Frenchman Marche Fells Willstrop In Grasshopper Shock

Former world No.1 James Willstrop suffered a shock first round exit in the 2016 Grasshopper Cup after falling in straight games to unseeded Frenchman Gregoire Marche in the PSA M70 event at Puls5 in Zurich, Switzerland.

The sixth-seeded Englishman, who has never before lost to the 26-year-old world No.27, was under par from the off and Marche took full advantage to open up the court and make life difficult for his tall opponent.

The duo traded points in a series of high class exchanges in the first game, but it was Marche who moved ahead from the mid-point stage and from then on Willstrop never truly looked able to find the killer blow to put Marche away.

"James has been world No.1, he is one of the best players out there so I knew it would be tough," said Marche after his 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 victory in 40 minutes.

"I'm really happy to beat him for the first time. I had to be accurate with my length and not allow him to volley. I don't think he was 100 per cent but I had to make him work and stay focused until the end and use my speed so I'm very happy with that win.

"I had to take a few weeks out myself to recover from a niggle and I'm happy to be back playing again now and happy that I can move like I did today."

German Simon Rösner, the number two seed and last year's runner-up, stormed into the quarter-finals in the last match of the day after dismissing New Zealand's Paul Coll 3/0 to set up a quarter-final match with Marche.

"I was on my toes all the time because he's a very tough competitor," said Rösner.

"I knew it would be tough and that's exactly what it was. I'm pleased to come through in three because you never want to get into a fourth or fifth game with him because he never stops.

"I tried to change my tactics a bit today because I think my game is suited to him so I'm very pleased I managed to stick to the plan today.

"I'm in a position where I have to defend a runner-up finish which isn't easy but I think I play better with pressure."

The other winners on the second day of first round action were Marwan Elshorbagy, the Egyptian who downed Scotland's Alan Clyne 3/0, and Australian Cameron Pilley who came back from the brink of defeat to overcome England's Adrian Waller.

Pilley began the encounter in sluggish form and was soon facing a shock first round exit - but in the third he began to play with improved length, finding his targets in the back court more frequently to level the playing field.

The fifth started with Waller back in control to open up a 6-1 lead but again Pilley dug in and upped his game to reel off 10 unanswered points and save his hopes of success in Zurich.

"I think that was tough mentally especially because he beat me last time we played and I wanted to get revenge for that," said Pilley after his 69-minute 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 win.

"But he played really well in the first two games and I was flat - I had nothing. It was a matter of playing a lot smarter in the third, fourth and fifth and I'm proud of the comeback and I think I finished the match quite strongly.

"It's great to have a big crowd here on the first round. It is something we really appreciate so it's great to be here and come through."