RESULTS: Women's Squashways Canterbury International Open Christchurch, New Zealand
Craig Creates Home Title Breakthrough In Christchurch
It
was a 'lucky 13' win for Kiwi Megan Craig in today's final of
the Women's Squashways Canterbury International Open in
Christchurch when the 22-year-old from Blenheim won the ninth
WSA World Tour title of her career - but her first on home soil.
Craig, the second seed ranked 49 in the world, reached her 13th Tour
final after ending the brave run of compatriot Eleanor Epke
in the semi-finals of the WSA Challenger 5 squash event at
Burnside Squash Club.
Unseeded Epke, a 17-year-old from Parnell who hails from England,
upset two considerably higher-ranked seeds to make the last four
round against expectations.
Craig's opponent in the final was Siyoli Waters, the top seed
from South Africa who cruised through to her 20th Tour final without
dropping a game - seeing off third-seeded German Sina Wall in
the other semi.
Waters, ranked 32 in the world, started off impressively - forcing
Craig all around the court before taking the opening game for the
loss of just four points.
However, from 2-7 down in the second, the Kiwi underdog clawed her
way back into the match to take the second to draw level.
After the next two games were shared, the decider was close all the
way until 7-8 when Waters hit a low shot that Craig was adamant had
hit the top of the tin. Despite the referees disagreeing, Waters
called her own ball down and drew a generous round of applause from
the crowd.
Craig then took the next three points to secure a well-earned 4-11,
12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 victory after 50 minutes.
"I
am delighted to win a WSA tournament at home,"
exclaimed Craig after her breakthrough home title triumph.
"And thank you Siyoli for your tremendous display
of sportsmanship in the final game."
d
Christchurch
International 2015
Men's Draw
09-14 Jun, New Zealand, $10k
[wc] Chris van der Salm (Nzl)
11/6, 11/3, 11/8 (36m) [2] Rex Hedrick (Aus)
10-Jun, Qualifying Finals: (1) Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt (L) Joe Williams (NZL) -
12/10, 11/8, 2/11, 6/11, 11/5 (42m)
(4) Muhammad Hannan (MAS) bt (7) Courtney West (AUS) - 3/11,
11/4, 11/5, 11/2 (29m)
(3) Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt (5) Ben Grindrod (NZL) - 11/7,
4/11, 11/7, 11/5 (40m)
(6) Evan Williams (NZL) bt (2) Mark Fuller - (ENG) - 11/2,
11/6, 11/9 (24m)
9-Jun,
Qualifying Round One:
(1) Matias Tuomi (FIN) - bye
Joe Williams (NZL) bt (8) Jason van der Valt (NZL)
9/11, 11/8, 6/11, 15/13, 11/9 (58 min)
(7) Courtney West (AUS) beat Sion Wiggin (NZL) - 10/12,
11/7, 11/4, 11/8 (39 min)
(4) Muhammad Hannan (MAS) beat Jayden Millard (NZL) -
11/9, 11/4, 11/6 (20 min)
(3) Kashif Shuja (NZL) beat Luke Jones (NZL) - 11/8, 11/8,
12/14, 11/7 (37 min)
(5) Ben Grindrod (NZL) beat Jackson Beresford (NZL) -
11/2, 11/7, 12/10 (21 min)
(6) Evan Williams (NZL) beat Tim Preston (NZL) - 11/8,
11/1, 11/3 (17 min)
(2) Mark Fuller (ENG) - bye
Qualifying finals:
Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt Joseph Williams (NZL) 12-10, 11-8, 2-11, 6-11,
11-5 (42m)
Muhammad Hannan (MAS) bt Courtney West (AUS) 3-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2
(29m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Ben Grindrod (NZL) 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5
(40m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Mark Fuller (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (24m)
1st qualifying round:
Matias Tuomi (FIN) bye
Joseph Williams (NZL) bt Jason van der Walt (NZL) 9-11, 11-8, 6-11,
15-13, 11-9 (58m)
Courtney West (AUS) bt Sion Wiggin (NZL) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
(39m)
Muhammad Hannan (MAS) bt Jayden Millard (NZL) 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 (20m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Luke Jones (NZL) 11-8, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7 (37m)
Ben Grindrod (NZL) bt Jackson Beresford (NZL) 11-2, 11-7, 12-10
(21m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Tim Preston (NZL) 11-8, 11-1, 11-3 (17m)
Mark Fuller (ENG) bye