Mueller Celebrates Historic Swiss Open Success

Nicolas Mueller claimed a long-awaited first in the men's final of the Guardian Wealth Management Swiss Open when he became the first Swiss winner in the event's 36-year-old history.

The 19-year-old top seed from Hirzel, near Zurich, beat England's fourth seed Eddie Charlton 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 in the climax of the $4,000 PSA Tour Satellite squash event in front of a packed home crowd at Geneva Squash Club in Geneva.

"The Swiss Open started in 1974 and has been run in the same club for the last 36 years," explained Tournament Director Bob Lincoln. "The nearest any Swiss has been to the title were Agnes Muller in 2000 and Lars Harms in 2001 reaching the final - that is until today!"

Mueller, a former European Junior champion, has further reasons to celebrate: The home success marks his 15th consecutive unbeaten Tour match and his fourth PSA title in a row - following the teenager's victories in the Russian Opportunities Fund Championship in Moscow in December, the NSC Series No1 in Malaysia in February, and the Salzburg Open in Austria earlier this month.

France's Camille Serme took the women's $4,000 WISPA World Tour title after beating Guyana qualifier Nicolette Fernandes 8-11, 11-5, 14-12, 12-10. "It was a superb example of how to use a drop shot, in what was the best ladies final we have seen in years," added Lincoln.

"The deciding point of the match was at one game all and 12-all in the second, when Nicolette made a great opening and drove the ball into the tin. From that moment on the devastating short game of Camille took its toll."

The win takes Serme's career Tour title total to four. But it was another great tournament for Fernandes, who was celebrating her maiden appearance in a WISPA final in only her second event after almost a two-year layoff following treatment for a knee injury.

Men's final:
[1] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [4] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5

Women's final:
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 8-11, 11-5, 14-12, 12-10