Polak Celebrates Home Austrian Junior Open Success
12 Mar 2009
Sandra Polak celebrated unexpected home success in the Austrian Junior U19 Open when she upset top seed Klara Janoskova in the women's final of the European Squash Federation Junior Circuit event in the Austrian capital Vienna.
The 17-year-old from Vienna overcame fellow 3/4 seed Carla Fernandez Vazquez in the semi-finals before taking on the Czech favourite in the final.
Undaunted, Polak fought back from 1/2 down to beat 18-year-old Janoskova 11-5, 3-11, 7-11, 11-1, 11-8 to become the first Austrian to win the trophy since Birgit Coufal in 2004.
There were hopes of a domestic double when Marcus Greslehner, a 5/8 seed from Austria, upset second seed Rick Penders in straight games in the men's quarter-finals.
However, Czech Roman Svec despatched Greslehner in the semis before lining up against Tomas Toth in the final.
But top seed Toth was too strong for Svec, winning 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5 to become the first Slovakian this decade to claim the title.
Men's Final:
[1] Tomas Toth (SVK) bt [3/4] Roman Svec (CZE) 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5
Women's Final:
[3/4] Sandra Polak (AUT) bt [1] Klara Janoskova (CZE) 11-5, 3-11, 7-11, 11-1, 11-8