[8] Linda Hruzikova (Cze)
11/3, 11/4, 9/11, 11/5 Victoria Temple-Murray (Eng)
Victoria Temple-Murray
13/11, 9/11, 11/7, 11/8 Siyoli Waters
bye [2] Siyoli Waters (Rsa)
RESULTS: Women's Equinox Orange County Open, Irvine,
California, USA
Whitlock Wins California Crown
It
was second time lucky for Emily Whitlock in the final of the
Women's Equinox Orange County Open in the USA when the
England squash star beat South African Siyoli Waters in
straight games to win the WSA Tour 10 event in its fourth
straight year at Equinox Sports Club Irvine in Irvine,
California.
Runner-up in 2013, Whitlock was seeded to triumph on her return -
and the 20-year-old from Colwyn Bay in Wales did not disappoint.
Whitlock reached the 14th Tour final of her career to date after
seeing off Egypt's sixth seed Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy in a
four-game semi-final.
Second seed Waters, the South African champion from Cape Town, also
recorded her 14th WSA Tour final appearance after winning the other
semi-final, against fourth-seeded New Zealander Amanda
Landers-Murphy.
The climax marked Whitlock and Waters' third Tour meeting -
remarkably, all in finals!
"All seats were full and there was not a spot left to stand,"
reported Jessica Helal, the club's Squash Manager & Head
Coach. "The crowd were excited to see Emily return and compete in
her second final at the club.
"With a three nil defeat, Siyoli never truly settled in to her game
and Emily stormed to victory."
The 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 victory led Whitlock (pictured above, left,
with Waters) to the ninth Tour title of her career: "When I saw
the tournament was up on the calendar again, I put my name in it
straight away as I really like coming here," commented world No31
Whitlock on receiving her trophy.
"Everyone is really nice and it's a really nice environment to be
in. We all seem to get on, I think it's the weather that does it! It
puts everyone in a good mood!"
Helal added: "We are proud to be a tour stop for the WSA on the West
Coast. As the newly-appointed Program Manager for Equinox Irvine, I
look forward to increasing our involvement with the professional
squash affiliations and facilitating the growth of what is one of
America's fastest growing sports."