[1] Karolína Šrámková 3-0 [2]Tamara Holzbauerová 11-8, 11-3, 11-6
[2] Jakub Solnický 3-2 [1] Viktor Byrtus 6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
Third title for Šrámková, fourth for Solnický
Czech nationals were played this week in Prague. It was a highlight of a 10 day squash festival played on a glass court in Galerie Harfa shopping mall. The festival started last week where masters and U23 players were fighting for national titles and finished with the main categories this week. In between the court was available for practice and public as well and many people tried squash on the glass court for the first time.
The top four seeds made it to semis in both categories. Defending champion from last two years and top seeded Šrámková played four time champion Anna Serme. Anna was fighting hard and played really well but Karolína was simply a bit better in all three games. Tamara Holzbauerová beat Tereza Široká who reached semis for the fist time 3/0 to reach her first final.
Men’s defending champion Viktor Byrtus had to work very hard for his win against Martin Štěpán when he had to come back from 0/2 down. Solnický made sure we would see a repeat of the last year’s final when he beat first time semi finalist Vojtěch Martinovský who is Czech top junior 3/0.
The Women’s final was dominated by the favourite Šrámková. First time finalist Holzbauerová tried to put her under pressure with some hard hitting but Karolína had answers for everything Tamara was trying.
Karolína won her third women’s title. Not bad for a player who turned 19 just a few weeks before the tournament. Bronze medal was won by Serme who beat Široká 3/2.
In the men’s fina Solnický started the better and won the first game. Byrtus responded and managed to win the next two games to go 2/1 up. Until 5/5 the fourth was very close but from this moment Jakub started to control the rallies.
He won the fourth 11/7 and when Viktor started cramping at the beginning of the fifth it became obvious it was only a matter of time before Jakub can start celebrating his fourth title and the tenth successive nationals podium (4 wins – 3 times runner up – 3 times 3rd).
Report from Tomáš Fořter photos by Irena Vanišová (squashpage.net)
Women’s Draws & Results Men’s Draws & Results
