Duncalf
Defends US Title In Style
World No2
Jenny Duncalf defended her Women's Carol Weymuller Open title in some
style, beating her England team-mate Laura Massaro in straight games in
the final of the $42,450 WISPA World Tour squash event at Heights
Casino in Brooklyn, New York.
Runner-up in
the championship three years ago, and winner last year when the event was
combined with the US Open, Duncalf reached her third New York final after
beating Kasey Brown in five games, avenging her defeat by the fast-rising
Australian in last week's WISPAQ Gold event in Mexico.
And Massaro
had good reason to celebrate her unexpected appearance in the final after the
third seed also battled to a five-game win over fancied Australian Rachael
Grinham, the second seed.
Duncalf took
control in the first game early on, moving her Commonwealth Games doubles
partner around the court and making very few errors. After winning the game, the
27-year-old from Harrogate came out even stronger for the second.
"Jenny was on
fire and couldn't miss," said tournament organiser Linda Elriani, the
former England international who was runner-up in 1999 and 2000. "She showed us
why is world number two, with her excellent skills, fluent movement and variety
of shots. Laura only got one serve, but was battling hard to get her game plan
to work, but to no avail as Jenny won the second game 11-1."
Massaro, the
world No8 from Preston, began to get the favourite out of position in the third
and gain some control of the T. But Duncalf was just too accurate and fast - and
soon closed out the match 11-6, 11-1, 11-6 to win the 2010 Carol Weymuller
Open for the second year running.
"I'm really
happy to win here again, especially in three games," said a smiling Duncalf
after the final. "We both had tough matches yesterday so I was pleased to keep
my concentration and not let up on any of my leads in each game. I felt like I
played well and managed to move her around the court.
"It's nice to
finish the trip on a high! Next stop Qatar!" exclaimed the champion after
picking up the eighth Tour title of her career - but her first this year.
A downcast
Massaro added: "I feel disappointed losing 3-0. I think that I felt a bit heavy
in my legs today after yesterday and I felt I couldn't really get on top. My
length was a little short and she finished the ball well."
Duncalf &
Massaro Celebrate First All-English New York Final
Jenny Duncalf
and Laura Massaro will contest the first all-English final of the
Women's Carol Weymuller Open after surviving five-game semi-finals in the
$42,450 WISPA World Tour squash event at Heights Casino in
Brooklyn, New York.
Third seed
Massaro was the first to earn a place in the final after upsetting Australia's
second seed Rachael Grinham. Down 1/8 in their career head-to-head tally,
Massaro dropped the first two games - but battled back to beat the former world
number one 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 to reach the established women's Tour
event final for the first time.
"I'm really
pleased to be in the final," said the world No8 from Preston, now in the 13th
Tour final of her career, but her first this year.
"Rachael is
such a dangerous player and in the first two games I felt I didn't know what to
do because she was playing so well. Then I just tried to dig in more physically
and make the rallies longer and I felt that I got rewards from doing that.
"I'll be
trying to play as well as I can in the final - and it's nice, as there is no
pressure on me!"
Top seed
Duncalf approached the other semi-final 4/1 up in her career meetings with
Kasey Brown, but the fourth seed from Australia had gained her sole victory
only last week in Mexico - fresh from a three-medal triumph in the
Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
But Duncalf
was ready this time. The 27-year-old world No2 from Harrogate took he first
game, then dropped the next two before fighting back to record an impressive
11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6 victory.
Asked how she
felt after her long match, Duncalf said: "Relief really! It was tough - Kasey
has improved recently physically. She's picking up a lot of balls and she's
always been good with the racket.
"I was pretty
patchy at times, but I kept telling myself 'keep pushing'," added Duncalf, now
in the 17th Tour final of her career
"I'm looking
forward to playing in the final. One more match and it's home time!"
The final will
mark Duncalf and Massaro's first competitive clash since partnering each other
to Women's Doubles silver medal success in the Commonwealth Games.
Duncalf On
Course For Second Final In New York
England's
Jenny Duncalf remains on course to reach the final of the Women's Carol
Weymuller Open for the second time in three years after beating Rebecca
Chiu in the quarter-finals of the $42,450 WISPA World Tour squash
event at Heights Casino in Brooklyn, New York.
Top seed
Duncalf, the world No2 from Harrogate, despatched the eighth seed from Hong Kong
11-4, 11-9, 11-5 and will now meet Australian rival Kasey Brown in the
semi-finals.
"I felt good
today," said the 27-year-old who suffered a first career-loss to Brown in last
week's WISPA Gold event in Mexico. "The second game was crucial and I generally
felt good movement-wise. I've enjoyed my last two matches here. After a rough
week in Mexico I'm enjoying being on court at this tournament."
Fourth seed
Brown, who is experiencing the best form of her life after leaving Delhi earlier
this month with three Commonwealth Games medals, defeated Mexico's
seventh seed Samantha Teran 11-6, 11-3, 13-11.
"I felt I came
out strong in the first two games and stuck to my game plan," said 25-year-old
from New South Wales. "In the third I knew I had to stay in front of her but she
fought back well. I very happy to win in three!
"I've played
Jenny quite a bit and last week in Mexico was the first time I've beaten her so
I hope that I can consolidate on that."
The other semi
will also have English interest when Duncalf's England team-mate Laura
Massaro takes on second-seeded Australian Rachael Grinham.
Third seed
Massaro defeated Egyptian nemesis Raneem El Weleily, the fifth seed,
11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, while Grinham, champion in 2006, beat 17-year-old
Egyptian qualifier Nour El Tayeb 11-6, 14-12, 11-5.
"I'm really
happy to have won," said Massaro, who has lost three times this year to the
21-year-old from Alexandria. "It's been SO tough against her in the last few
matches. I thought I'd blown it after having two match balls in the third! I
just so glad to be in the semis tomorrow, it's the furthest I've got in this
tournament."
El Tayeb
reached the quarter-finals after beating experienced compatriot Engy
Kheirallah - and then admitted that Grinham, who is also based in Cairo, "is
my favourite player".
A smiling
Grinham said after the match: "I really enjoyed playing tonight! I haven't
enjoyed playing as much as that in a while! I felt like I was moving really well
and hitting the ball well and made very few errors. I knew it was an uphill
battle for Nour once she was 2/0 down, so that helped me too.
"I haven't
played Laura in a while and it looks like she is in good shape so I hope that I
play well," concluded the 33-year-old former world number one.
El Tayeb Takes
Out Kheirallah In New York Upset
Egyptian
teenager Nour El Tayeb celebrated one of her best ever wins by upsetting
senior compatriot Engy Kheirallah in the opening round of the Women's
Carol Weymuller Open, the $42,450 WISPA World Tour squash event at
Heights Casino in Brooklyn, New York.
In her maiden
appearance in the established event which was launched in 1993, the 17-year-old
qualifier from Cairo despatched sixth seed Kheirallah, ranked 12 in the world,
11-7, 11-9, 11-8.
"I don't know
what to say - I've never beaten Engy before," said the excited Egyptian
youngster who will now play Cairo-based Australian Rachael Grinham for a
place in the semi-finals.
"She wasn't at
her best today and hit the tin a couple of times. I think that I played well, it
was important to play a good length because she cuts it off so well.
"I have to
play Rachael tomorrow," added El Tayeb. "She is my favourite player! I hope that
it is a good match!"
Second seed
Grinham came through at the expense of England's Tania Bailey after the
unseeded former world No4 had to concede the match midway through the fourth
game after experiencing breathing difficulties.
"It's a shame
the match had to end like that," said Grinham, the 2006 champion. "She's such an
experienced player and fights so hard - so even if you are ahead you can't let
her in at all.
"I haven't
played Nour in a while, but I'm just happy to be back in court. Last week was my
first WISPA event back after pulling my calf and being out for six weeks!"
Local interest
in the event was represented by 17-year-old qualifiers Amanda Sobhy and
Olivia Blatchford, and experienced former US national champion Latasha
Khan.
Sobhy, the
world junior champion from New York, put up a brave fight against Kasey Brown
but went down 11-8, 11-4, 11-8 to the fast-improving fourth seed from Australia
- while Egypt's fifth seed Raneem El Weleily was too strong for
Blatchford, winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-8.
But
37-year-old Khan gave seventh seed Samantha Teran a scare by taking the
opening two games - before the Mexican upped her game to battle to a 5-11, 9-11,
11-6, 11-6, 11-7 win to earn her place in the quarter-finals.
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