Finland’s top player Benedek OLÁH claimed the men’s singles crown at the traditional Finlandia Open, held at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja. In the final, OLÁH defeated Denmark’s Dominykas SAMUOLIS in straight games, 3–0 (11–9, 11–5, 11–3).
“Preparation was a bit tricky, as I had a fever earlier in the week and was still recovering from jet lag after returning from the United States. By Friday the fever had settled, but at times it felt like I couldn’t see the ball properly or hear anything,” OLÁH reflected after the victory.
Earlier on Sunday, OLÁH swept aside Sweden’s Obada TABBAKH in another 3–0 win (11–3, 11–7, 11–2). His tightest challenge came in Saturday’s quarter-final, where Sweden’s Noa DAHLSTRÖM pushed him to a deciding fifth game before Oláh narrowly prevailed.
“On Saturday I still felt a bit foggy, but on Sunday the game really clicked. I’m very pleased with that.”
A Rio 2016 Olympian, OLÁH currently competes professionally across four leagues in the United States, Poland, Spain and Saudi Arabia. After missing out on Tokyo and Paris, he remains determined to return to the Olympic stage.
“I’ll try to earn a bit of money over the next couple of years and then make a real push for Los Angeles.”
The Finlandia Open win marks the third title of his career, and his second in Kisakallio after triumphing there in 2022.
In the bronze-medal match, Finland’s Alex NAUMI defeated Norway’s Khai LAM 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–3). Naumi narrowly missed out on the final, having held two match balls in his semifinal against SAMUOLIS before losing in a tight fifth game.
In the women’s final, Luxembourg’s Vivian SCHOLTZ overcame Denmark’s Maja HANSEN 3–0 (11–6, 11–2, 11–9). Belgium’s Julie VAN HAUWAERT secured the bronze medal.
This year’s Finlandia Open featured 169 players from 27 countries, with a remarkable 777 matches contested.
