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23/04/2022
Irish Open 2022
Irish Open 2022
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Irish Open 2022
Men's Draw
19 - 23 Apr
Dublin, Ireland, $30k |
ROUND TWO
20 APR |
QUARTERS
21 APR |
SEMIS
22 APR |
FINAL
23 APR |
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[1] Patrick Rooney (ENG)
11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (27m)
[9/16] Max Lee (HKG) |
Patrick Rooney
11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5 (55m)
Alan Clyne |
Alan Clyne
11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)
Auguste Dussourd |
Alan Clyne
11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (52m)
Greg Lobban |
[7] Alan Clyne (SCO)
11-6, 11-9, 3-11, 3-11, 11-9 (74m)
[9/16] Faraz Khan (USA) |
[5] Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (35m)
[9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) |
Auguste Dussourd
11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)
Lucas Serme |
[3] Lucas Serme (FRA)
11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)
[9/16] Rui Soares (POR) |
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO)
11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (29m)
[9/16] Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) |
Greg Lobban
11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7 (78m)
Declan James |
Greg Lobban
11-7, 11-1, 11-2 (33m)
George Parker |
[6] Declan James (ENG)
9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (49m)
[9/16] Ivan Yuen (MAS) |
[9/16] Rory Stewart (SCO)
11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (35m)
[8] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) |
Rory Stewart
11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (67m)
George Parker |
[9/16] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (40m)
[2] George Parker (ENG) |
[1] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bye
[9/16] Max Lee (HKG) bt Ivan Perez (ESP) 4-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-6
(60m)
[9/16] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Chi Him Wong (HKG) 13-11, 11-6, 11-6 (42m)
[7] Alan Clyne (SCO) bye
[5] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bye
[9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) bt [WC] Sam Buckley (IRL) 9-11, 16-14, 9-11,
11-8, 11-7 (61m)
[9/16] Rui Soares (POR) bt Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4
(42m)
[3] Lucas Serme (FRA) bye
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bye
[9/16] Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) bt [WC] Sean Conroy (IRL) 11-7, 9-11,
11-7, 11-5 (52m)
[9/16] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Robert Downer (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (28m)
[6] Declan James (ENG) bye
[8] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bye
[9/16] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 8-11, 12-10, 11-6,
11-3 (48m)
[9/16] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) bt Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (24m)
[2] George Parker (ENG) bye |
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Irish Open 2022
Women's Draw
19 - 23 Apr
Dublin, Ireland, $30k |
ROUND TWO
20 APR |
QUARTERS
21 APR |
SEMIS
22 APR |
FINAL
23 APR |
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[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL)
11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (22m)
[9/16] Chan Yiwen (MAS) |
Emily Whitlock
11-5, 16-14, 11-9 (43m)
Julianne Courtice |
Emily Whitlock
11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)
Grace Gear |
Emily Whitlock
12-10, 9-11, 11-6,
12-10 (54m)
Tinne Gilis |
[8] Julianne Courtice (ENG)
11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (25m)
[9/16] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) |
[9/16] Grace Gear (ENG)
11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8 (36m)
[5] Anna Serme (CZE) |
Grace Gear
12-10, 13-11, 8-11,
11-9 (38m)
Rachel Arnold |
[4] Rachel Arnold (MAS)
11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (24m)
[9/16] Anna Kimberley (ENG) |
[3] Lucy Turmel (ENG)
11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (33m)
Wen Li Lai (MAS) |
Lucy Turmel
11-4, 18-16, 12-10 (44m)
Alexandra Fuller |
Alexandra Fuller
13-11, 11-0, 10-12, 13-11 (55m)
Tinne Gilis |
[6] Alexandra Fuller (RSA)
11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (21m)
Rana Ismail (EGY) |
[9/16] Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 (31m)
[7] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) |
Jessica Turnbull
11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (24m)
Tinne Gilis |
[9/16] Ali Loke (WAL)
11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (23m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) |
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bye
[9/16] Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt [WC] Breanne Flynn (IRL) 9-11, 11-4, 11-7,
12-10 (34m)
[9/16] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [WC] Hannah McGugan (IRL) 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
(16m)
[8] Julianne Courtice (ENG) bye
[5] Anna Serme (CZE) bye
[9/16] Grace Gear (ENG) bt Emilia Korhonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (23m)
[9/16] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt Léa Barbeau (FRA) 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7
(31m)
[4] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bye
[3] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bye
Wen Li Lai (MAS) bt [9/16] Alicia Mead (ENG) 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8,
11-8 (55m)
Rana Ismail (EGY) bt [9/16] Torrie Malik (ENG) 6-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7,
11-4 (44m)
[6] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bye
[7] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bye
[9/16] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Saran Nghiem (ENG) 14-12, 6-11, 12-14,
11-8, 11-8 (59m)
[9/16] Ali Loke (WAL) bt Sofía Mateos (ESP) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (25m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye |
Gilis And Lobban Secure Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open
Titles In Dublin
Belgium’s Tinne Gilis and Scotland’s Greg Lobban both secured their
second career Challenger 30 level titles, after winning their respective
finals at the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open on Saturday afternoon at the
Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
The Belgian came into the tournament off the back of having claimed her
first Challenger 30 level crown in her last outing on Tour, at the
Annecy Rose Open in France. She was the No.2 seed for this week’s
tournament in Dublin and after dispatching the adopted home favourite,
Alexandra Fuller, in the semi-finals, she took on Welshwoman Emily
Whitlock in Saturday’s final.
The pair were meeting for the second time on Tour, following a 3-0
victory for Gilis at the CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open in March 2021.
This contest was a much closer battle, with the first game going to a
tie-break, as the contrasting styles of both players went toe-to-toe. It
was the Belgian who took it 12-10, only for Whitlock to fight back to
take the second and tie the match at one game apiece.
The World No.24 regrouped, and she came out firing in the third game,
winning it 11-6, before then running out into a big lead in the fourth
game. She looked all set for victory, but the Welshwoman was able to
save four match balls. As it looked like the chance might slip away from
Gilis, she kept her cool to win the fourth 12-10, and claim a second
Challenger 30 level title of the season.
“I am very, very happy! It’s been very unexpected, especially the one in
Annecy, that was a more relaxed tournament and winning that title, it
took a lot of pressure off my shoulders,” Gilis said.
Tinne Gilis (fore) and Emily Whitlock (back) in action
“This tournament, I came in feeling more relaxed and just wanting to
play good squash. I had some tough matches from day one to the end. I
feel exhausted, I’m so tired and I need a few days off for sure, but I
am really, really happy with my two Challenger 30 titles, and hopefully
they’re not the last ones!
“It was very physical, my match against Alex [Fuller] yesterday, and
there was not much time to recover because we finished around 8pm. I
couldn’t sleep at all, so I felt very tired this morning. Emily
[Whitlock] is a good short player, her highest ranking is World No.12,
so I knew it would be a tough match. She absolutely went for it, she was
playing good squash and she put me under a lot of pressure. I had to
fight for every single point. Even though my legs are so dead, I am very
happy that I pushed through and got the win!
“It is nice knowing that my sister won this title last time, and with
her not playing, I thought it would be nice to keep it in the family. I
am very happy that I managed to do that, and hopefully, we keep it
running! Next year, at least one of us has to play, and maybe both of
us! It is great to keep it in the family, that’s for sure!”
The men’s final saw Greg Lobban and Alan Clyne go face-to-face in the
first all-Scottish final in a non-restricted PSA tournament in eight
years, dating back to the Geneva Open in 2014. The pair had met five
times previously on Tour with Clyne winning four of those, but this was
their first meeting since March 2018.
Lobban continued his sublime form this week in the first game, one that
set an attritional tone for the contest. The first lasted more than a
quarter of an hour, despite Lobban dropping only two points. He then won
the second 11-5, maintaining his position in front of his compatriot on
the ’T’.
Greg Lobban (left) during the final against Alan Clyne
(right)
The third game was much closer, and even longer than either of the first
two as Clyne attempted to fight his way back into the contest. However,
Lobban would not be denied, and he won the third 11-7 to close out the
match in straight games, winning his second Challenger 30 level title,
following a victory at the HKFC PSA International Squash Open three
years ago.
“I am over the moon to be honest! It’s been a great week in general, but
to top it off, playing Clyney in the final. Yesterday, we were so happy
that both of us got to the final, but half an hour before the final
kicked in, we were both thinking it was a shame that one of us had to
lose,” Lobban admitted.
“It was a great final, I really had to push hard. I know the scoreline
looked comfortable, but at no point was it! I am just really happy that
I cam away with the victory. I came in with a clear tactic today and I
don’t think I could have executed it any better than I did!
“He obviously had the top seed to get past in the quarter finals and in
an earlier match he went to 11-9 in the fifth so he has had a few tough
ones this week. We knew that both of us were going to push hard, and not
go down without a fight. He has done really well to get to the final,
and for Scottish Squash, it’s great!
“To be honest, the last year and a half I have struggled. Last year, I
didn’t really want to step on court, and when I did, I really wished I
could just walk straight back off it. I had to switch things up to try
and find the love of the game back and to enjoy life on Tour again. The
fact that we have tournament after tournament now has helped me, I love
the competition! I am really enjoying that side of it now!”
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Double Scottish Delight In Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open
Semi-finals
The finals of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open are set, with Wales’
Emily Whitlock and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis, the top two seeds, through to
the women’s final at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, while
Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban will face off in the first all-Scottish final
at a non-restricted PSA World Tour event in eight years.
Alan Clyne (left), will meet Greg Lobban in the final
Scotland’s Alan Clyne is through to the final in Dublin for the third
time in his career, after a strong performance saw him defeat a higher
seed for the second day in succession, this time overcoming the
challenge of the tournament’s No.5 seed, Frenchman Auguste Dussourd.
The World No.48 made it into the semis after a victory over top seed
Patrick Rooney on Thursday, and he came up against Dussourd in the last
four after the Frenchman had taken out compatriot Lucas Serme. Clyne
continued to play some incredible squash, and with Dussourd clearly
tired from the day before, the Scot was able to control the contest,
winning in three to advance to the final.
Clyne made the final of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open in both 2012
and 2014, but saw himself on the losing side of both finals, losing out
to Botswana’s Alister Walker and England’s Adrian Waller. This will also
be his second Challenger 30 level final after the Northwestern Mutual
Life Time Houston Open back in 2019.
“It is quite tough to back up after a big win yesterday. I played really
well yesterday, and to play as well, if not better today, I am really
happy because Auguste has been flying, he has had a good tournament. To
beat him 3-0, I am delighted,” Clyne said.
“The Irish Open has been one of my favourite events and it hasn’t been
on for a few years, so I was delighted to be able to come here. I seem
to play some of my best squash here, so I am hoping to keep it going.
“There’s a lot of people I know, like the members of the club who
remember me coming back and that is always nice to come back and speak
to them. The court is very much the same and I am used to that as well.
It is just good feelings when you’re used to the surroundings and you
seem to play well!”
Clyne will now face compatriot Greg Lobban in tomorrow’s final, after
his fellow Scot overcame No.2 seed George Parker in straight games. The
pair had played four times before on Tour, with both men having won
twice, the most recent coming at the Manchester Open in 2021, where
Parker won 3-0.
Lobban (fore) and Parker (back) during their
semi-final contest in Dublin
This contest had the reverse scoreline though, as Lobban was able to
back up his tough five-game win over another Englishman, Declan James,
to push on and control the ’T’ against Parker. He dropped just ten
points across the match, and will advance through to the final, where he
will aim to win a second Challenger 30 level crown, following his
victory at the HKFC PSA International Squash Open in 2019.
“Really stoked with that. I fully expected to be on court for 80 minutes
like last like night. I played really well, backed it up physically
really well, but more importantly, mentally as well,” the Scot said.
“I felt in control for the whole match, in terms of myself, not
necessarily the squash. I felt great out there! Being an all-Scottish
final is huge for Scottish Squash, and we would have taken it for sure,
coming into this tournament. It has been a great week for both of us,
we’re great mates off the court and we’re both happy for the other to be
in the final.”
Meanwhile, the women’s final will be between the top two seeds, as both
Welshwoman Emily Whitlock and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis came through their
respective last four matches, with the latter taking out the adopted
home favourite, No.6 seed Alexandra Fuller, in a pulsating four-game
battle at the Fitzwilliam Club.
The Belgian won the Challenger 30 level Annecy Rose Open last week, and
is aiming to keep this title in the family after older sister Nele won
the last edition of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open back in 2019. Her
match with Fuller was one of two extremes, with three tie-breaks and an
11-0 game all in four games of action.
Tinne Gilis in action at the Fitzwilliam Club
Gilis took the first game on a tie-break 13-11, and was able to push on
in the second, running out into a big lead early on. She went on to win
it 11-0, but Fuller fought back, and with the crowd at the Fitzwilliam
Club right behind her, she took the third. She then had her chances to
win the fourth game as well, but the Belgian saved two game balls en
route to a second 13-11 win, and ultimately, the match.
“I am very relieved. It was a very hard match against Alex. She is the
home favourite. She trains here, her coach is here, her parents are
here, her boyfriend is here, she had the whole crowd behind her and it
is always hard playing the home favourite,” Gilis explained.
“I played really well the second game. It is not that she did anything
wrong, I just think that my shots were working. I didn’t make any
mistakes but I knew she was 2-0 down, she had nothing to lose. She was
going to come back strongly and that’s what she did. She played so well
in the third and put me under pressure. I managed to find a way through
to win this battle, so I am very happy and I am very excited to play
another final tomorrow.”
Gilis will face women’s top seed Emily Whitlock in Saturday’s final in
Dublin, after the Welshwoman overcame the unseeded Grace Gear in
straight games in the opening match of the evening’s play. The
Englishwoman had already taken out two seeded players to reach the last
four, but Whitlock showed her class to me through unscathed.
The World No.19 played her typical game, and with errors coming from the
racket of the young Englishwoman, Whitlock was in control in each of the
three games in their contest. She won 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in 31 minutes to
advance to her biggest final on Tour to date.
Emily Whitlock in action
“I did what I had to do I think. I don’t think I played as well as
yesterday, but a lot of that is to do with the fact that it was a good
game yesterday, extras that come with a good performance, a bit like a
hangover feeling maybe. A bit faded, but I did what I had to do,”
Whitlock said.
“It was solid enough and I think I put Grace under some pressure, and
her giving me a few errors helped me a little bit, but it was good to
get another match on that court, especially with me playing tomorrow.”
The finals of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open will take place on
Saturday, April 23, with action coming from the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis
Club. Play will start at 14:30 (GMT+1), with it all live on SQUASHTV. |
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For more information on the event, visit the tournament website or
follow the PSA World Tour on Twitter or Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
and
SQUASHTV. |
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