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CSC Delaware Women's
Open
2017
18-22 Jan, Wilmington, Usa, $10k |
22-Jan,
Final:
Kanzy collects
Delaware title
Ray Chan-A-Sue reports
Today, the curtains came down on SQUASH WEEK at the Vicmead Hunt
Club in Wilmington, Delaware.
With a seventy person junior event wrapping up just before three
in the afternoon, it was then the professionals to strut their
stuff in the Final of the 2017 CSC Delaware Open.
The two combatants, number one seed Kanzy El Defrawy of
Egypt and number two seed Sarah Cardwell of Australia
presented contrasting styles and demeanor. El Defrawy, the
powerfully built, aggressive shot maker, against the diminutive
Aussie but gritty and fast. On paper, you would expect a quick
match in the Egyptian’s favor, but the Australian wasn’t about
to hand it to her.
She came out with the right game plan, trying to cut down El
DeFrawy’s angles, and forcing her to reach down for most of her
shots. This seem to catch El DeFrawy off guard as she quickly
jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first game.
 However,
the relentlessness of El Defrawy’s game does take its toll so
even when you are winning points you are constantly working.
Even without her normal pizazz , El Defrawy still managed to
work Cardwell hard.
And this is what happened in the first game, with El Defrawy
keeping it close enough that by the end of the games, she would
force Cardwell into errors, or end up with a loose ball to put
away.
In the second and third games, it was more of the same, although
Cardwell began to use the working boast more, with great effect
which kept her in the games, but in the end Defrawy was just too
strong for her.
The Delaware title going to her in just over forty minutes for
three games.
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  Delaware
Women's Open
2017
18-22 Jan, Wilmington, Usa, $10k |
Round One
19 Jan |
Quarters
20 Jan |
Semis
21 Jan |
Final
22Jan |
[1] Kanzy El Dafrawy (Egy)
12/10, 11/3, 11/7
[Q]
Enora Villard (Fra) |
[1] Kanzy El Dafrawy
11/2, 11/1, 11/4
[6] Chloe Mesic |
[1] Kanzy El Dafrawy 11/6, 12/10, 11/13,
11/5
[7] Sam Cornett |
7th PSA title for Kanzy
[1] Kanzy El Dafrawy
11/8, 11/9, 11/8
[2] Sarah Cardwell |
[6] Chloe Mesic (Fra)
11/7, 11/6, 11/8
Sadia Gul (Pak) |
[7] Sam Cornett (Can)
11/0, 11/2, 11/4
Reyna Pacheco (Usa) |
[7] Sam Cornett
10/12, 8/11, 11/6, 11/9, 11/4
[4] Danielle Letourneau |
[4] Danielle Letourneau (Can)
11/2, 11/7, 11/7
[Q] Julia Ward (Usa) |
Nicole Bunyan (Can)
9/11, 11/9, 11/2, 11/8
[3] Tamika Saxby (Aus) |
[3] Tamika Saxby
11/9, 11/8, 11/7
[8] Georgina Stoker |
[3] Tamika Saxby 11/8, 4/11, 11/9, 15/13
[2] Sarah Cardwell |
[Q]
Thaisa Serafini (Bra)
11/7, 11/2, 11/7
[8] Georgina Stoker (Eng) |
[Q]
Catalina Pelaez (Col)
17/19, 11/7, 11/9, 11/5
[5] Nikki Todd (Can) |
[5] Nikki Todd
11/13, 11/9, 11/1, 11/5
[2] Sarah Cardwell |
Emilia Soini (Fin)
11/9, 11/5, 11/8
[2] Sarah Cardwell (Aus) |
18-Jan, Qualifying:
Julia Ward (Usa) 3-2
Janet Vidhi (Ind)
5-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8
Thaisa Serafini (Bra) 3-1 Mary Fung-A-Fat (Guy)
10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
Catalina Pelaez (Col) 3-0 Jennifer Cleary (Usa)
11-2, 11-1, 11-4
Enora Villard (Fra) 3-0 Kelsey Engman (Usa)
11-8, 11-3, 12-10
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21-Jan,
Semis:
Top seeds to battle for
Delaware title
Ray Chan-A-Sue reports
Semi-final night at the CSC Delaware Open was a tale of two
different styles.
In the first semi-final between Kanzy El Defrawy of Egypt
and Samantha Cornett of Canada, it was an all out
slugfest, with both players hitting with pace and taking that
ball early along with using their unbelieveable reach to get
them out of trouble when their opponent sent them in the wrong
direction.
El Defrawy, who took just over fifteen minutes in her quarter
final match, can certainly blast you off the court with her
combination of shot making and power, and then there is Sam
Cornett, with long strides seems to cover the entire court with
barely two steps in either direction. In the first game El
Defrawy was determined to try her blitz attack as she did the
night before, which seem to be working for the first half of the
game before Cornett started to find her length and extended the
rallies.
However the hole Cornett dug for herself was too steep and it
ultimately ended with her serving out of court on game ball.
Always the crowd favorite in Delaware, Cornett was not about to
go down without a fight and so she came out in the second game
really determined to extend the rallies and being patient long
enough to see whether El Defrawy would make a bad decision.
However, as she keep the score close, ther would always be a
badly timed unforced error.
The way El Defrawy plays, it sometimes forces you to aim a
“milli inch” lower, just so you don’t give her enough room to
attack, you could see Cornett going through these periods.
However, she would recover with long excruiating rallies that
seem to take some of the wind out of El Defrawy sails but not
much. The game went to a tie breaker only to have a couple of
badly timed errors on balls to the front court to help El
Defrawy take a two game lead. The third game had everything as
both players began to use all the weapons at their disposal,
including a behind the back volley cut off by El DeFrawy which
landed in the back corner nick.
At that point you were beginning to wonder whether it was El
Defrawy’s night as everything seemed to be going well for her.
Credit the determination of Cornett for sticking with her game
plan as she continued to use her pace with probing length to
keep El Defrawy behind her which began to open up the front
court more. Which would get her a run of points only for El
Defrawy to creep her way back.
This went on for the entire game until El Defrawy, feeling the
effects of some long rallies couldn’t retrieve two excellently
driven balls to the back corner, and so the match stood at 2-1
for El Defrawy. Could Cornett do a repeat of the night before?
Unfortunately it was not meant to be as she began the fourth
game with a flurry of unforced errors and El Defrawy never
looked back as she ran away with the game and match winning the
fourth 11-5 on a stroke.
The second semi-final was an all Aussie affair ( Aussie !
Aussie! Aussie) between Sarah Cardwell and Tamika
Saxby, who probably have been playing each other since
juniors.
They play the exact same grinding, gritty style and are
excellent retrievers. They split the first two games and the see
saw affair continued into the third and fourth games, with only
a few unforced errors by Saxby at the back end of each game
allowing Cardwell to steal those games.
In between there were a lot of lenth hit to the back until
someone spilled the ball out far enough for one of them to
attack. A truly tight match which left the spectators on the
edge of their seats not knowing what would happen.
Tomorrow’s final will test whether Cardwell can withstand the
Egyptian blitz attack that she probably knows is coming, and
then just keep her on court long enough to start dictating the
play on her own. If she doesn’t do that, it could be a very
short day and we could all be home to watch the football games.
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20-Jan,
Quarters:
Cornett wins all-Canadian quarter in
Delaware
Ray Chan-A-Sue reports
What would it be without some drama at the CSC Delaware Open?
Tonight, for the first time in its seven year history, all eight
seeds playing in the quarter finals.
However, that nostalgic moment was very short lived, as in the
second match of the evening, Sam Cornett would stamp her return
to the tour with a gutsy comeback win from two love down to beat
fellow Canadian Danielle Letourneau.
The match started out with both players feeling each other out,
long rallies followed by unforced errors. However, in the middle
of the game it seemed that Letourneau, was getting the better of
the exchanges and took a 10-7 lead, only to see Cornett walk it
back to 10-10 before two more unforced errors by Cornett caused
her to lose the first game 12-10. The second game saw more of
the same, with Cornett struggling to find her length and even
worst making unforced errors on her bread and butter short game.
To Letourneau’s credit, she dispatched anything loose.
However, there is a reason Cornett has been to the finals three
times at this event, and yet again she showed her champion
spirit as she came out in the third, and picked up the pace of
the rallies, no longer allowing Letourneau to step in and cut
off her drives and making the rallies longer. She reduced her
forays to the front court and just used her pace and length to
pin Letourneau back, only going short when she had her trapped
in the back. The pace seem to be getting to Letourneau and she
eventually lost that game 11-6. In the fourth Cornett came out
and began making unforced errors as she continued to search for
her deadly front court game, but recognized, that it probably
wasn’t on tonight and began to do what she had done in the
third, which worked brilliantly even though a few unforced
errors towards the end of the fourth caused some heart
palpitations in the crowd.
By the fifth game, Cornett sticking with the plan this time,
closed it out to cap a terrific comeback and advance to the
semi-finals tomorrow evening against Kanzy El Defrawy.
El Defrawy did not allow her opponent to even get to double
digits in points. While she struggled with another French woman
during Thursday’s night first round, tonight she was not in a
very generous mood. Her ability to hit with pace along with a
snappy wrist which makes it hard to read what the next shot will
be, were all on show tonight. She never allowed her opponent to
get into a rhythm, as the ball always seem to end up somewhere
her opponent least expected it. She will be tough to beat if she
continues to play at this high level.
Tamika Saxby has quietly made it into the semi-finals with not
too much fuss, and this can be deceptive as she continues her
steady play, of willing to play the long points but not scared
to attack the front cou, rt when the opportunity/ present
itself. She also plays stellar defense.
It will be interesting to see what she does tomorrow night
against fellow Aussie Sarah Cardwell who had her hands full with
Canadian Nikki Todd, for the first two games of the match.
However after a close second game which she won to tie the score
at one game all, Cardwell just upped the pace of play and Todd
had no answer.
So tomorrow’s semi-finals will see Cornett playing DeFrawy and
then followed by the two Aussies Saxby and Cardwell. Contrasting
semi-finals to say the least, as one will high light shot
making, while the other is sure to highlight the retrieving
aspect of the sport.
Matches start at 5:30pm
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19-Jan, Round One:
Seeds through to Delaware quarters
Ray Chan-A-Sue reports
After an exciting qualification round, Thursdays first round of
the CSC Delaware Open went according to form. Actually the only
surprise was the 55 degree weather (13 Celsius for you metric
folks) in January.
The top eight seeds advanced very comfortably with only Tamika
Saxby and Nikki Todd being pushed to extra games.
Saxby’s match with Nicole Bunyan of Canada, was an entertaining
affair with both ladies showing off their exceptional
athleticism with some amazing gets. However, after the first
game which Saxby lost due to some loose width, she managed to
bear down and take Bunyan in short, while tightening up her
length. Only some unbelievable retrieving from Bunyan kept the
score really close.
The other match to go extra games was the matchup between Nikki
Todd of Canada and Catalina Pelaez of Colombia, who are like
Batman and Robin off the court, and have probably spent many
hours training together on it. Surprising this was the first
time they have met in a tournament, and they did not disappoint.
The first game going to Pelaez 19-17, as for every tight volley
drop Todd had, Pelaez had some misdirection shot which would
catch Todd flatfooted. However, Todd was able to tighten up her
game, and began to make Pelaez pay for any loose decisions,
which worked in the end as it created more errors. Todd would go
on the win it in four games.
Vicmead’s own Julia Ward bowed out to Canada’s Danielle
Letourneau, who was unwilling to allow Ward to get an momentum
in the match, and she went down in three games. However, a great
accomplishment from the future EPH.
So the quarter-finals are set, and some of the match ups to
watch, are the battle of the two Canadians, Sam Cornett and
Danielle Letourneau. They have played twice this season and are
tied at one win apiece. The Todd and Cardwell match should also
present contrasting styles which should prove very entertaining
for the crowd.
Stay tuned, as we know that anything is possible at this event.
Matches begin at 5:30pm.
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18-Jan, Qualifying:
Ward marches into the Main Draw
of the CSC Delaware Open!
Ray Chan-A-Sue reports
Day one of the 2017 CSC Delaware Open got off to another great
start, with some very competitive matches.
The first match of the evening saw Brazilian Thaisa Serafini
taking on Guyana’s Mary Fung-A-Fat. Serafini, playing her
first tournament in nearly a year due to injury got off to a
nervous start, as Fung-A-Fat used her lob and drop game to great
effect. Fung-A-Fat took a close first game, cashing in on some
lose balls from Serafini. However, in the next three games she
used her athleticism to counter any of Fung-A-Fat’s forays into
the front court, and even countering with her own shots at the
front. She now moves on to play the eighth seed in the main draw
Georgina Stoker of England.
The second match between Enora Villard of France and
Kelsey Engman of the USA, was a hard hitting affair, with
the players displaying great power, really enjoying the
unusually bouncy courts. However, Villard’s volleying and short
game made to difference, as she cut any loose balls off and took
it in short. Engman, to her credit did make a fight of it in the
3rd game but just game up short in trying to get back into the
match. She will now play #1 seed Kanzy DeFrawy from Egypt.
The next match of the night, featured the biggest upset of the
night. Julia Ward, the 18 year old high school senior,
who will be heading off to Williams College in the Fall, created
a big upset when she defeated top qualifying seed Janet Vidhi
from India in five grueling games.
After a nervy first game , Ward settled down and begin to
established her length and was able to get in front of her
opponent using the whole court to make her opponent work.
However, after squandering two game points in the third game to
go up 2-1 in games, she came back in the fourth and fifth doing
what she had done in the second and third games, hitting with
pace and precision, and forcing her opponent into unforced
errors. She will now play Danielle Letourneau of Canada who will
present a huge challenge for her, given that Letourneau has a
couple tour titles to her name.
The final match between Catalina Pelaez of Colombia and
another local junior Jen Cleary, was a three gamer with
the tour veteran taking no mercy on the junior to advance to the
main draw. She will play her good friend Nikki Todd of Canada.
After an already fantastic first day, it will be interesting to
see whether this will be another year full of surprises,
especially with a very competitive field. In addition to last
year’s runner-up, Nikki Todd, former champion Sam Cornett is
back after a year off due to injury. The top seed is Kanzy El
Defrawy, who after a stellar four year college career at Trinity
is now playing the tour full time.
Matches begin at 5:30pm for tomorrow’s first round.
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