Black Isle squash star Greg Lobban loses to hometown star Baptiste Masotti in final of Open de Lagord in France

Greg Lobban was beaten by the same opponent for the second time in a week last Saturday, this time in the final of the Open de Lagord.

After having been knocked out of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich, Switzerland in his last tournament, North Kessock's Lobban faced off with hometown star – world number 15 and top seed – Baptiste Masotti once more looking to get his hands on some silverware.

Lobban, the tournament's second seed, went into the contest as the fresher of the two players after only having to play nine minutes of his semi final against George Parker before the Englishman retired due to injury.

Masotti on the other hand needed a fifth-game tie-break to move past the second round, meaning his court time ahead of the final had already eclipsed two hours.

The final certainly started in Lobban's favour, coming from 6-2 down to win the first game 11-9, but he could not prevent Masotti going on an eight-point winning run to take the second and level the overall scores.

Frenchman Masotti then claimed the third set 11-6 to move to within one of victory, but Lobban fought back – racing into an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set and comfortably staying clear.

That meant the final would be decided in a winner-take-all fifth set, which remained tense throughout.

At one stage the score was 8-8, with the match passing the hour mark, but it was Masotti who got over the line to get his hands on the trophy.

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