Experienced Italian Davide Bianchetti celebrated his 25th appearance in a PSA World Tour final in style by winning the Austrian Open at the Squash & Tennis Centre Gneis in Salzburg.
The 34-year-old from Brescia reached the final of the PSA Challenger 5 squash event in its third year in Salzburg after beating local star Aqeel Rehman in the semi-finals.
Unseeded Rehman, the tournament organiser ranked 107 in the world, delighted the Gneis crowd by toppling third seed Rasmus Nielsen in the opening round.
Top seed Bianchetti faced rising German star Jens Schoor, the No2 seed, in the final.
The seasoned Italian, a former world No24, took the first game - but 24-year-old Schoor struck back in the second to reach game-ball at 10-9 up. However, it took the German number two another five attempts to finally to close out the game to draw level.
Bianchetti rediscovered his touch in the third to take the lead again - but again the young German fought back in the fourth to lead 6-3.
"But, due to an incredible run by the favourite, Davide was able to win the next eight points in a row to avoid a deciding game," explained Rehman. "The 34-year old from Brescia won the game after 75 minutes of play."
The 11-7, 14-16, 11-8, 11-6 victory marks Bianchetti's 12th Tour title - but his first since July 2009.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Austrian Open, Salzburg, Austria
1st round:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [Q] Martin Mosnik (SLO) 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 (41m)
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [Q] Rory Pennell (ENG) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (56m)
Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) bt Steven London (ENG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6 (28m)
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [3] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7 (81m)
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Johan Bouquet (FRA) 11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (69m)
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (38m)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [Q] Florent Pontiere (FRA) 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (31m)
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-6, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4 (32m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 11-9, 11-13, 11-9, 11-3
Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8
[4] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 6-11, 7-11, 15-13, 11-3, 11-9
Semi-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-6, 11-5, 13-11
[2] Jens Schoor (GER) bt [4] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-8, 13-11, 11-7 (37m)
Final:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [2] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 14-16, 11-8, 11-6 (75m)
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