Mueller Clinches St Cloud Crown

Rising Swiss star Nicolas Mueller added the latest PSA Tour squash title to his growing portfolio when he beat local hero Julien Balbo in the final of the HEC Capitol Saint-Cloud Open, the inaugural $10,000 event in Saint-Cloud in the French capital Paris.

The 20-year-old second seed from Hirzel, near Zurich, reached the final after ending the run of English qualifier Olivier Pett, beating the 21-year-old ranked 298 in the world, 11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 in 52 minutes.

Balbo, the third seed from Chambery in France, made his breakthrough in the semi-finals when he defeated Kristian Frost Olesen, the Dane who upset top-seeded Italian Davide Bianchetti in the previous round.

Mueller, ranked 43 in the world, was too strong for Balbo in the final - but needed 49 minutes to overcome the world No53 11-4, 11-5, 11-9.

The win marks Mueller's seventh Tour title triumph in his eighth final appearance.

Final:
[2] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [3] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (49m)