18-Jan, Final:
[4] Omneya Abdel Kawy bt [2] Fiona Geaves 1-9, 9-7, 7-9,
9-7, 9-6
Kawy Comes of Age in Vassar
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
In
a riveting final between Fiona Geaves and Omneya Abdel Kawy, squash
enthusiasts had a rare treat, watching two very talented women battle
it out for the 2004 WISPA Class of 1932 title at Vassar College in
Poughkeepsie, New York. The two players emerged as finalists after a
string of challenging matches against the other talents at the
tournament.
In the quarterfinals, Kawy won in three straight
games to defeat Jenny Tranfield. Geaves played a more demanding match
against Rebecca Chiu where the two players endured five strenuous
games. Sunday’s gripping 5 game final was won by the youngest player
in this year’s tournament, Kawy, aged 18. Kawy put up a tough fight
against Geaves, a relative veteran of the game. Geaves, winner of the
1995 British National Championships, exhibited great polish and
technique in her match against less experienced Kawy, a true asset to
the Egyptian national team and one of the most exciting young talents
to burst onto the international scene for some years.
During the final, spectators were left guessing the
eventual outcome as the two women played with great resilience,
neither showing signs of giving in until the bitter end. The women
were tied after the second game and both started to play more
aggressively by the third. Fiona, despite her proficiency in the game,
showed signs of fatigue by the fourth game giving Kawy an advantage.
The younger player then started serving a lot faster between points,
increasing the pressure on her opponent. Both players made full use of
the court space, alternating between a series of lengths and quick and
tricky drops.
Kawy made use of her unpredictable drops to keep
Geaves guessing, while Geaves hit a number of drops that were just
unreachable for Kawy. At many points during the match, it seemed as
though Geaves would win, as Kawy hit several of her shots into the
tin. However, the teenager made a prompt return, winning back her lost
points and then some. While the two women were well-matched, Kawy had
the upper hand in the latter half of the game with her agility and
swiftness. Her patience and composure were a bonus. Geaves on the
other hand, showed signs frustration, which may have interfered with
her game.
All in all, it was an exciting match from start to
finish and an excellent ending to one of the best Class of 1932
tournaments to date.
17-Jan, Semi-finals:
[2] Fiona Geaves (Eng) bt [3] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) 9-4, 4-9,
9-7, 9-6
[4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt [1] Vicky Botwright (Eng) 3-9,
10-8, 9-4, 10-8
Kawy
puts out top seed
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
Vicky Botwright, #1 seed in this tournament was ousted from an
exhilarating semifinal, where she faced world junior champion
Omneya Abdel Kawy. Omneya, who won 3-1, put her opponent under
pressure by her highly unpredictable shots. Her agility and swiftness
disrupted Vicky’s rhythm, and kept her on her feet, both literally and
otherwise, leading Omneya to victory. Vicky, despite her consistency
and endurance, lost due to a more methodical approach, which was
exhibited through her mechanical and predictable shots. While this
match was certainly indicative of the talent and prowess that the two
young players possessed, it also proved that quick- thinking and a
bold approach to the game gives one the winning edge.
The
semi-final between Fiona Geaves and Jenny Duncalf was a rare
treat for squash enthusiasts, as Fiona, a veteran in the game, faced
young blood, Jenny. Fiona, who emerged victorious after her 3-1 defeat
over Jenny, proved that experience in the game is indeed valuable. Her
excellent drops and steady lengths proved challenging for Jenny, who
put up a tough fight. Jenny, brought to the game a different pace, as
she exhibited great speed and motivation, while running after every
shot, giving Fiona a few tense moments. This interesting pairing on
court will be repeated in Sunday’s final, as the youngest and oldest
in the tournament face each other, in what will be an intense match.
Victory will mean different things to both the finalists as one
embodies maturity and experience in the game, while the other
represents youth and vigor.
In what will prove to be a gripping match, squash
fans will have this great opportunity to witness who tastes the
sweetness of success.
16-Jan,
Quarter-Finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (Eng)bt Shelly Kitchen (Nzl) 9/6, 10/8, 6/9,
10/9
[4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt Jenny Tranfield (Eng) 9/6, 9/7,
9/1
[3] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Carla Khan (Pak) 4/9, 10/8, 5/9, 9/6,
9/6
[2] Fiona Geaves (Eng) bt Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) 9/2, 7/9, 9/6, 4/9,
9/3
Gruelling quarters
for the top seeds
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
The top four seeds will contest the semi-finals, but
it was far from plain sailing for the top three seeds as Omneya Abdel
Kawy prevented all-English semis.
Top
seed Vicky Botwroght endured a four game battle with the #7
seed Shelly Kitchen. Throughout the four games, the two women played
even-handedly, taking each ball early, and hitting sharp, cutting
length into the corners of the court. In the end, Botwright's
consistency and unrelenting pressure led her towards victory. In the
fourth game, the hard-hitting Kitchen rallied from behind to assume
momentum and even the score at 9-9. At game ball, Kitchen relentlessly
attacked the ball, pushing Botwright all around the court, and forcing
Botwright to play a loose cross-court into the middle of the court.
Kitchen then committed one of the few unforced errors of the match,
drilling her put-away shot right into the tin. Botwright then played a
consistent, patient rally down the side wall, before hitting a winning
length to take the match and hand Kitchen a devastating defeat.
Botwright now plays the #4 seed Omneya Abdel Kawy in Saturdays
Semi-Final.
Abdel Kawy was the only straight game winner. In her match against the
#5 seed Jenny Tranfield, Abdel Kawy played patiently and intensely,
moving the English woman all around the court before going for
winners. Throughout the match, Tranfield was on the defensive,
struggling to stay in each rally. In the end, Abdel Kawy's deceptive
wrist allowed her to hit winning shots from the front of the court.
Against Botwright, Abdel-Kawy will have to continue her patient play.
The
#2 Seed Fiona Geaves endured a nerve racking 5 games against
the #6 seed Rebecca Chiu. In the first game, Geaves anticipated each
of Chiu's shots and used her length to open up the court for winning
volley drops. But Chiu soon changed the pace and rhythm of the match,
bringing the rallies up to the front of the court and taking advantage
of her soft drops, speed, and quickness. As a result, Chiu forced
Geaves to try and hit her drops softer and closer to the front, and
Geaves began making a surprising amount of unforced errors, losing the
second game 9-7. But Geaves maintained her composure, and rallied back
to win the third 9-6. In the fourth, Chiu regained momentum and won
9-4. Geaves appeared frustrated, and dejected. But in the fifth,
Geaves used her resolve and experience to put together a consistent
and winning performance. She now faces the #3 seed Jenny Duncalf
in Saturday's semi-final.
Duncalf rallied from behind to beat the #8 seed Carla Khan in five
games. In the fourth game, Khan led 2-1 in games, and 6-3. Khan was
taking every ball at the top of the bounce, volleying early, and
hitting hard. She showed incredible confidence in her skills and
pushed Duncalf all around the court. But Duncalf steadily stayed in
each rally, forcing Khan to change directions, and move from side to
side. In the end, Duncalf's resilience won her the fourth, 9-6. In the
fifth, Duncalf stormed to an 8-1 lead. But Khan's tournament was not
yet over. Khan fought back, lunging for every ball, and hitting strong
length to stay in the match. Soon, Duncalf's lead had dwindled to 8-5.
To Duncalf's credit, she did not tense up. She continued to push Khan
around the court, playing long, hard, consistent rallies. In the end,
the two were too evenly paired for Khan to make up the point
difference. At match ball, Duncalf pushed Khan from the front to the
back repeatedly. Khan fought and reached every ball, using all of her
heart to push up defensive boasts and stay in the rally. But Duncalf
was relentless, and finally hit one that was too far out of Khan¹s
reach.
15-Jan, Round One:
Success for the Seeds in Vassar
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
Number
1-8 seeds Vicky Botwright, Fiona Geaves, Jenny Duncalf, Omneya Abdel
Kawy, Jenny Tranfield, Rebecca Chiu, Shelly Kitchen, and Carla Khan
all advanced to the quarterfinals.
Top seed Vicky Botwright successfully dispatched Australian
Pittock in three steady games. Botwright controlled the middle, and
consistently moved Pittock around the whole court. She now faces
seventh seed Shelly Kitchen in Friday’s quarterfinal.
Kitchen used her physical strength and fitness to defeat the streaky
Egyptian qualifier Eman El Amir in 4 games. In the first game El Amir
used her sharp length to assume control. But Kitchen fought through,
forcing El Amir to work for every point, and gradually wore down the
young Egyptian who has struggled to maintain her focus and consistency
throughout her 3 matches. In Botwright, Kitchen faces a more steady
and disciplined opponent. But there are very few players on the WISPA
tour with the speed, agility, and athleticism of Kitchen. In today’s
match, Kitchen looked poised and prepared to play a lot more squash.
Number
2 seed Fiona Geaves marched through 19 year- old Alison Waters
in 3 straight games. The 36 year-old used her signature volley drop
shots to assume and maintain control. Throughout the match, Geaves
looked disciplined, focused, and intent on winning every rally. She
played a steady, and relentless style that simply wore out her young
English opponent. Geaves now plays Rebecca Chiu in Friday’s
quarterfinal.
Hong Kong’s Chiu endured a hard 3 games with qualifier Annelize Naude
of the Netherlands. In a first game that lasted nearly 30 minutes,
Chiu maintained her composure through a series of lets, strokes, and
no lets. At the end of the game, both players looked like wounded
warriors, exhausted and depleted. It was Chiu’s soft drops that
eventually pushed the efficient Dutch woman to the brink of
exhaustion. In the 2nd and 3rd games, Chiu showed that she was not
going to give up her enthusiasm for the long rally, and cruised to
victory quickly.
Third seed Jenny Duncalf ended qualifier Becky Botwright’s
exciting run through her first two matches. In the 1st game, Botwright
continued her ability to control the pace of each rally, and appeared
poised for another victory. But Duncalf showed her resilience and
jumped on every loose ball, assuming control of the match. In the end,
Duncalf’s ability to put the ball away from the front of the court was
too intense for Botwright’s defensive game. Duncalf now faces Carla
Khan.
Khan defeated Dominique Lloyd-Walter in 4 games, using her pace and
ability to take the ball early earn victory. She took every ball at
the top of the bounce and hit it as hard as she could. In the end,
Lloyd-Walter could not keep up with the intense pressure. Khan plays
Duncalf in a war of speed and pace in Friday’s quarterfinal.
Fourth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy displayed magnificent deception
and shot making ability in her 4 game victory over Laura Lengthorn. In
the 3rd game, Lengthorn survived match ball to come back and win 10-8.
But Abdel Kawy showed no signs of backing down and won the 4th game
easily. She now faces #5 seed Jenny Tranfield.
#5 seed Tranfield defeated Scottish qualifier Pam Nimmo in 4 games.
Like Botwright, Abdel Kawy, and Naude, Nimmo used her two previous
victories as momentum and won the 1st game 10-9. But over the match,
Tranfield gradually chipped away at Nimmo’s confidence and forced her
to play long rallies. In the end, Nimmo grew increasingly frustrated
hitting a number of unforced errors that led to her demise.
14 Jan
Qualifying Finals:
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
Qualifying Finals:
Pamela Nimmo (Sco) bt Melissa Martin (Aus) 9/3, 9/0, 9/7
Becky Botwright (Eng) bt Heidi Mather (Aus) 9/4, 9/3, 9/0
Eman El Amir (Egy) bt
Alana Miller (Can) 9/1, 2/9, 10/9, 9/6
Annelize Naude (Ned) bt Runa Reta (Can) 9/1, 3/9, 10/8, 10/8
Today’s
matches completed an intense two days of qualifying matches.
Scotland’s Pam Nimmo #31, England’s Becky Botwright #39,
Egypt’s Eman El Amir #54, and Holland’s Annelize Naude
#28 have now earned a berth into the main draw.
Throughout the two days of qualifying matches, Pam Nimmo has
looked poised and confident. She continued her march today with
another straight games victory, this time over #45, Australian Melissa
Martin. Nimmo now plays #5 seed, world #17 Jenny Tranfield of England
in the 1st round on Thursday.
Rebecca Botwright also won in straight games. After her 5 game
comeback victory on Tuesday, Botwright showed no signs of fatigue and
defeated the higher ranked, world #33 Heidi Mather of Australia in 3
straight games. Botwright now draws #3 seed, world #15 Jenny Duncalf
of England in the 1st round on Thursday.
Egyptian Eman El Amir showed signs of brilliance in her match
against Canadian, world #88 Alana Miller. Throughout the two days, El
Amir has displayed brilliant cutting length and precise volley drops.
However, in her two matches she has struggled to maintain her
composure and consistency during every rally. But today against
Miller, she hit her winning shots when they mattered most. At match
point, El Amir hit her volley drop just above the tin, and
passionately pumped her fists in celebration of advancing to the main
draw. El Amir now plays #7 seed, world # 18 Shelly Kitchen of New
Zealand.
Annelize Naude showed her renowned resiliency and mental
toughness in her two qualifying matches. Today Naude defeated world
#51, Canadian, Runa Reta in 4 hard fought games. Naude’s precise
length, consistency, fitness, and intensity resulted in a steady,
focused, and measured march towards victory. The Dutchwoman ranked #28
in the world now plays #8 seed, world #19 Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong.
13-Jan
Qualifying round
one
Ben Oliner and Jane Parker report from Vassar
The first day of qualifiers produced a number of heated
matches. Top ranked qualifier #28 Annelize Naude of the
Netherlands won in 4 feisty games against 19 year- old Suzie
Pierrepont of England. Naude will play #51, Runa Reta of Canada
Wednesday night. Reta, a former All-American out of U. Penn, used her
quickness and deceptiveness from the front of the court to upset #46
Line Hansen of Denmark.
#31 Pamela Nimmo of Scotland cruised to victory against
American Carlin Wing. Nimmo displayed a full arsenal of shots,
relentlessly pushing Wing all around the court, Nimmo plays #45
Melissa Martin of Australia on Wednesday night. Martin defeated
Dutch #4 Margruit Huisman comfortably.
#33 Heidi Mather of Australia won her battle against #76,
Canadian Katie Patrick. The match lasted well over an hour before
Mather’s touch outlasted the strength, consistency, and fitness of
Patrick’s game. Mather plays #39 Rebecca Botwright, of England,
Wednesday night. The 21 year-old showed poise and resiliency in her
match against #72 Lauren Briggs of England. Under the guidance of her
sister, #1 seed, Vicky, Botwright came back from 0-2 to win in 5. She
used her soft lobs and drop shots to slow Briggs down and control the
tempo of the match.
#54 Eman El Amir of Egypt defeated #40, American Meredith Quick
in 3 comfortable games. El Amir used her sharp lengths to seize the
middle of the court and assume control of the match. She faces #88
Alana Miller of Canada Wednesday night. Miller upset #43 Kate Roe
of England in 3 games.
Runa Reta and Annelize Naude
progress
Photos bt Carlisle Stockton
Vassar
Class of 32
2004
18-Jan, Final:
