Germany’s Joerg Kanonenberg stormed to his maiden Men’s Elite Singles title with a stunning victory in the final over Dutchman Koen Hageraats. Meanwhile Anna-Klara made it three tites in three days win the Women’s Elite and there were also wins for home hopefuls across the draws as the 2024 IWT Polish Open came to a close. With the review from Day 3, here is James Pope once again.
Magnificent Seven for Joerg
Two events, two titles for Joerg, who having won a maiden Men’s Elite Doubles on Saturday (with countryman Korbinian Heim), he reached the final of the Men’s Elite Singles with 6 wins out of wins in the locker for the weekend. In his way stood top seed and world number 5, Koen Hageraats. Koen raced into a a big lead in the TT winning 21-7, and while Joerg pegged him back in badminton a 21-13 win meant that Koen held a six point advantage. He added three more points to that with a hard fought squash win, 21-18, to take nine points as an advantage onto the tennis court, he would need 13 for the Polish Open title. Joerg however was not to be stopped. He bossed his tennis to defeat Rene Lindberg in his opening match, and that prowess came to the fore again. A stunning 21-9 victory secured a first win for the German at the top level of the World Tour (added to a Men’s B Singles win at the 2023 World Championships and the Men’s C Singles at the 2014 German Open!). A perfect weekend for the German, seven wins out of seven. Denmark’s Kresten Hougaard claimed third place defeating Czechia’s Martin Sopko.
No One Keeps Ahlmer at Bay
Yesterday as Sweden’s Anna-Klara Ahlmer claimed her second title in as many days, I asked if anyone could “keep her at bay”, and on Day 3 she confirmed that indeed no-one could. It was a four woman Round Robin in the Women’s Elite Singles, and Saturday had left an effective final between the Swede and Czechia’s Lucie Hlavacova. Alas Lucie could not stop the Ahlmer juggernaut and she sealed the title without the need for her tennis racket, and also securing a magnificent 7 wins out of 7 and of course a Triple Crown. In the all Dutch battle for third, Fabienne Dony took an 11 point victory over Kirsten Kaptein to finish third.
Idziemy Po Domach (“We are going around the houses”)
Day 2 saw a number of titles wrapped up in the age group categories, but there were a few left to decide on the final day. Having watched his Men’s Doubles partner win a first elite singles title, Korbinian Heim secured the Men’s B Singles title, defeating Hungary’s Molnar Gergely in the final, France’s Bertrand Carlier secured third place. In the Women’s B Singles, Sunday saw the winners of the two box leagues compete for the title. In the end it was Poland’s Dominika Patrzek defeated Norway’s Victoria Mai, her dominance in the TT and badminton securing the Pole the win, she was joined by compatriot Malgorzata Mika who finished third. In the Men’s C Singles, Israel’s Dmitry Dubovenko saw off the challenge of local junior (and Boys U16s runner-up) Borys Wasilewski to secure the title, it was another Pole in third Marcin Siperek. In the Vets, Czech Martin Sopko defeated Poland’s Greg Lorkiewicz in the final of the Men’s O40s Singles. There was further Czech success in the Women’s O40s Singles, as Lucie Hlavacova (who finished second in the Women’s Elite Singles) went one further winning a monstrous five woman round robin (is there a more brutal draw in Racketlon?). She had some tough battles a 2 point win over Fabienne Dony and 8 points over Kirsten Kaptein on her way to the title, who finished third and second in this draw respectively. Poland triumphed in the Men’s O45s Singles, Martin Lorkiewicz defeating compatriot Piotr Ostaszyk in the final, built on strong badminton and squash. A third Pole Adam Borowski claimed third. The final title went to Czechia, as Jan Port defeated Poland’s Norbert Stolicki to claim the Men’s O50s Singles title, in probably the match of the day. The game flipped this way and then that, but ultimately Norbert led by 6 points onto the tennis court. Needing 16 points for the win and 15 to force a gumi, it all came down to the final few points. It was 20-14, could Jan hold his nerve for the win? He could and it gave him the title by a solitary point, one maybe for Simon Lau to muse over later!
That is all for Poland, and you can review all the winners and all the draws here.
Dziękuję i Do Widzenia Polsko (“Thank you and Goodbye Poland)
That is a wrap for the IWT Polish Open in Warsaw, our thanks to all those on the ground who made the event happen and to all those who entered and played. Next up is the French Open (19th-21st April, if anyone needs a Men’s B or C Doubles or Mixed B Doubles partner, do let me know…) before a brace of Satellite tournaments in Massachusetts (27th-28th April) and Redbridge (6th May) before we roll into Denmark for the 2024 World Doubles Championships and the IWT Nordic Racket Games. We look forward to seeing you on the FIR World Tour somewhere soon and for all our future events check out the website.
