Milou & Marche Win French Junior Open Titles

Top seeds Gregoire Marche and Milou van der Heijden emerged triumphant in the French Junior U19 Open finals after contrasting victories in the European Squash Federation Junior Circuit event in Lille, France.

Gregoire Marche, runner-up in the event 12 months ago, reached the final after dropping just one game - to fellow Frenchman Antoine-Camille Petrucci in the semi-finals.

But the 18-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, the reigning European Junior Champion, was in impressive form in the final where he defeated Belgian Sam van Brusselen, the No2 seed, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7.

It was an appropriate climax to his junior career - as Marche turns 19 next week!

The final of the women's U19 event also featured the top two seeds - and a French double looked on the cards as local star Emilie Lamilango, the second seed, forged a 2/1 lead against her Dutch opponent.

But 18-year-old Milou van der Heijden fought back to win 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 to become the first Dutch winner of the title this decade.

Men's Final:
[1] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [2] Sam van Brusselen (BEL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-7

Women's Final:
[1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [2] Emilie Lamilango (FRA) 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9