23-Mar, Final:
Alison Waters (Eng) bt [1] Kasey Brown (Aus)
          7/11, 11/5, 9/11, 11/6, 11/3 (85m)

After a year out of action with injury, but having given note that she was back to somewhere near her best form as she finished runner-up in last month's British National Championships, England's Alison Waters returned to the WSA fray and, unseeded after seeing her ranking slip from top five to 35, captured her fifth career WSA title (out of 95 tournaments).

Waters edges Brown in the best match of the tournament.
Glen Wilson reports

This was the match everyone had been waiting for. Kasey Brown the world number 7 against Alison Waters the former world number 3 and we weren't disappointed.

Brown started the better, settling into her game nicely. Waters was a little loose which enabled Brown to take advantage of the middle and place Waters under some pressure. Some long exchanges where both players were being very patient, but Brown had the upper hand early on taking the first.

In the second Waters came out firing, hitting the ball a lot harder and mixing it up more, moving Brown around the court. Brown's defence was solid but Waters had found a few chinks in the Australian's armour and was able to hit some nice winners from her sustained pressure. Waters levels it at one all.

The third was a real fight, both players didn't want to give anything away. Point for point and then at 9 all the best rally of the tournament. Over 150 shots of both players moving the ball around, working each other like crazy to try and reach that game ball.

Brown picked up some spectacular balls to the astonishment of the crowd. Waters must have thought she had won the point 2 or 3 times. Finally it ended with Waters hitting a tin as both players bent over and walked a few lengths of the court to gain their breath. The next rally was another long exchange and an unforced error by Waters had Brown up 2/1. The crowd were very much involved, eager for the girls to get back on court in this highly entertaining match.

The fourth was pretty close at the start, but Waters' working boast and ability to hold the ball had Brown covering a lot of ground. From 5/4 Waters pulled clear and closed it out setting up a grandstand finish for the sold out crowd.

Waters came out strong in the 5th winning the first 6 points before Brown got on the scoreboard. Brown seemed a little flat and she didn't look like she had the spring in her step from the previous games.

Brown had definitely slowed down as Waters was relentless with her pressure. The 5th was easy by the scoreline but the match overall was a game of skill, strategy and attrition and Waters thoroughly deserved her victory.

Brown can take a lot away from this match as she flies out to compete in Malaysia, and on this form Waters will be hard to beat in Toronto next week.

11/6, 11/8, 11/4 (65m)

[3] Sarah Kippax

7/11, 11/5, 9/11, 11/6, 11/3 (85m)

Alison Waters

11/3, 11/3, 11/7 (32m)

[2] Joey Chan

19-Mar, Qualifying Finals:

Maria Toor Pakay (Pak) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (Nzl)      11/9, 11/7, 8/11, 11/6
Sam Cornett (Can) bt Leonie Holt (Eng)                               11/4, 11/6, 11/8
Miranda Ranieri (Can) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng)                  11/7, 11/8, 11/8
Sina Wall (Ger) bt Tesni Evans (Wal)                                    7/11, 16/14, 11/2, 11/8

18-Mar, Qualifying Round One

Maria Toor Pakay bt Alix Younger                11/3, 5/11, 11/4, 11/3
Leonie Holt bt Genevieve Lessard              9/11, 11/3, 12/10, 11/8
Sarah Jane Perry bt Hollie Naughton                     11/4, 11/3, 11/5
Tesni Evans bt Lindsay Bovaird                             11/3, 11/4, 11/1

22-Mar, Semis:

[1] Kasey Brown bt [3] Sarah Kippax 11/6, 11/8, 11/4 (65m)

Alison Waters bt [2] Joey Chan   11/3, 11/3, 11/7 (32m)
  

21-Mar, Quarter-Finals:
Waters joins top three in semis
Glen Wilson reports

The top three seeds will be joined by the returning to action Alison Waters in the semi-finals of the Atwater Cup in Montreal, after enjoying contrasting quarter-final victories at Club Atwater ...

Alison Waters bt Aisling Blake 11/2, 11/4, 11/5

This was a very dominating performance by the former world number three. Waters started strong and never looked back. The pace was high and accurate and Blake had no answer to the relentless pressure she was being placed under.

A very convincing 3/0 win that had the crowd in awe of what was a very strong statement moving through to the semi finals.

Kasey Brown bt Line Hansen 11/8, 11/7, 11/8

ansen started the better leading 7/2 early settling into a nice rhythm. Something triggered in Brown as she stepped up the court, cut down the T and started hitting the ball more firmly into the back corners. This gave Hansen less time to get set as she found herself under a mountain of pressure.

Brown won the next 8 points to go game ball for Hansen to peg one back before before closing it out.

In the next two games Hansen played well but Browns consistency and ability to get herself out of trouble was enough to see Hansen off in what was a spirited challenge.

Brown moves through unscathed and an interesting match up against Kippax looms.

Joey Chan bt Gaby Huber 11/4, 5/11, 12/10, 11/7

The number 2 seed Chan came out guns a blazing blasting though the first 11/4 in 8 minutes.

The second was interesting as Chan started to play a little more conservative, a few errors crept in and Huber went onto the attack and played some great squash to level it at 1 game a piece.

A new found confidence had Huber dominating the exchanges looking very comfortable as she moved the ball around nicely. Huber served at 10/8 only to hit 3 errors to give Chan a game ball and that's all she needed to close it out. Chan found her game again in the fourth and led 10/5 eventually finishing it 11/7.

Waters is next in what will be a highly anticipated match.

Sarah Kippax bt Latasha Khan 11/5, 8/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/6

Kippax started the better with Khan hitting it too short allowing Kippax to dominate early, 1/0 to Kippax.

In the second Khan came out and hit the ball more tightly trying to extend the rallies banking on her technique to get her in the match. Kippax was always the first to try something even from pressure situations which backfired a little allowing Khan to cut the ball off and hit some nice shots. Khan levelled at one game all.

The third was a replicate of the second with Kippax not quite sure how to break down Khans solid game. It was now or never for Kippax, she had to find a way to break Khans momentum. That she did as she started mixing it up, cross lobs, trickle boasts, low hard drives, trying anything to get Khan moving quickly away from the middle.

The fourth was close 7 all, 8 all, 9 all then Kippax hit a couple of great shots to push the match to a 5th.

In the decider Kippax came out strong breaking out to a commanding 6/1 lead that she never surrendered, winning it 11/6 to her relief and a well deserved semi final placing.
 

Semis from 6.30, with a PSA quick fire exhibition at 7.15,
Raphael Kandra vs Jan Koukal

Kasey Brown v Lucie Fialova

Fialova caught Brown by surprise early on going out to a 5/2 lead but Brown stepped it up and reeled her opponent in by playing some basic tight squash.

The openings soon came and the world number 7 finished the points off with some nice winners. 11/7 to Brown in the first and although Fialova kept fighting Brown's dominance was superior in all aspects, winning the last two games 11/4, 11/3.

Line Hansen v Siyoli Waters

Having lost to Hansen 3/0 in her last two outings Waters was determined to do better this time around and she did that by taking the first game and a real confidence boost going into the second.

Hansen though had other ideas and was not about to let her lower seeded opponent go two games to love up. Hansen was playing the ball crisply moving her opponent around the court trying to take control of the T. She gained an advantage and opened up a 3 point lead from 5 all that she hung on too to level the match at1 game a piece. Hansen took the ascendancy into the third running away with it 11/5 looking good for a comfortable 3/1 win.

Waters though had other ideas and the feisty South African was not about to roll over as she played some superb squash in the fourth to level it at two all.

The fifth was neck and neck both players scrambling around the court picking everything up to the delight of the packed crowd. Hansen broke away to lead 7/3 but Waters was fighting and found another gear to get close at 7/9. Hansen played two great rallies at the end to win the points and force an error to close it out 11/7 to her relief.

Waters can hold her head high having played a fantastic match and can be extremely pleased with her performance. It doesn’t get easier for Hansen, top seed Kasey Brown awaits.

Latasha Khan v Samantha Cornett

This was always going to be a tough match. Khan the seasoned professional against Cornett who showed some great form in the earlier round. Both players technically are very good so the points were long, tight to the wall and very precise when going short.

Cornett came out the more aggressive and it paid some dividends as she opened up a nice lead to go up 9/6. Khan came back to level at 9 all but Cornett held firm and won a tight first.

The second was even all the way, no more than 2 points separating each other. This time at 9/8 up it was Khans turn to play the big points well moving Cornett around the court then finishing them off with some nice kills. In the third both players came out trying gain the upper hand.

There was nothing between the two, Khan playing basic tight squash and being the more patient with Cornett hitting it hard, trying to force the pace looking to attack. Just like the first two sets neither player could make a break. It wasn't until 8/7 when Khan forced a couple of errors from Cornett trying to cut in the backhand drop that clipped the tin. She went through on her first game ball with a nice kill to up 2/1.

The fourth went point for point, Cornett was trying to find a way through Khans technique, hitting it hard, taking it in short, doing anything should could to break up her rythum. Khans defence was strong as she absorbed everything the young Canadian threw at her. Khan got to match point 10/8 but Cornett hit a couple of amazing boasts to level at 10all.

The crowd were wanting to see a 5th set 10all, 11all, 12all, 13all, then the next 2 rallies went Khans way, a winner then an error from Cornett had the American number 2 winning a very tough battle of the border match in a wonderful and highly spirited contest appreciated by the 80 strong crowd.

Sarah Kippax v Maria Toor Pakay

You could see after three days in Montreal that Kippax was keen to get into it. Hitting the ball hard, moving very well around the front not giving her opponent any time to settle. Pakay likes to go short and Kippax was onto the ball very early punishing her opponent with quick drops and hard drives.

This was the pattern for the whole match as Pakay tried hard but Kippax was too strong winning 3/0.

Aisling Blake v Alexandra Norman

This match started pretty even but as the rallies lengthen Blakes class shone through as she was able to pick off Normans shots and find the space to put the ball away. Norman dug in but Blake was just too good on the night and she should be pleased with her performance as she moves into the second round.

Alison Waters v Emma Beddoes

On paper this was the match everyone wanted to see. Waters the former world number three back from injury looking good in practice all week up against a tough player in Emma Beddoes.

Right from the outset you could see this was going to be a great match. Beddoes was moving well extending the rallies trying to give Waters nothing to attack her with. Maybe Waters was a little rusty from not having played alot over the past few months but she was trying to force the points which played into Beddoes hands. Beddoes was ready to pounce on anything short and loose and played some great points to win the first 12/10.

In the second Waters was starting to find her range as she held the ball extremely well on her backhand and mixed the ball up sending Beddoes scattering around the court. Beddoes was now on the receiving end of a mountain of work and Waters won a comfortable second 11/5.

The third started the same as the second the momentum had definitely shifted. Waters looked to be cruising at 8/3 but a couple of quick tins had Beddoes close and a new sense of belief had it locked at 9all. Waters managed to sneak it with a couple of well played points 11/9 and you could see her relief.

The fourth was close, Beddoes was playing great squash making Waters work hard for her victory. Waters made a break in the middle with some well constructed rallies and that’s all she needed as she held on for a tough 3/1 win in what was the highest quality match of the night.

Gaby Huber v Sina Wall

Wall played great squash right from the outset taking a pretty convincing first set 11/6. She stayed aggressive in the second winning alot of points for her attacking ability. Huber had gotten herself in the match by keeping the ball tight, playing great defence and executing her openings when she had the opportunity. Huber had a game ball but Wall came back to clinch a close second 12/10 and go two up.

The third was tight until 5all then a slight lapse from Wall saw Huber break clear to up 10/6 and take the third. A few rallies into the fourth Wall was running into the front right corner and somehow slipped as she lunged. It didn't look great but after a 3min self inflicted time out she said she was fine to continue. 2 rallies later she was back on the floor in agony having definitely done something to her knee.

She couldn't continue and had to default the match. Hopefully its not too serious the on site doctor was there to assist her and we hope she has a quick recovery. Huber no doubt would not wont to win like that but she must now re-focus quickly for her big match against Joey Chan in the next round.

Joey Chan v Miranda Ranieri

The last match of the night and many people had stayed around to see the Canadian number 1 against the number two seed and world number 19. Chan likes to attack and that’s what she did right from the start never allowing Ranieri to settle into her rhythm.

Chan won a comfortable first 11/6. Chan started well again in the second opening up a early lead 5/1. Ranieri as she does dug deep getting herself back into the match and then gain the upper hand to move to game ball 10/9.

She couldn't convert as Chan found the way to win the big points and win four on the trot to win a tight one 12/10. You could see the disappoint in Ranieri as she held her head for what could have been.

The third was all Chan, maybe Ranieri was still thinking about the second but Chan wins the third 11/5 and looks in good form going into the quarter finals.