Koukal Closes In On Half Century In Brazil

Czech squash star Jan Koukal celebrated his 49th PSA World Tour final appearance in perfect style when he beat Argentina's Robertino Pezzota in the climax of the Cerdil Open, the PSA Challenger 10 event in its fifth year in Brazil, but its first at the Shopping Norte Sul Plaza in Campo Grande.

The No.2 seed from Prague, ranked 70 in the world, was expected to reach the event's climax - unlike his South American opponent, the World No.196 who was forced to qualify in what was his first Tour appearance since June last year.

Qualifier Pezzota, a 31-year-old from Rosario, downed No.7 seed Matias Tuomi, then third-seeded compatriot Gonzalo Miranda, before taking the event's biggest scalp - Australia's No.1 seed Matthew Karwalski - to reach the final.

It was Pezzoto's fourth appearance in a PSA Tour final - and the underdog stunned the experienced Koukal by taking the opening game.

But the 14-time Czech champion, competing in his seventh Tour event this year, soon regained control - winning the next three games to score an impressive 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 title triumph in 46 minutes.

The success marks 30-year-old Koukal's second Tour title of the year - and the 29th of his career!