De Rycke Claims Hat-Trick In Cologne

Belgium's Charlie de Rycke despatched France's Camille Serme in straight games in the women's final of the Pioneer Junior Open in Cologne, Germany, to secure the European Junior Circuit Grand Prix title for the third successive year.

Top seed de Rycke, the twice European Junior champion, beat second-seeded Serme 9-5 9-3 9-6 - a win which will boost the eighteen-year-old from Ghent's confidence as she prepares for the Women's World Junior Championships later this month in her home country, where she is the No3 seed.

The men's Pioneer title was won in convincing style by Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet. But the 18-year-old top seed from Le Mans face a surprise opponent in the final from Hong Kong. Unseeded Anson Kwong upset the 6th, 10th and 14th seeds en-route to the final - but Castagnet was too strong for the 18-year-old, beating Kwong 9-6 9-6 9-4 to claim his second junior European Squash Federation title this year.

Men's Final:
[1] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Anson Kwong (HKG) 9-6, 9-6, 9-4

Women's Final:
[1] Charlie de Rycke (BEL) bt [2] Camille Serme (FRA) 9-5, 9-3, 9-6