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Montreal Open 2013
26 Feb - 01 Mar, Canada, $5k |
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01-Mar:
Cornett claims Montreal crown Montreal
Yvon Provencal reports
Sam Cornett bt Milou Van Der Heijden 9-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8
Sam was the heavy favorite going into the last match. Not only was
there a big difference in ranking (33 vs 60) but also because of her
play the last few days. She is fit, moves well and has improved her
overall game over the last year (she won this event in 2012). Milou
had played a gutsy semi yesterday overcoming an upcoming player and
a racquet injury.
It was a nervous start for Sam with a few tins and many loose drives
while Milou was playing her mid pace shots to all four corners. At
2-5, Sam hit a perfect forehand dying length that seemed to calm her
down but Milou hung and started to go short on every occasion she
had. The strategy worked as she was able to close the game 11-9.
With Canadian teammate Alex Norman in her corner, Sam came out
making the court bigger using more of Milou’s strategy by moving the
ball to the four corners and varying the pace. She raced to a 5-0
lead, and never looked back and took the game 11-4.
Milou stuck to her strategy of going short on every occasion but
started with a few tins in the third. Sam was putting her under a
lot of pressure with a mix of hard lengths, kills and drops. She
built an 8-0 lead and won the game 11-2.
Was Milou going to adjust in the 4th? She dealt better with the
constant pressure Sam was imposing by either slowing the pace down
or by counter attacking. The crowd supported Milou in the end
because she pushed until the last shot was hit. That game was way
closer but Sam closed the deal 11-8.
This ended the second Women’s squash week in Montreal and it must be
noted that women spectators outnumbered men by a 2 to 1 ratio.
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  Montreal
Open 2013
26Feb - 01 Mar, Canada, $5k |
Round One
26 Feb 12.00 - 21.15 |
Quarters
27 Feb |
Semis
28 Feb |
Final
01 Mar |
[1] Sam Cornett (Can)
bye |
[1] Sam Cornett
11-1, 11-0, 11-6
Erin Roberts |
[1] Sam Cornett
11-4, 11-7, 11-9
[3] Alexandra Norman |
[1] Sam Cornett
9-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden |
Erin Roberts (Can)
14-12, 11-4, 11-7
Anne-Christine Lajoie (Can) |
[3] Alexandra Norman (Can)
bye |
[3] Alexandra Norman
12-10, 11-4, 11-6
[8] Maia Kirk |
[8] Maia Kirk (Can)
11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4
Louise Fefebvre (Can) |
Genevieve Lessard (Can)
11-5, 11-0, 11-4
[7] Cecilia Cortes (Usa) |
[7] Cecilia Cortes
10-12, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5
[4] Hollie Naughton |
[7] Cecilia Cortes
13-11, 13-11, 11-9
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden |
Tara Newman (Can)
11-6, 11-9, 11-5
[4] Hollie Naughton (Can) |
Michelle Craig (Can)
11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10
[6] Jacqueline Barnes (Aus) |
[6] Jacqueline Barnes
11-2, 11-1, 11-5
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden |
bye
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (Ned) |
28-Feb:
Semis in Montreal
Yvon Provencal reports
Sam Cornett bt Alexandra Norman (11-4, 11-7, 11-9)
This was the most anticipated match of the tournament between the
top 2 Canadian players seeded 1 and 3. Sam always a crowd favorite
and Alex the local star.
Sam took a quick lead after a few errors from Alex. She was able to
stay ahead in the score and even though Alex started to impose her
game on the backhand wall, Sam’s athleticism helped her close out
the game.
It was a little bit more of the same in the second with Sam often
answering Alex’s long winning rallies with short intense ones. Alex
came out with more energy in the third and started to close the
court way more to wait for loose balls. This produced the best
rallies of the tournament with both players having run to all four
corners.
Both players had also cut down on errors and were neck and neck
until 9-9. At that point, Sam’s grit was able to push Alex in
hitting a few too many loose balls. Sam game has improved a lot
since last year (she is the 2012 champ) and will be difficult to
beat tomorrow.
Milou Van Der Heijden bt Cecilia Cortes (13-11, 13-11,
11-9)
Milou hadn’t been pushed yet in this tournament and started the
match playing safe squash moving the ball around the court. Cecilia
tried to impose the quick pace she likes but Milou did not buy into
it and kept mixing up floating drives and crisp lengths. Always
behind in the score, Cecilia caught up at 9-9. But after a costly
unforced error and a stunning drop winner from Milou at game ball,
the second seed pocketed the first tight game.
I would have thought that Cecilia’s long match in the first round
would have affected her but it was Milou who showed signs of fatigue
in the 2nd. Cecilia could not get a significant lead and both were
again tied at 9-9, the next 4 points were won on unforced errors
until both players hit two winning drops. One tight ball down the
right followed by a controversial no let gave the 2nd to Milou in
extra points.
At 3-3 in the third, there was long break in the action as Milou
took a racquet on the nose. The bleeding from the cut needed to be
stopped before play could resume. A few minutes later and they were
again tied at 9. This time Milou hit two perfect dying lengths to
earn a place in the final.
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27-Feb:
Quarters in Montreal
Yvon Provencal reports
Cecilia Cortes v Hollie Naughton was always going to be the closest
match of the evening.
Two lefties that like to play at a quick pace and they did just that
right off the first rally. The first was neck and neck all the way
with both players opening up the court with lots of angles. With Sam
Cornett in her corner, Hollie started the second with a different
strategy of hitting straight more and waiting for loose balls. This
gave her the chance to start controlling the T more and use the
front of the court with more purpose.
It paid off as she got lots of mileage in Cecilia’s legs, game to
Naughton 11-5. Third was much of the same but with errors and loose
balls coming from Cecilia’s racquet. Game to Naughton 11-7. Cortes
slowed the ball down in the 4th and suddenly the errors were coming
from her opponent but Holly fought hard to stay within reach with
well played kills. Some tight rallies with Cortes able to play the
big points well. Game to Cortes 11-9.
Difficult to say what was going to happen in the 5th. The game
started just like the first at a very quick pace and at that game
Hollie was better going up 5-1. Seems like the switch went on for
Cecilia as she slowed the ball down again and which had the same
effect on Hollie’s game. Cortes ran a series of points and was able
to close it 11-6.
The next 3 matches were quite short and straightforward. Alex Norman
got off to a nervous start and Maia Kirk was able to stay close in
the first. Maia was then worked around the court early in games and
fitness became an issue.
Both Sam Cornett and Milou won very comfortably.
26-Feb:
Round One in Montreal
Yvon Provencal, Sam Cornett and
Milou Van Der Heijden report
Maia Kirk bt Louise Lefebvre 3-2
(11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4)
Maia started this match off dominating Louise with good length. She
took the first game confidently, and then we saw a complete reversal
in the second. Louise stepped up with more solid low length, putting
Maia on her heels and hitting a couple nice cross drops. Maia backed
off and hit more loopy straight length and was very tentative on her
short balls. Louise took the second game, and looked similarly
confident going into the third. She controlled Maia throughout the
third, and Maia gave her a bundle of errors at the front. However,
at the end of the third there were a couple tough rallies, and I
thought they might have an effect on Louise.
And I was right! The fourth game was 11-2 to Maia, as she brought
the intensity up one notch and put in some lower, harder crosscourts
and Louise hit a ton of tin. The fifth was similar, as Louise faded
more and Maia took control. Maia is very content with her first WSA
win!
Cecelia Cortes bt Gen Lessard 3-0
(11-5, 11-0, 11-4)
This match was on the short side, with Cecelia playing at a high
pace and dominating with good quick length and excellent drop shots.
Jacqueline Barnes bt Michelle Craig
(11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10)
Jacqueline started off well, dominating the pace. Michelle was under
a lot of pressure which gave Jacqueline opportunities to play her
shots.
After the first game Michelle started playing better. She was
finding better length and was able to move Jacqueline around. The
rallies were getting longer and Michelle was forcing Jacqueline to
make errors. This gave her a 2-1 lead. At 5-5 in the 4th Jacqueline
found her rhythm again and stormed off to 11-5 to make it 2-2. In
the 5th both girls were finding some great winners. Michelle had
matchball at 10-9 but Jacqueline finished that with a great nick
shot. This gave her confidence to finish that match.
Erin Roberts bt Anne Christine Lajoie
(14-12, 11-4, 11-7)
This was the night for first wins. Maia Kirk greeted Erin Roberts
with a high five as both will be playing in a second round for the
first time .
Anne Christine started off well in a long first game but Erin was
able close it off. Fitness became an issue for the local club player
and Erin was then able to push to the finish.
Holly Naughton bt Tara Newman
(11-6, 11-9, 11-5)
The fourth seed from Toronto won comfortably even though the local
(Tara Newman) played many solid rallies. Holly will play Cecilia
Cortes tomorrow in what looks like an excellent matchup.
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