and Egypt's Sara El Noamany claimed the titles in the Pioneer Junior U19 Open in Germany - but while Mueller was the overwhelming favourite to defend the men's title he won for the first time last year, El Noamany reached the women's final as the seventh seed - then despatched top seed Sina Wall in straight games at the ACR Sportcenter in Cologne.

Nicolas Mueller is just over a month away from rounding off a glittering junior career in which he lifted the European Junior Championship crown in 2007, as well as more then ten European Squash Federation Junior Circuit titles since 2005.

The 18-year-old from Hirzel, near Zurich, was tested in the semi-finals by Henrik Mustonen before emerging a 5-9, 9-2, 7-9, 9-3, 9-1victor over the fourth seed from Finland.

In the final, Mueller faced long-time rival Gregoire Marche, the 18-year-old Frenchman from Aix-en-Provence who wrested the European title from the holder in March. It was the pair's fifth meeting in an ESF junior final - and their third this year!

But Mueller was on top form - beating Marche 9-5, 9-2, 9-2 to boost his confidence of a good performance in the World Junior Championship, which gets underway at the end of this month in his home country.

Eager to make up for the disappointment of failing to achieve her seeding position in last year's event, Sara El Noamany was determined to do well in the 2008 championship. The 18-year-old from Cairo faced fellow countrywoman Salma Nassar in the quarter-finals after the 15th seed upset England's second seed Kimberley Hay in the previous round.

A four-game win over Germany's sixth seed Lisa Marie Sedlmeier in the semis took El Noamany to her maiden European circuit final where she beat favourite Wall 9-6, 9-0, 9-7.

Men's U19 Final:
[1] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [2] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 9-5, 9-2, 9-2

Women's U19 Final:
[7] Sara El Noamany (EGY) bt [1] Sina Wall (GER) 9-6, 9-0, 9-7