Schmohl Celebrates Historic Swiss Success In Geneva

Zurich-born Gaby Schmohl celebrated a historic breakthrough in the final of the Swiss Open when she became the first Swiss winner of the women's squash title in the 37th year of the event in Geneva.

Remarkably, the breakthrough success comes just a year after Nicolas Mueller became the first home winner of the men's crown.

Unseeded Schmohl, making her return to full-time squash after a three-year absence, made her stunning breakthrough in the $4,000 WISPA World Tour event when she battled to a 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 victory over top seed Orla Noom in the semi-finals.

Now in the maiden Tour final of her career and spurred on by the excited crowd at Geneva Squash Club, the 29-year-old from Langnau recovered from a game down to topple second-seeded Italian Manuela Manetta 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 to secure her remarkable title triumph.

By contrast, the final of the men's $4,000 PSA World Tour Satellite event featured the event's two top seeds. Dutch favourite Dylan Bennett reached the climax after beating Egypt's fourth seed Mazen Gamal in four games, while second seed Karim Abdel Gawad prevailed in an all-Egyptian semi-final against Ali Farag, an unseeded 17-year-old from Cairo.

But in-form Bennett, the 25-year-old from Eindhoven who won the Playa Blanca Open in Peru last month, was too strong for his 18-year-old opponent from Cairo, winning the final 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.

The success marks the fifth PSA Tour title of Bennett's career.