Kandra Conquers Koukal For Barcelona Title
29 Sep 2013
Germany's Raphael Kandra celebrated his fifth appearance in a PSA World Tour final this year in perfect style when he claimed the XV Trofeu Internacional Ciutat De Barcelona title in Spain after beating Czech opponent Jan Koukal in today's final of the PSA Challenger 5 squash event at Club Natació Sant Andreu in Barcelona.
Fourth seed Kandra made his breakthrough in the semi-finals when he despatched top seed Kristian Frost Olesen of Denmark in straight games.
The 22-year-old from Paderborn was marking his eighth Tour final - whilst second seed Koukal's semi-final victory over third-seeded German Jens Schoor signalled the Czech number one's 43rd career final, and also his fifth of 2013!
Koukal squandered three game balls in the first game to allow Kandra to take an early lead - but the 30-year-old from Prague prevailed in a brutal second game to draw level.
After then taking a three-minute injury break, Koukal went 6-0 down in the third. Despite staging a comeback, the No2 seed was unable to prevent Kandra from regaining the lead.
With the winning post now in sight, Kandra raced through the fourth game before closing out the match 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 in 55 minutes to become the first German winner of the long-established Tour title for 20 years.
The triumph marks the third Tour title of Kandra's career - and his second this year.
1st round:
[1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Richie Fallows (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8
Yann Perrin (FRA) bt Hernan D'Arcangelo (ARG) 12-10, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt Tom de Mulder (BEL) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 11-8, 13-11, 11-4
[3] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 7-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [Q] Dani Pascual (ESP) 11-5, 11-3, 10-12, 11-5
[Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) bt Michael Harris (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [WC] Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) 11-4, 11-9, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 11-6, 1-11, 11-2, 11-8
[3] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-8, 11-7, 15-13
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Christophe Andre (FRA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-2
Semi-finals:
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [1] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-9, 11-2, 12-10
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [3] Jens Schoor (GER) 13-11, 11-8, 13-11
Final:
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [2] Jan Koukal (CZE) 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 (55m)
