Mueller Upsets Salazar as Bellevue Classic Qualifying Ends

Swiss World No.34 Nicolas Mueller came out on top of an entertaining five-game battle with Mexico’s Cesar Salazar at the PRO Sports Club in Bellevue to earn his place in the main draw of the inaugural Pacific Market International Bellevue Squash Classic - where a $150,000 prize fund is on offer in the most lucrative 16-man main draw squash tournament ever.


Mueller, 27, took former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy all the way to five games earlier this month at the Grasshopper Cup and the ‘Swiss Rocket’ continued where he left off against Mexico’s Salazar to take a 2-0 lead.


Salazar, the World No.21, fought back in the next two games to level the scores, but Mueller held his nerve in the decider to take an 11-2, 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 11-7 victory which will see him clash with three-time World Champion Ramy Ashour in round one of the main draw.


Mueller will be joined in the main draw by former World No.3 Omar Mosaad, who prevailed in an all-Egyptian clash with Mazen Hesham.


Mosaad, whose fall to World No.32 has led to him playing in the qualifying stages for the first time in eight years, took a 3-1 win to ensure that he will face the in-form Gregory Gaultier next, with the Frenchman currently boasting a 23-match unbeaten run.


Gaultier’s compatriot, Gregoire Marche, and Malaysia’s Nafiizwan Adnan were also victorious on the final day of qualifying after they claimed respective wins over Hong Kong’s Leo Au and Scotland’s Alan Clyne.


Marche will line up against World No.10 Tarek Momen in the opening round, while Adnan will do battle with number two seed Marwan ElShorbagy.


The main draw of the Pacific Market International Bellevue Squash Classic, PSA M100 tournament will take place at the Boys and Girls Club Hidden Valley Field House between May 16-20 and will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only).


Tickets for the tournament start from $80 and can be purchased here:www.sportyhq.com/ticket/view/tournament/2604


Results - Final Qualifying Round: 2017 Pacific Market International Bellevue Squash Classic

Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [1] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-2: 11-2, 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 11-7 (55m)

[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-1 (46m)

Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Leo Au (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (66m)

Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 (65m)


Main Draw - First Round (Top Half): To Be Played May 16

[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Omar Mosaad (EGY)

[Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [6] Tarek Momen (EGY)

[7] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Borja Golan (ESP)

Max Lee (HKG) v [4] James Willstrop (ENG)


Main Draw - First Round (Bottom Half ): To Be Played May 17

[3] Ali Farag (EGY) v [WC] Dylan Cunningham (USA)

Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)

[5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)

[Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)