Marsh McLennan Apawamis Open 2001

RESULTS & Reports
Preview
The first major PSA event of 2001 sees England's Nick Taylor defending the title he won last year from the #3 seed position. Wales' Alex Gough is top seed, with England's Del Harris at #2. Last year Taylor won the event as a qualifier, beating Harris 15/9 9/15 15/9 9/15 15/9 in the "all the nines" final.
Qualifying
Mens final qualifying: [1] Olli Touminen (FIN) bt Richard Chin (USA) 15/6 15/7 15/9 [3] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Lee Drew (ENG) 15/12 13/15 17/15 15/6 [4] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Mika Monto (FIN) 4/15 11/15 15/5 15/3 15/7 Iain Higgins (ENG) bt Mikkel Korsbjerg (DEN) 15/6 17/15 15/8 Womens final qualifying: [1] Janie Thacker (ENG) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 9/3 10/8 9/4 Melanie Jans (CAN) bt [4] Shabana Khan (USA) 10/8 9/1 9/1 Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [3] Wendy Maitland (SCO) 3/9 9/1 9/5 9/6 Margo Green (CAN) bt Louise Lefebvre (CAN) 9/5 9/3 9/7
First Round
1st round - Men: [1] Alex Gough (WAL) bt Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) 14/15 15/10 15/10 15/11 [7] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11/15 15/10 15/4 15/5 [3] Nick Taylor (ENG) bt Juha Raumolin (FIN) 15/5 15/5 15/12 [6] John Williams (AUS) bt [Q] Adrian Grant (ENG) 14/15 15/5 15/17 15/5 15/8 Chris Walker (ENG) bt [8] Mark Cairns (ENG) 13/15 15/14 15/5 15/7 [4] Anthony Hill (AUS) bt [Q] Iain Higgins (ENG) 15/7 12/15 10/15 15/14 15/10 [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [5] Derek Ryan (IRL) 15/3 15/13 15/4 [2] Del Harris (ENG) bt Tim Garner (ENG) 11/15 15/2 15/7 15/7 Women: [1] Sarah Fitzgerald (AUS) bt Melanie Jans (CAN) 9/1 9/1 9/1 [6] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt [Q] Margo Green (CAN) 9/3 9/4 9/0 [3] Suzanne Horner (ENG) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 9/0 9/1 9/3 [5] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt Salma Shabana (EGY) 9/7 9/2 10/9 [Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [7] Maha Zein (EGY) 9/7 9/10 9/2 9/6 [4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Senga Macfie (SCO) 9/1 8/10 9/1 9/2 [8] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 10/8 9/7 7/9 0/9 9/2 [2] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [Q] Janie Thacker (ENG) 9/6 9/2 9/2 TUOMINEN UPSETS FORMER CHAMPION RYAN IN APAWAMIS OPENER Finnish qualifier Olli Tuominen caused the biggest upset on the opening day of the $43,000 Marsh-McLennan Apawamis Squash Open in Rye, New York, when he dismissed Ireland's 99 champion Derek Ryan, the fifth seed, 15/3 15/13 15/4 in just 29 minutes. The 21-year-old world No37 from Helsinki now faces England's second seed Del Harris, runner-up last year, who needed 58 minutes - and had to fight back from a one-game deficit - to conquer compatriot Tim Garner 11/15 15/2 15/7 15/7. Unseeded former England captain Chris Walker also upset the seedings when he beat compatriot and world doubles gold-medallist partner Mark Cairns, the 8th seed, 13/15 15/14 15/5 15/7 in 80 minutes. The left-hander, who won the Apawamis Club title in 1996 and is twice a semi-finalist, now earns the chance to secure a second successive quarter-final upset over fourth seed Anthony Hill. The Australian came back from 2-1 down and had to save three match-balls before overcoming English qualifier Iain Higgins 15/7 12/15 10/15 15/14 15/10 in 70 minutes. In the women's event, 19-year-old Egyptian qualifier Engy Kheirallah upset seventh-seeded compatriot Maha Zein 9/7 9/10 9/2 9/6 in 61 minutes to earn a place in the quarter-finals where she will meet Dutch fourth seed Vanessa Atkinson. Australia's top seed Sarah Fitz-Gerald began the new year where she left off in 2000 - when she clinched the UniversalSportsClub Classic title in London in December. The three-times former world champion from Melbourne crushed Canada's Melanie Jans 9/1 9/1 9/1 - and looks on course to reach Monday's final where she is expected to meet England's second seed Tania Bailey. World No5 Bailey came through her first challenge since collapsing during a National League match in England just before Christmas by beating qualifier Janie Thacker, also from England, 9/6 9/2 9/2.
Quarter-Finals
Men: [1] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [7] Lee Beachill (ENG) 15/9 11/15 15/12 15/14 [3] Nick Taylor (ENG) bt [6] John Williams (AUS) 15/12 12/15 15/11 15/7 Chris Walker (ENG) bt [4] Anthony Hill (AUS) 15/12 15/11 11/15 15/3 [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [2] Del Harris (ENG) 8/15 15/11 7/15 15/13 15/5 Women: [1] Sarah Fitzgerald (AUS) bt [6] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9/2 9/2 9/0 [5] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt [3] Suzanne Horner (ENG) 9/3 8/8 ret. [4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 9/1 9/2 10/9 [2] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [8] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9/6 9/2 9/2 QUALIFIER TUOMINEN MAINTAINS GIANT-KILLING PROGRESS Finnish qualifier Olli Tuominen maintained his giant-killing progress in the quarter-finals when he twice came from behind to conquer England's second seed Del Harris 8/15 15/11 7/15 15/13 15/5 in what organisers in Rye, New York, called "the match of the tournament so far". Both players played an extended attacking game, using the full court and varying the pace, something that led to several breathtaking retrievals. The 21-year-old world No37 from Helsinki was doing most of the running in the middle of the match, and proved to be the stronger player, ultimately overcoming last year's runner-up, the world No12 from Colchester in Essex, in 85 minutes. In the semi-finals, Tuominen faces unseeded English southpaw Chris Walker, who for the third year in a row denied Australia's Anthony Hill a spot in the last four. Walker, the 33-year-old former world No4 who also hails from Colchester, triumphed 15/12 15/11 11/15 15/3 in 55 minutes to register his first quarter-final success on the PSA Tour since the Rye event last year. England's defending champion and third seed Nick Taylor had a close and intense battle with Aussie John Williams that ended 15/12 12/15 15/11 15/7 just short of 100 minutes. To defend his title, Taylor, the world No14 from Manchester, has to overcome top-seeded Welshman Alex Gough, who beat England's Lee Beachill 15/9 11/15 15/12 15/14 in 96 minutes. In the women's event, England's Rebecca Macree upset third-seeded compatriot Suzanne Horner to reach the semi-finals when the Yorkshire-based world No8 retired injured after 20 minutes with the score at 9/3 8/8. The London-based world No14 now faces top seed Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the world No3 from Australia who conceded just four points in overcoming Scottish No1 Pamela Nimmo 9/2 9/2 9/0 in 24 minutes. The other semi-final will feature Dutch fourth seed Vanessa Atkinson and England's world No6 Tania Bailey, the second seed. Atkinson needed 45 minutes to end the run of Egyptian qualifier Engy Kheirallah 9/1 9/2 10/9, while former world junior champion Bailey, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, beat compatriot Vicky Botwright 9/6 9/2 9/2 in 43 minutes.
Semi-Finals
Semi-finals - Men: [3] Nick Taylor (ENG) bt [1] Alex Gough (WAL) 13/15 15/13 15/8 15/9 [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Chris Walker (ENG) 15/12 17/14 9/15 15/13 Women: [1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [5] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 9/3 9/3 9/2 [2] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 2/9 9/1 3/9 9/5 9/6 A qualifier will seek success in the $43,000 Marsh-McLennan Apawamis Squash Open in Rye, New York, for the second successive year when England's defending champion Nick Taylor takes on Finland's Olli Tuominen in the men's final. But this time Taylor is the third seed, and the qualifier is the 21-year-old world No37 from Helsinki - who beat England's 1996 champion Chris Walker 15/12 17/14 9/15 15/13 to register his third successive victory over a higher-ranked player in the event. In a close 90-minute match filled with spectacular saves and unconventional shot-selection, Tuominen made fewer mistakes, and ultimately had more stamina than his 33-year-old opponent to win the long rallies. In the other men's semi-final Taylor, the world No14 from Manchester who has been highly focused and determined throughout the tournament, beat top seed Alex Gough. The Welshman took the first game, closing it by winning three straight rallies after having been down 12-13. In the second, the situation was reversed, with Taylor winning from 12-13 down. In the last two games, Taylor's discipline and determination to get every ball back meant the difference. He finished both games winning six straight rallies from the scores 9-8 and 9-9, respectively, to claim a 13/15 15/13 15/8 15/9 victory in 87 minutes - and his first appearance in a PSA Tour final since the Rye final twelve months earlier. The women's final will feature the top two seeds - Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the favourite and world No3 from Australia, and second seed Tania Bailey, England's world No6. Fitz-Gerald cruised to her third successive straight games win, beating England's 5th seed Rebecca Macree 9/3 9/3 9/2 to reach her 67th WISPA World Tour final. Despite being out of action for most of 1999 following knee surgery, the former world No1 from Melbourne has appeared in eight tour finals since winning her third world title in November 1998, with 100% success! In the other semi-final, Tania Bailey twice had to fight back from behind to defeat Netherlands' Vanessa Atkinson 2/9 9/1 3/9 9/5 9/6. The 21-year-old former world junior champion from Stamford in Lincolnshire has reached her first WISPA final since beating the Dutch champion in the San Francisco Challenge final last May.
Final
Men's final: [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [3] Nick Taylor (ENG) 17/14 6/15 15/9 15/6 (70min) Women's final: [1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [2] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9/2 9/3 9/3 (27min) FITZ-GERALD AND TUOMINEN TRIUMPH IN RYE Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Finland's Olli Tuominen claimed the $43,000 Marsh-McLennan Apawamis Squash Open titles in contrasting circumstances in Rye, New York. Tuominen, the 21-year-old world No37 from Helsinki, became the second successive qualifier to win the men's title when he beat defending champion and third seed Nick Taylor, the world No14 from Manchester in England, 17/14 6/15 15/9 15/6 in a spectacular 70-minute performance. The Finn started nervously, and was soon 9-14 down in the opening game - but not only did he overcome 5 gameballs, he also won the tie-break without conceding a further point. And he did it in a way that gave all the juniors watching the match a new hero: total court coverage and fearless attacking under the pressure of gameballs. In the second, however, Taylor played like the champion he is, winning 15/6, playing everything tighter than his opponent. In the third, Tuominen again found the winning formula from the first game at 9-all, winning 15-9 after a couple of amazing rallies. In the fourth, and what was to be the final game, Tuominen got an early 6-0 lead and was after that impossible to stop. Taylor saved one matchball at 14-5, but after another volleynick by Tuominen, it was all over and the packed gallery gave both players a long ovation. In a relatively short match between the top women's seeds, favourite Sarah Fitz-Gerald showed that her game is still one number too big for the young and coming players, represented in the final by England's former junior world champion Tania Bailey. Fitz-Gerald was never really under pressure, and controlled the match with a higher pace, before winning 9/2 9/3 9/3 in 27 minutes to claim her 38th WISPA World Tour title. "The Marsh & McLennan Apawamis Open is an event I was forced to miss last year through injury and I am very pleased to have won against such a strong field," said the world No3 from Melbourne, who has extended to nine her record of successive victories in WISPA Tour finals since winning the world title in November 1998. "Tania played good aggressive squash, made very few unforced errors and offered no easy points. I had to come up with a lot of timely shots to win and this can only add to building my confidence further." Within 24 hours of this important solo triumph, the three-times former world champion expects to be in action for her English National League club Edgbaston Priory in a vital promotion match on the east coast of England in Colchester, Essex.