Birthday Boy Pett Scores In Santiago

English qualifier Olivier Pett celebrated his 23rd birthday in fine style in the first round of the Santiago Open in Spain when he upset fellow countryman Adrian Waller to secure a surprise place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at Shopping Center Area Central in Santiago de Compostela.

Pett, from Sussex, battled back from a game down to beat 21-year-old Waller, ranked 32 places higher, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 in 56 minutes.

But it was Frenchman Gregoire Marche who earned the biggest scalp when he despatched England's No4 seed Chris Simpson 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8.

The unseeded 21-year-old from Aix-en-Provence goes on to meet Czech number one Jan Koukal, who beat English qualifier Charles Sharpes 10-12, 11-7, 11-1, 11-4.

And wildcard Carlos Cornes Ribadas set up a dream all-Santiago quarter-final clash when he stunned experienced Hungarian Mark Krajcsak 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 13-11, 12-10.

Ranked outside the world top 400, 22-year-old Santiago club hero Cornes now faces Santiago-born and raised Borja Golan, the top-ranked Spaniard.

Third seed Golan, the event's champion in 2008, ousted English qualifier Joe Lee 11-7, 11-3, 11-6.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Jan Koukal (CZE)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Olivier Pett (ENG)

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