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 Wellington
Open 2009
28-31 May, Wellington, New Zealand |
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31-May:
King & Knight rule in Wellington
Gary Denvir reports
Joelle King and Martin Knight have taken out
the titles at the Wellington Open at the Mana Squash Club.
 King
has triumphed in an epic final in the women's open, downing
top seed Tamsyn Leevey in a five game thriller. The
20-year-old twice fought back from a game down, to win 10-12
11-7 7-11 11-9 11-7 to confirm her status as an emerging
force in New Zealand squash.
Leevey, once ranked in the world's top 30, is impressed with
King's game. "She played extremely smart squash, moving me
around the court for the entire match and my fitness is not
what it used to be. I haven't played Joelle for a couple of
years and she has matured into a very impressive player in
that time".
However, there was a modicum of revenge for the former stars
brigade in the third place playoff, with former world number
one Leilani Rorani downing Waikato teenager Amanda Cranston
3-11 11-9 11-7 12-10.
 Martin
Knight also defied the seedings to grab his second title in
two weeks, upsetting top seed Kashif Shuja to win the men's
open. The Auckland Open champion held off a late fight back
by Shuja to win 11-7 11-7 10-12 11-8.
Knight is thrilled with his success. "I've been hitting the
ball and moving well in recent months so it's great that it
has turned into a couple of titles - especially at home.
Hopefully if I continue to work hard I can transfer that
success onto the world tour when I head back overseas later
this year".
Meanwhile, second seed Campbell Grayson proved too good for
Wellington teen Evan Williams in the third place playoff,
winning 11-6 11-7 11-4.
Men's Final:
[3] Martin Knight (Wellington) bt [1] Kashif Shuja
(Auckland)
11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8
3rd/4th:
[2] Campbell Grayson (Auckland) bt Evan Williams
(Wellington) 11-6 11-7 11-4
Women's Final:
[3] Joelle King (Waikato) bt [1] Tamsyn Leevey (Wellington)
10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7
3rd/4th:
[2] Leilani Rorani (Waikato) bt [4] Amanda Cranston (Waikato)
3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10
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Leilani no
match for protegé
Former world number one Leilani Rorani has been upstaged by
New Zealand's rising star, Joelle King, in the semifinals of
the Wellington Open at Mana Squash Club.
For the second time in two weeks, Rorani was no match for
the world number 47, going down in straight games in the
semifinals. King also won 3-0 when the pair clashed at the
Auckland Open a fortnight ago.
No such problem for top seed Tamsyn Leevey who cruised into
the final with a straight games victory over another rising
star, Amanda Cranston.
In the men's draw, top seed Kashif Shuja has a chance to
atone for his semifinal exit at the Auckland Open, cruising
into the title decider with a 3-0 win over young
Wellingtonian Evan Williams, who had earlier upset fourth
seeded Aucklander Graeme Wilson in the quarterfinals.
Shuja will face third seed Martin Knight in the final.
Knight remains on target to add the Wellington Open title to
the Auckland Open crown he won two weeks ago, after beating
second seed Campbell Grayson 3-1.
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More from Squash
Wellington
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Men
Quarterfinals
1. Kashif Shuja (Auckland) def Lui Ngakuru-Syder
(Auckland) 3-0
Evan Williams (Wellington) def 4. Graeme Wilson
(Auckland) 3-2
3. Martin Knight (Wellington) def Michael Pittams
(Wellington) 3-0
2. Campbell Grayson (Auckland) def Sam Atkins
(Wellington) 3-0
Semifinals
1. Kashif Shuja (Auckland) def Evan Williams
(Wellington) 3-0
3. Martin Knight (Wellington) def 2. Campbell Grayson
(Auckland) 3-1
Women
Quarterfinals
1. Tamsyn Leevey (Wellington) def Danielle Fourie
(Central) 3-0
4. Amanda Cranston (Waikato) def Emma Millar
(Wellington) 3-2
3. Joelle King (Waikato) def Nicola Durling (Wellington)
3-0
2. Leilani Rorani (Waikato) def Rachel McLeod (Auckland)
3-0
Semifinals
1. Tamsyn Leevey (Wellington) def 4. Amanda Cranston
(Waikato) 3-0
3. Joelle King (Waikato) def 2. Leilani Rorani (Waikato)
3-0
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