3:23 pm
21 May 2025

Mueller Avoids Upset Against Swiss Compatriot Wilhelmi In Grasshopper Cup Opener

23 Apr 2025

World No.26 Nicolas Mueller came from behind to avoid an upset against his Swiss compatriot Yannick Wilhelmi, the world No.53, to advance to the second round of the Grasshopper Cup on home soil.

Mueller, a former world No.13, trailed 1/0 to Wilhelmi in the best-of-three clash after the 24-year-old underdog edged a monumental 20-minute opening game of the PSA Squash Tour Gold event on the all-glass court at Zurich Hauptbahnhof.

However the experience of Mueller told, capitalising on errors from Wilhelmi's racket in the second and third games to claim a 11-13, 11-3, 11-6 victory.

"I knew that the first game was going to be crucial, and although I lost it in a tie-break, I knew I had put a lot of work into his legs. I'm feeling pretty confident and pretty fresh, so I knew that I could comeback and get the win in three games," Mueller said afterwards.

"It helps in the third when you get a couple of points lead, but then you don't want it to be too big because then you start to think about it! I'm very, very happy to get through the match in three.

"The Swiss players might beat me in league and in the Swiss National Champs but when it comes to the Grasshopper Cup, there's only one Swiss player who wins the match!"

In the women's draw, England's Sarah-Jane Perry prevailed over her fellow countrywoman Torrie Malik.

Perry, who had lost to Malik at the Cincinatti Gaynor Cup back in February, avenged that defeat with a 2/0 success in 18 minutes.