23/08/2011
NOTTINGHAM OPEN (WOMEN) 2011
Atkinson Reigns In Nottingham
Nottingham Open 2011
15-20 Aug, Nottingham SC, $4k |
Round One
17 Aug 17.30-19.45 |
Quarters
18 Aug |
Semis
19 Aug |
Final
20 Aug |
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
11/5, 11/5, 11/2 (17m)
[Q] Sigany Silevis (Ned) |
Vanessa Atkinson
11/6, 11/4, 11/8 (21m)
Tesni Evans |
Vanessa Atkinson
11/9, 11/9, 4/11, 11/3 (32m)
Sarah-Jane Perry |
Vanessa Atkinson
9/11 11/3 11/3 11/4 (32m)
Laura Hill |
[7] Tesni Evans (Wal)
11/6, 11/3, 11/5 (21m)
[LL] Brogan Lane (Eng) |
[3] Birgit Coufal (Aut)
11/13, 11/5, 11/6, 11/7 (32m)
[Q] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) |
Sarah-Jane Perry
11/4, 8/11, 13/11, 11/9 (37m)
Celia Allamargot |
[5] Celia Allamargot (Fra)
11/3, 7/11, 11/7, 6/11 (31m)
Sandra Polak (Aut) |
[Q] Rachel Willmott (Eng)
11/9, 12/10, 9/11, 8/11, 11/8 (72m)
[8] Carrie Ramsay (Eng) |
Carrie Ramsay
11/6, 8/11, 11/9, 11/7 (42m)
Maud Duplomb |
Maud Duplomb
11/8, 12/10, 11/7 (23m)
Laura Hill |
Chloe Mesic (Fra)
9/11, 11/7, 7/11, 11/7, 11/7 (41m)
[4] Maud Duplomb (Fra) |
Zephanie Curgenven (Eng)
7/11, 13/11, 11/7, 11/1 (29m)
[7] Laura Hill (Eng) |
Laura Hill
11/6, 6/11, 11/8, 5/11, 11/7 (51m)
Lauren Selby |
[Q] Melissa Meulenbelt (Ned)
12/10, 11/9, 11/6 (33m)
[2] Lauren Selby (Eng) |
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Atkinson Reigns In Nottingham
Top seed and
former world number one Vanessa Atkinson grabbed her 24th
title this week at the Tour 4 Mantis Nottingham Open, a new stop on the WISPA
tour.
Although she
announced her retirement from the tour back in April, Atkinson, now living in
Leeds, couldn't pass up the chance to play in a tournament so close to home.
The first
round saw seven of the top eight seeds move through to the quarter finals. Top
seeds Atkinson and England's Lauren Selby beat Dutch qualifiers Cigany
Silevis and Melissa Meulenbelt in straight games.
Welsh seventh
seed Tesni Evans was the only other seed to make it through in straight
games, easing past England junior Brogan Lane. Seventh seed Laura Hill
and eighth seed Carrie Ramsay both came out on top in their all English
clashes. Hill looked in trouble against Zephanie Curgenven, dropping the
first game and facing game balls in the second but she fought back and gradually
wore down Curgenven with her consistent game. Ramsay had a real fight on her
hands with former British Junior Champion Rachel Willmott. After being
down in both the first two games, Ramsay managed to build a two game lead, only
to see Willmott force a decider. Willmott started strongly in the fifth with
Ramsay suffering from illness, but the Yorkshire girl dug in deep and eventually
took the match after 72 minutes. Qualifier Sarah-Jane Perry caused the
upset of the day, coming from a game down to outplay Austrian third seed
Birgit Coufal.
The last two
games were won by French pair Maud Duplomb and Celia Allamargot.
Fourth seed Duplomb won a topsy turvy match fiver setter with compatriot
Chloe Mesic. Allamargot let her concentration slip in the second game
against Sandra Polak but was always in control, coming through in four
games.
The quarter
finals featured two upsets along with another comfortable win for the top seed.
Tesni Evans had no answer to the skill and experience of Atkinson. Duplomb
justified her seeding with a tough four game win over Ramsay. Ramsay had her
chances but the effects of the previous day's long match seemed to take it's
toll. Perry continued to take out the seeds, this time beating Allamargot in a
fast paced hard hitting encounter. The final match of the day was the closest
and saw Hill edge second seed Selby in a high quality match, featuring
contrasting styles. Hill kept the pressure on throughout and forced Selby into
crucial errors. In the second and fourth games Hill had no answer to Selby's
precise shot making. Hill got a strong start in the fifth and this was enough to
hold on for victory.
Hill, the
British Racketball Champion, was the first through to the final, her first in
five years, beating Duplomb in three games. Duplomb led in all three games but
it was Hill that managed to find another gear and force the French girl into
mistakes. Atkinson was made to work hard for her place in the final, surviving
an attacking onslaught from Perry. The pair matched each other pace for pace in
the first two games but it was Atkinson who took them, both 11-9. Perry came out
on fire in the third and hit a number of winners, along with some
uncharacteristic errors from Atkinson to take the game with ease. The rolls were
reversed in the fourth and Perry found herself on the back foot as the top seed
found her shots to seal the win.
The final was
a great match up between two of the most experienced players on the tour.
Atkinson and Hill, both 35, had met once before, with Atkinson winning handily.
This time it was Hill who got the better start, pushing Atkinson to the front of
the court. Atkinson fought back, but Hill managed to convert on her first game
ball. From then on it was Atkinson who was in command, working Hill to all
corners of the court and the local girl found herself on the losing end of the
majority of the points. Atkinson finished the match off in style with a backhand
cross court volley nick off the serve.
A great week
of squash in Nottingham and we look forward to seeing the event back, bigger and
better next year!
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