Argentina's Antonella Falcione made
history this weekend by becoming the first Argentinean player to win
a WSA title at the Tasmanian Open. In fact, it was the first time
an Argentinean player has reached a WSA final.
Falcione was in
impressive form all tournament, taking out the number three seed
Sarah Cardwell in the quarter finals, followed by recovering
from two games to one down to win 11-9 in the fifth against top seed
Kylie Lindsay in the semi finals.
Second seed Melody
Francis had an equally tricky path to the final. The Melbourne
native was on the brink of exiting the tournament in the second
round after finding herself two games down against Germany's
Franziska Hennes before edging it in the fifth game. She
followed this with two difficult wins over a pair of talented
Korean's, Kim Ga-Hye and Song Sun-Mi.
Francis was the clear
favourite heading into the final, going for her 8th WSA title in her
13th WSA final, she knows what it takes to win titles. Falcione on
the other hand had never been beyond the second round of a main draw
event before. However, it was the first time finalist who came out
the blocks faster and quickly built a two game lead. Francis pushed
the third game to a tie break but Falcione closed out the match in
style to secure the title.
Final:
7-Antonella Falcione (ARG) d 2-Melody Francis (AUS) 11/7, 11/6,
12/10 (35 minutes)
Semi Final:
7-Antonella Falcione (ARG) d 1-Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11/3, 6/11, 5/11,
11/5, 11/9 (43 minutes)
2-Melody Francis (AUS) d 5-Song Sun-Mi (KOR) 11/7, 6/11, 11/9, 11/9
(41 minutes)
