"I
ran out of steam," confessed young Hana Ramadam after her
final on French soil against favourite Millie Tomlinson,
a match described as a "super final" by Promoter and Squash
Passionate Fred Dumond.
The Egyptian, coming all the way from the qualifying, managed to
snatch the first game 11/8 and at one game all, it was all possible for
the young lady.
But Millie's experience and determination played
a big role as she clinched the crucial third on a tie-break
12/10, closing down in the fourth, 11/8.
[Q] Hana Ramadan (Egy) 3-0 [4] Coline
Aumard (Fra)
11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (35m)
watch the replay
[2] Millie Tomlinson (Eng) 3-1 [7] Lisa Aitken (Sco)
9-11, 13-11, 14-12, 11-4 (53m)
watch the replay
Ramadan
run continues in Paris ...
Home hopes were dashed in Le Port Marly as
Egyptian qualifier Hana Ramadan continued her cull of the
seeds with a straight-games win over home favourite Coline
Aumard, the fourth seed - not that there was a lot in it, as
with all of Hana's matches so far.
In the final Hana will face an English opponent for the third
time in four rounds.
Second
seed Millie Tomlinson came from a game down to beat
Scotland's Lisa Aitkin, the seventh seed.
Aitken edged the first 11-9 but Tomlinson struck back to take
the next two games, both in extra points, before easing through
the fourth.
Egyptian
qualifier Hana Ramadan followed up her round one win over
top seed Emily Whitlock with another five-setter, this time
beating fifth seed Julianne Courtice 11-9 in the fifth.
Ramadan will face France's Coline Aumard for a place in
the final, the fourth beating compatriot Enora Villard in
straight games.
Second see Millie Tomlinson eased past Tinne Gilis in
three games, and faces unexpected opposition in the semis after
Scotland's Lisa Aitken overcame third seed Zeina Mickawy
in four games.
"I feel sad to get injured and not get the chance to continue
my stay in Le Port-Marly", declared a heartbroken Emily after
her match. "I go home for physio now, hopefully my hamstring is
not too bad."
She was still gracious in defeat and made sure to thank the
tournament organisers "Merci to Fred and everyone who puts
this tournament together," she concluded.
Hana now meets with Julianne Courtice in the quarters.
The English girl defeated home favourite Anne Serme - wife of
Lucas - in three games.
"Good first match," Courtice said, "first
two games were
close. The court was really warm, so long competitive match," she
added.
Anna commented "I gave everything I had today but I was
not consistent enough and physically it was very hard, also
because of the heat.
"Julianne is a very talented player who attacks a lot and I
didn't manage to keep her behind to prevent her from playing
front. I wish her luck for the next rounds !"
Scot Lisa Aitken was relieved to close her match against
qualifier Jasmine Hutton in four: "Wow it's hot," she smiled at the end,
"Scottish girl not used to
this !"
Aitken now meets very dangerous Zeina Mickawy, who beat
qualifier Grace Gear in three games, two of those having gone to
tie break.
Coline Aumard will be wondering why she plays an
international PSA event as she keeps on playing French girls!
After defeating Chloé Mesic in the first round in three, she now faces
Team Mate Enora Villard who disposed of Alison Thompson
in three close games.
The last quarter will be according to seeding, with seed #2
Millie Tomlinson playing Tinne Gilis.
It
was a good day for the English pair Grace Gear
and Jasmine Hutton
in Port Marly as they both upset the seedings, beating Spanish
Christina Gomez and English Kace Bartley respectively, both in three tough games.
Gear now plays Zeina Mickawy from Egypt, and
Hutton faces Lisa Aitken from Scotland.
The
two other qualifier spots go to Ali Hemingway, the
25 year old from Wales, who defeated Sanne Velkamp in a five
game thriller, ending 12/10 in the 5th. Hemingway drew Millie
Tomlinson, the second seed of the event.
As for the last spot, it's fluent French speaker Hana Ramadan,
who won in Nantes two years ago, who felt comfortable against Eva Fertekova today, but now has the difficult task of playing
seed top Emily Whitlock.
A few musical chairs on this first day in Paris, with
qualifyer seeded 1 Anne Serme finding herself a spot on the main
draw.
It was not a good day for the French today, as both Fanny Segers
and Marion Romba bowed to Jasmine
Hutton from England, and Czech Eva Fertekova
respectively.
Sanne Veldkamp from Netherlands overcame Paulina Krywicka
in 30m to play Ali Hemingway, while English girl Grace Gear
will be happy to beat the always dangerous Nadeen Kotb from
Egypt, recovering from injury but getting closer to her previous
form.
It was very hot day to play a match, but I think we both
played well. Last time we played in Sweden it was also 3-1 but
on a really cold court haha.
I have never been here before but I really like the club and the people
here, definitely a nice part of Paris.
The draw changed last
minute so I'm a round further than expected and I hope to do
well tomorrow !
Hi all today was a hot day to play squash but better
than cold court. Sanne and me were very motivated to win the
match and both of us run so much and ball was very happy to
bouncing so much.
We try to end the ball so quickly and all balls were tight what
was very hard to return but was gooood match.
I am varry happy to be in Paris and play in this tournament next
time i will come stronger and see you again
Happy to get the win against Nadeen as she is a very
attacking player.
I played better the more the match went on
making use of the whole of the court to move my opponent around
which opened up the court for me.
Looking forward to my next round against Cristina.
Things did not turn out well as I want them to be but I gained
experience for sure . I am not physically ready as I was injured
and it is taking me a while to come back.
[7] Eva Fertekova (Cze)
3-1 Marion Romba (Fra)
11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
Happy to be in the qualification finals as Marion was
attacking and playing well.
It was very warm today and I was
slowly getting used to that, but finally I found my length and
targets on court. Looking forward to tomorrow !
