Kandra Captures Italian Crown

German Raphael Kandra extended his unbeaten run over Lucas Serme on the PSA World Tour when he beat his French rival in the final of the Open D'Italia, the inaugural PSA Challenger 10 squash event at Centro Sportivo del Plebiscito in the Italian city Padua.

Top seed Kandra claimed place in his fourth Tour final of the year - and the 13th of his career - when he beat Egypt's No3 seed Andrew Wagih Shoukry in the semi-finals.

It was also in four games that second seed Serme overcame Alejandro Garbi Caro in the other semi, beating the fifth seed from Spain 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4 to equal Kandra's fourth Tour final of the year achievement.

Serme, the Czech-based world No57 from Creteil, took a 2/1 lead over Kandra in the final.

But despite falling behind the Frenchman in the world rankings since the draw for the event was made, world No61 Kandra asserted his seeding authority over Serme to close out the match 2-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5 to claim the sixth Tour title of his career - but his first in Italy.