Top seed Camille Serme
delighted the home fans in Le Port Marly, on the outskirts of Paris,
as she collected her sixth WISPA title - but her first for just over
two years - with a four-game win over Natalie Grinham in the
final of the fifth edition of the WISPA des Pyramides.
Top seeds Camille Serme and Natalie Grinham both beat
their Indian opponents to reach the final of the 2011 edition of the
WISPA des Pyramides Open.
In
the first semi-final Grinham and Joshna Chinappa quickly got into
their strides, short rallies with a lot of attempted attacks and
interceptions, all successfully.
Chinappa took a 6-0 lead and kept it until she earned gameballs at
10-6, but then Natalie turned on the turbo to take the next six
points to win the game 12-10.
The Dutchwoman was on top in the second, blocking the attacks of
Joshna to lead 6-2 and 10-4, as Joshna is a bit overwhelmed by the
pace.
From the start of the third game it was clear that Chinappa was out
of it, Grinham dominated in all areas of the game and won 11-2 to
take the match in 29 minutes.
"I
thought I played quite well today. Joshna can hit some amazing shots
if you let her, so I had to try to move her and stretch her which is
hard to do because she is tall and has a good reach.
"I’m happy to be off in three games after being down 10-6 in the
first game. And happy to be in the final of this great event!"
"I played well in the first game to lead but couldn't close it. I
wasn’t patient enough and she played very well."
Home
favourite Serme then took on Dipika Pallikal. The opening game was
even up to 6-all but Serme bossed the end of the tough 9-minute
game, winning the last five points to take the lead.
It was a similar story in the second as Dipika led 4/3 but Camille
again finishes strongly, hitting good lengths to take it 11/4 in 8
minutes.
Both attacked in the third as the lead changed hands several times.
Errors from Camille allow Dipika to lead 9/7, but once again the
Frenchwoman finishes strongly, this time taking four points in a row
to seal the victory.
"This is
the first time I've reach the finals of the Pyramids so I'm happy,
it's positive.
"It was a good battle, especially in the third game as she made very
few mistakes and some nice attacking shots. She has an attacking
game so I knew I had to play close to the walls.
"Tomorrow is a big game! I've never beaten Natalie so I have nothing
but envy, no pressure ... And also public support, it can help ..."
It was another good day for the top seeds in Le Port Marly, with
Camille Serme, Natalie Grinham and Dipika Pallikal all moving into
the semi-finals in straight games.
In the only upset of the day Joshna Chinappa made it two Indians in
the last four as she beat fourth seed Aisling Blake in the longest
match of the day.
"It
was a great experience for me to play with such a champion like
Camille; I enjoyed playing her and I will learn from this match and
try to work hard on my game to keep improving."
"I
am happy with my game tonight. I had not played Lucie since juniors,
but I knew roughly what to expect ...
"I had a good length in the first two games, which allowed me to
attack on good opportunities. In the third game, I lost this length
and Lucie benefited, returning good shots ...
"Happy to win 3/0. Tomorrow a new game, another battle ..."
"Dipika
was playing really tight and good squash today with very few errors.
I tried to keep her deep but had too many short lengths which gave
her the opportunity to attack the ball.
"Her pace was a bit too much for me in the second game, in the third
I started playing the correct game but unfortunately couldn’t keep
it together."
"It's always good to get off in three. Every game was played at a
high pace, so I had to stay strong mentally and physically from the
beginning. Every game was tough, and when she started coming back in
the third I just had to stay focused. The last time we played I won
11/9 in the fifth so I knew It was going to be tough, so I m glad to
get off in three. Looking forward to playing Camille tomorrow."
"It
was a hard game. I tried to be as patient as I could and that helped
me play a lot better.. I was deff more relaxed today than I was for
yesterdays match. I am happy to get through to the semis."
"Hot, bouncy courts, I thought that would favour me more as Joshna
plays quite an attacking game and the ball would sit up a bit but
she obviously didn’t get that memo and found the nicks anyway.
Nevertheless it was a great tournament here, club members and
organisers are very welcoming and we’re being treated extremely
well, shame I couldn’t go further in the tournament……next year…"
"Good match, enjoyed it. She played
better than me and deserved to win...
29-Jun, Qualifying Finals: Celia and Coline advance
Double success for France in the qualifying finals in Port Marly
as Coline Aumard fulfilled her second seeding, beating
compatriot Chloe Mesic in four games, while Celia Allamargot
upset top seed Siyoli Waters in three close games. Norway's Lotte Eriksen and Canada's Stephanie Edmison
claimed the other two qualifying places.
Match points from Jean-Christophe Harriau
A
good start for Chloe, who played simple effective squash. A missed
drop shot and a stroke gave Chloe a 9/6 lead, and she won the first
game 11/8. Coline attacked the second game with determination, and
quickly led 7/0, winning the game 11/4.
The third game was like the first, but two errors from Chloe and a
winning shot allow Coline to win the game 11/7. Coline took control
of the "T" in the fourth and won the game 11/6 and the match in 35
min.
Chloe played a good match, but Coline was stronger on this one.
Lottie
and Faustine players used their striking power to destabilize the
opponent from the beginning, the rallies are not very long.
Faustine won first game with authority and beautiful winning shots.
The three last games are still tight but Faustine made too many
mistakes and Lotte passed through the main draw in 36 min.
Two
opposite styles from two different girls in the very interesting
Stephanie v Catalina match! Stephanie imposed a high pace of play in
the first.
The second game is more balanced, after a stroke for Catalina on her
opponent's game ball, she won with two beautiful shots, 12/10.
Catalina seemed a bit tired in the third and couldn't have easy
winning shots. She is really tired in the fourth and Stephanie won
the match in 38 min.
Célia played well and concentrated. She kept the same tactic all
match long on a very hot court, leading the match from beginning to
end.
28-Jun, Qualifying Round One:
French hat-trick in Port Marly
Three home players won through the first qualifying round as the
WISPA des Pyramides got under way in Port Marly, on the outskirts of
Paris, with five matches only one of which went past three games.
Chloe Mesic, Faustine Gilles and Celia Allamargot
will contest Wednesday's qualifying finals, with one French addition
to the main draw guaranteed as Mesic takes on Coline Aumard, one of
the stars of the promotional video produced for the event (scroll
down below the draw if you haven't seen it yet, definitely worth a
watch).
Colombia's Catalina Pelaez and Canadian Stephanie Edmison
stopped the French run with wins over Cyrielle Peltier and Milja
Dorenbos.
"It's
the second or third time I have played Cyrielle," said Catalina. "We
have played in junior tournaments and it has always been fun to play
her. We had three close games, Cyrielle played well. I tried to be
patient and keep the rallies long and it worked. I am looking
forward to play with Stephanie tomorrow."
Edmison, despite having spent time in Dorenbos's home country of
Holland, had never before played Milja in a tournament.
"I
lived in Holland all of last year, never played her but knew her
game style well and was excited to see how the match would play out.
I found the courts very hot and it q little difficult to control the
ball; however once I got a feel for the court I felt in control.
"Milja played very well I think I just out played her with pace and
I am just happy to be through to the next round."
Dorenbos added: "Stephanie was playing a quick game. I tried to keep
up, but I felt it was really hard on these hot courts. My balls were
flying everywhere, and my shots were in the tin a lot.
"So Stehanie played well and used the court to her advantage.
Good luck to everyone else!"
WISPA
des Pyramides 2011
