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European Junior U19
Squash Championships 2008, Stavanger, Norway
18-Mar, Finals:
Men's final:
[2] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [1] Nicolas Mueller
(SUI) 4-9, 9-4, 10-8, 10-8
Women's final:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [2] Victoria Lust
(ENG) 9-1, 7-9, 6-9, 9-6, 9-1
Serme Celebrates Historic European
Treble & Double In Norway
French teenager Camille Serme made her
mark in squash history twice on the final day of the
European Junior U19 Championships in the Norwegian city of
Stavanger - firstly by beating English opponent Victoria Lust
in the women's final to become the first player in the event's
19-year history to win the title three times, then seeing compatriot
Gregoire Marche upset Swiss favourite Nicolas Mueller
in the men's final to mark the first French double in the flagship
European Squash Federation championships.
But after cruising to the final without dropping
a game, top seed Serme had a tough fight on her hands against Lust,
the second seed from Maulden in Bedfordshire eager to make amends
for her straight games defeat in the 2007 final.
Lust forged a two-games-to-one lead, and moved
6/3 up in the fourth. But the experienced 18-year-old from Creteil,
winner of the title in 2006 and 2007, courageously fought back to
take the match into a decider before romping to victory in the fifth
game to win 9-1, 7-9, 6-9, 9-6, 9-1.
"I’m ever so happy to have
won that title for a third time," Serme told
www.sitesquash.com
afterwards. "And that one was the hardest, and the most beautiful
of all. This is the one that will stay engraved in my mind!"
In addition to the trophy, Serme also received a
special traditional 'Viking' horn from the Norwegian Federation,
presented to her by ESF delegate Martin Wren.
"The atmosphere during the match was
extraordinary," added Serme. "I want to thank all the people that
have supported me, from close or from afar - and especially my
team-mates!"
Nicolas Mueller was also hoping to retain the
men's title he first won twelve months ago in Belgium. But the top
seed from Zurich, who had been taken to five games in the
quarter-finals and four in the semis - in both cases by Englishmen -
was fully tested by Frenchman Gregoire Marche, the second seed, in
the final.
Mueller took the opening game before Marche, from
Aix-en-Provence, began to take the upper hand - ultimately clinching
a 4-9, 9-4, 10-8, 10-8 upset to secure the men's title against the
odds.
"I’m living a magical moment as I’ve been
dreaming about this moment since the age of five," exclaimed
Marche. "And today, it’s a reality!!!"
After a rest day, the players have to focus on
the European Junior U19 Team Championships, in which
France have been
named as top seeds.
"Now, we have another battle on our hands," added
the record three times European Junior champion Camille Serme. "And
we are going to fight it for the colours of our country, France!"
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