18-Apr, Final:
 
[1] Olivia Blatchford (Usa) 3-1 [2] Cyrielle Peltier(Fra)
               11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7

Top seed Blatchford wins in Paderborn

In a first-class final match Olivia Blatchford defeated Cyrielle Peltier by 3: 1.

After a short but quite spectacular dancing programme by a very junior national winning dancing troup, the finalists were brought onto the court in great style.
 
The first half of the dance routine was an American Ballet piece for Olivia followed by the french can can for Cyrielle. Perhaps a little unusual for a 5K tournament but the Paderborn Squash Club organisers are of the opinion that now that the WSA has joined forces the PSA, tournaments require the same level of presentation as the men. The players were very impressed with the Paderborn set up and many of them announced their return next year.

Now to the squash.

Both players started cautiously attempting little risk in the early stages whereby the pace was crisp and fast. The final few points in the first went to Blatchford when she hit three nicks in three rallies to go one up 11/7. The second started in the same way until Blatchford tinned an attempted drop from the back left hand corner of the court. Taking a little more time than usual, going to her serve Peltier must have had a serious talk to her inside-body. Directly from the serve she slowed the game down almost to snails pace which completely upset Blatchford’s rhythm. A short tussle for a couple of points and the slow game went distinctly to Peltier.

The third started good for Peltier until two forced errors let Blatchford off the hook. Similarly to the match yesterday her drop shot magic worked again and took the third. Peltier the second seed had every intension to make the match hers and tried everything in her shot repertoire. Blatchford seemed to make commanding winners at the right time keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats, all biting their nails. Peltier trying to desperately to slow the pace down while Blatchford kept firing it up continually, forcing the error factor to grow for Peltier. Finally with 11/7 it was over but both players gave a magnificent display of high quality squash. Furios attacking play dashed with deadly slow-play tactics, to brilliant shot making from both girls.

The Paderborn City marketing manager Mr Bernd Schaefers-Maiwald commented in his speech that he had witnessed the World Men’s Team Championships in 2011 and thought the physical effort shown by the men was outstanding but what he had seen today was simply amazing.

Cyrielle complimented Olivia Blatchford on a great match: "I was being stretched too much with the pace in the first game and had to change my tactics to counteract her fierce play. It worked well but sadly not long enough. Olivia has more than earned the victory, she played fantastic."

Olivia was full of praise for her opponent too: "Cyrielle has played an excellent match and kept trying to break my game. I do not like to play slowly, so I had to attack. Luckily I managed to do what I set to do.. "

At the end of her speech, the 22 year-old immediately asked for a „Weizenbier“ (A special german wheat beer - non alcoholic) to drink to her dad.

"I love Germany and have played many big junior tournament here under the eye of my father. He loved his „Weizen" so now I must drink one for him - Cheers Dad“ and thank you so much Paderborn!"
  

11-9, 12-10, 8-11,
12-10

[4] Fiona Moverley

11-7, 7-11,
11-8, 11-7

  [2] Cyrielle Peltier

11-8, 15-13, 10-12, 11-5

  [2] Cyrielle Peltier

15-Apr, Qualifying Finals:

Sharon Sinclair (Ger) 3-1 Nada Elkalaawy (Eng)       13-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3
Marina De Juan Gallach (Esp) 3-1 Alicia Mead (Eng)    11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8
Nicole Fries (Ger) 3-2 Chloe Marshall (Eng)      11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10
Tessa Ter Sluis (Ned) 3-0 Rina Koskinen (Fin)                     11-5, 11-2, 11-7
 
Qualifying Round One:
Sharon Sinclair (Ger) 3-2 Mareike Omlor (Ger)    11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8
Nicole Fries (Ger) 3-1 Maarit Ekholn (Fin)                    11-6, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5

17-Apr Semis:

Both semi finals proved worthy of the seeding list as both the nr. 1 and nr. 2 reached the final in fine style.

Cyrielle Peltier (Fra) 3-1 Sina Wall ( Ger)

Cyrielle Peltier put an end to the Paderborn hopes of a finalist after dispatching of Sina Wall in a thrilling squash match.

Wall was a little slow of the mark whereby the first game turned out to be a thrilling encounter with Peltier always keeping the pace going at a tremendous rate. Wall keep hunting the ball and came very close but Peltier took the game 11/8.

The following two games were both very exciting with both players working at full rate. 15/13 in the second and a very close contest for a 10/12 in the third gave Wall a second chance to come back. Fired on by the home crowd the fourth game was not to be as the amount of unforced errors grew continuously.

Peltier said afterwards that she has had tremendous respect for Sina since her junior days. "Not only is she a good player but also a wonderful person. I was out of my comfort zone in front of the court today because Sina was so quick on the ball and I was on the retreat several times. Concentrating on simple basic routines helped me regain my confidence and I was very happy to go forward into the final tomorrow."

Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-1 Fiona Moverley (Eng)

Both players started with strong intentions of a place in the final.

All four games were strongly contested. Blatchford played delicate drop shots from all over the court which at first seemed to stretch Moverley. Being tall and extremely athletic Moverley covered them well and keep the burning pace going for much of the time.

Moverley tried to widen the court with length and height but the american whirlwind was everywhere and finished several rallies with her deadly drop shots from nowhere.

"I was disappointed at not being able to win the games especially as I was ahead most of the time“, said Moverley. "I knew it would be a tough match but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will definitely be back in Paderborn next year."

Blatchford remarked that when she saw the draw she knew who she would meet in the semis. "I felt good when my risky shots all seemed to work today but the I thought the rest of my squash was pretty mediocre. Tomorrow is another day and it is another match so I am happy to be in the final."
 

17-Apr, Quarters:

Sina Wall (Ger) 3 Thaisa Serafini (Bra) 1

The first match saw a furious start by Sina Wall playing in front of her home crowd. She raced to a 8:0 lead before she took the first game in just 7 Minutes.

The second game equally short in just 10 minutes before Serefini had the wake up call.

The third game was proved to be a real fight. Wall giving away two match balls which seemed to boast the confidence of the Brazilian girl. The fourth game started just like the third had ended with long rallies and both girls showing the strain of the battle.
At 7 all, the constant hitting of perfect length shots gave Wall the match.

Serefini said that somehow she felt very uncomfortable due to the precise hitting length of Walls shots. Finding it difficult to get back to the 'T“'. "I had difficulty in dealing with the pressure, Sina played an outstanding game and I wish her luck for her and Paderborn in the semis."

Sina was pleased to be hitting her aimed targets and found the game really enjoyable until 10 all in the third. "This made the game seem non ending for me and I started to struggle with the last few balls. I am very happy to be through to the semis and hope I can continue the way I started this afternoon."

Cyrielle Peltier (Fra) 3 Leonie Holt (Eng) 0

Both players started well and contested a cautious but exciting first game.
Leonie Holt, a seasoned tour player made several unforced errors towards the second half of the second game allowing Peltier to claim small advantages and take the game.

A similar pattern in the third game mixed with a short discussion with the german referee allowed Peltier to run away with the final few points.

After the match Cyrielle said that it was only her second time she had played Leonie and that perhaps she showed just a little too much respect for her. "I know her to be a good solid player on the tour so I am thrilled to go through with a three love result."

Fiona Moverley 3-0 Alison Thomson (Eng)

In the first game Fiona Moverley started in a commanding form and gave Alison Thomson little chance to find her game. In the second it was Alison who took an early lead only to be roped in again at 9 all. With a very experienced head Fiona closed out the game 11/9.

The pressure in the third game proved too much for Alison who played good squash but was no real threat to the solid striking Fiona.

Fiona said: "I am happy with the way I played today against Alison. She was very quick so I had to stretch the court out to make it hard for her. The second game was close but even though I was 9/7 down I felt I could still take the game if I worked hard.

"In the last game I made sure I attacked from the first point and kept that pressure all the way through the game. Really enjoyed the match and can’t wait to play in the semi finals later."

Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-0 Chloe Mesic (Fra)

After the impressive game yesterday Olivia Blatchford went to work as usual today. Her crisp shot repertoire gave Chloe Mesic little chance of getting into her game.

Trying desperately to find some length Chloe was off footed several times through clever manoeverability from Olivia.
Blatchford went from strength to strength and proved to strong for Mesic.
 

Nada wins Ahorn trophy

Before the main draw got under way in Paderborn, ll six losers from the qualifying round agreed to play for the Ahorn Trophy. This was an added attraction for the players to the generous facilities in Paderborn.



The winner Nada Elkalaawy said it was a great idea as normally one would return home dejected after losing in the first round.

Two groups of three followed by each team placing facing the opposite group placed player.

Winner was Nada Elkalaawy beating the young sixteen year old finish talent Riina Koskinen 12/10, 11/8, 14/12.

Klkalaawy said afterwards that this tournament was her first after injury put her out of training for almost a year.

“I was moving much better today despite a really tough match. This idea of a mini plate round certainly gave me more confidence having lost yesterday. Riini played very well and I was pleased to win the match 3-0."

15-Apr, Qualifying:
Germany beats England in two five-setters

 
Fries and Sinclair in their pre-qualifying matches