28/01/2013
AUSTRALIA DAY CHALLENGE 2013 (Women)
Francis Reclaims Australia Day Title In Seventh Home-Turf Win
Australia
Day Challenge 2013
Women's Draw
24-28 Jan, Queensland, $5k |
Round Two
26 Jan |
Quarters
26 Jan |
Semis
27 Jan |
Final
28 Jan |
[1] Lisa Camilleri (AUS)
11-2, 11-4, 11-2
[15] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) |
Lisa Camilleri
11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5
Samantha Davies |
Lisa Camilleri
11-7, 11-6, 11-5
Christine Nunn |
Lisa Camilleri
11-6, 5-11, 13-11, 14-12
Melody Francis |
[7] Samantha Davies (AUS)
11-5, 13-11, 11-9
Aimee Slatter (AUS) |
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS)
11-6, 11-4, 11-4
[9] Selena Shaikh (AUS) |
Christine Nunn
11-4, 13-11 rtd
Larissa Huffer |
[6] Larissa Huffer (AUS)
4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
[13] Maggy Marshall (AUS) |
[8] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS)
11-6, 11-9, 11-8
[8] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) |
Zoe Petrovansky
11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4
Carmen Lee |
Zoe Petrovansky
8-11, 11-5, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9
Melody Francis |
[3] Carmen Lee (HKG)
11-3, 11-5, 11-1
[14] Nicole Stoneham (AUS) |
[5] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN)
11-9, 11-3, 11-0
Jennifer Brown (AUS) |
Sally Skaarenborg
11-5, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8
Melody Francis |
[2] Melody Francis (AUS)
11-5, 11-1, 11-3
[11] Natalie Newton (AUS) |
Francis
Reclaims Australia Day Title In Seventh Home-Turf Win
Melody
Francis
claimed her seventh WSA World Tour title in the Tour5 Australia Day
Challenge in Brisbane yesterday.
The 24-year-old, along with the other top seeds, received a bye through the
first round of play before making short work of teenager Natalie Newton
in straight games. The quarter-final saw Francis win a closely fought tie with
fifth seed Sally Skaarenborg of Denmark, whilst Zoe Petrovansky
surprised onlookers by beating third seed Carmen Lee in four games.
The resulting semi-final clash was Francis’ closest of the tournament, as both
Australians battled for a place in the final. The higher seed twice fought back
from a game down to eventually take control of the contest, closing out the
deciding game 11-9 against Petrovansky.
In the final, Francis would meet Lisa Camilleri, ranked at No.229 in the
WSA World Rankings, but playing her first competitive event since the Malaysian
Open in July 2011. The former world No.28 comfortably saw off the challenge of
her second round opponent Lakeesha Rarere, before dispatching Samantha
Davies in four games in the quarters. Her semi-final against fourth seed
Christine Nunn lasted just 28-mintues, as the 29-year-old from Melbourne
confirmed her 24th WSA World Tour final place.
No.2 seed Francis started the brighter of the pair in the tournament final. The
lower seed took a first game lead, before the experienced Camilleri levelled
proceedings with a dominant counter-effort.
Two narrow tie-break games were all that separated the finalists for the rest of
the match, as Francis faired better towards the business end of the games,
claiming a 13-11 third and a closer-still 14-12 fourth game win to close out the
contest in 43 minutes.
The world No.55 Francis reclaimed the title she won back in 2011, adding to her
haul of seven WSA World Tour titles, all of which have come on home turf in
Australia.
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