France’s Amir Khaled-Jousselin and Lauren Baltayan remain on course to defend their titles after semi-finals day at the 2026 ESF European U19 Individual Championships in Krakow.
The French duo were both dominant in their respective semis at the Atras Squash Club, setting up finals against England’s second seed Dylan Roberts and US-based Belgian Savannah Moxham respectively.
The opening semi-final on Monday evening saw Khaled-Jousselin take on England’s Ronnie Hickling in a repeat of their British Junior Open quarter-final in January, which the Frenchman won in straight games.
It wasn’t quite as straight-forward on this occasion as the British Junior Championship silver medallist gave the Frenchman a tougher assignment.
Hickling had cruised through his previous four rounds in straight games and, despite losing the first game, he clawed his way back to equalise. Khaled-Jousselin reasserted control thereafter though to seal it 11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8.
The second BU19 semi-final saw second seed Roberts of England overcome Spain’s [3/4] Oriol Salvia Ripoll 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.
Salvia pressed the British junior champion hard in the first two games particularly, but it was Roberts who dominated on the volley to earn his place in the European U19 final for the first time.
In the GU19 semis, defending champion Baltayan breezed past England’s 3/4 seed Reke Kemecsei, winning 11-7, 11-1, 11-2.
The British Junior Open U19 champion was winner of both European Individual and Mixed Team titles last year and is already an established PSA player and member of the French senior team.
Her experience shone through against the Englishwoman, whose resistance wilted after a reasonable fight in the first game.
Baltayan’s opponent in Tuesday’s final will be Belgian Savannah Moxham after the 3/4 seed got past England’s second seed Mariam Eissa by virtue of a retirement in the fourth game with the score 13-15, 11-6, 13-11, 6-1.
Eissa seemed to pick up an injury at the end of a lengthy third game. At 6-1 down in the fourth, she walked off court for treatment, deciding soon afterwards that she could not continue.
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Follow scores from the 2026 ESF European U19 Individual Championships
