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Court
Tec Women's PSA Classic
2018
22-27 May, Squash XL, Auckland, New
Zealand, $5k |
Final:
It's Nunn in three
Dave Worsley reports
 A
first title wasn’t to be for Kiwi junior squash player
Kaitlyn Watts as she was defeated by top seed and world
No.53 Christine Nunn of Australia in the final of the
US$5,000 Court Tech Wormen’s PSA Classic in Auckland.
Watts, 17 from Palmerston North was playing in her first final
in nine attempts at pro tournaments but found herself up against
the current Australian national senior champion and a competitor
who had made the third round of the Commonwealth Games just over
a month ago.
The first game was won 11-9 by Nunn after Watts kept pace the
whole way, however in the second it was the Aussie starting fast
and running out to a 9-1 lead, dominating the centre of the
court and forcing the teenage Kiwi to run. Eventually Nunn won
the game 11-4.
The third game was a switch in form, for a while as Watts who
has recently been selected for the World Youth Olympics in
Argentina later in the year secured a 4-1 lead after a couple of
winners and then forced mistakes.
But the experience of the older Australian told and a few errors
crept in to the Kiwis game for Nunn to take the game 11-7 in a
match total time of 25 minutes.
However the fifth seeded Kiwi would be pleased to make the final
beating the second and third seeds along the way.
Watts will now play in the New Zealand national champs in
Auckland next month which will feature all of the successful
Commonwealth Games team members.
STREAMING & Replays
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Women's PSA Classic
2018
22-27 May, Auckland, New Zealand, $5k |
Round One
24 May |
Quarters
25 May |
Semis
26 May |
Final
27 May |
[1] Christine Nunn (Aus)
13/11, 11/7, 11/3 (22m)
[Q] Eleanor Epke (Nzl) |
[1] Christine Nunn
11/4, 11/6, 11/0 (18m)
Anika Jackson |
[1] Christine Nunn 11/7, 11/3, 12/14,
11/7 (44m)
[4] Jemyca Aribado |
[1] Christine Nunn
11/9, 11/4, 11/7 (25m)
[5] Kaitlyn Watts |
[6] Liu Kwai Chi (Mac)
11/7, 11/9, 11/4 (17m)
Anika Jackson (Nzl) |
[7] Emma Millar (Nzl)
11/3, 11/2, 11/3 916m)
You Jiyoung (Kor) |
[7] Emma Millar
11/4, 11/7, 11/3 (15m)
[4] Jemyca Aribado |
[4] Jemyca Aribado (Phi)
11/6, 11/3, 11/7 (18m)
[Q] Alex Jaydon (Nzl) |
[Q] Sneha Suvakumar (Ind)
116, 11/3, 8/11, 12/10
[3] Abbie Palmer (Nzl) |
[3] Abbie Palmer
11/7, 11/6, 11/5
[8] Au Yeong Wai Yhann |
[3] Abbie Palmer 6/11, 11/6, 11/5, 11/9 (31m)
[5] Kaitlyn Watts |
Min Gyeong (Kor)
11/4, 8/11, 11/8, 11/7 (28m)
[8] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (Sin) |
[Q] Gigi Yeing (Mac)
11/5, 11/6, 13/11 (23m)
[5] Kaitlyn Watts (Nzl) |
[5] Kaitlyn Watts
11/8, 11/8, 11/7 (24m)
[2] Vanessa Chu |
[wc] Casey Jane Owen (Nzl)
11/4, 11/0, 11/1 (15m)
[2] Vanessa Chu (Hkg) |
Qualifying:
Finals:
Sneha Sivakumar (Sin) 3-1 Sachika Balvani (Ind)
11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-1 (28m)
Alex Haydon (Aus) 3-1
Juee Bhide (Nzl)
14-12, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8 (30m)
Gigi Yeung (Mac) 3-0
Grazia Guida (Aus)
11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (15m)
Eleanor Epke (Nzl) 3-0 Taylor Jones (Aus)
11-1, 11-4, 11-1 (13m)
Round One:
Sachika Balvani (Ind) 3-0 Rhiarne Tiapa (Nzl)
11-4, 11-4, 12-10
Juee Bhide (Nzl) 3-2 Nadia Hubbard (Nzl) 7-11, 11-3,
14-12, 7-11, 11-9
Grazia Guida (Aus) 3-1 Chelsea Johnson (Nzl) 11-2,
11-6, 7-11, 11-7
Eleanor Epke (Nzl) 3-0 Diya Joukani (Nzl)
11-8, 11-3, 11-8
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Semis:
Nunn & Watts through to final
Dave Worsley reports
The top seed and the top Kiwi junior will meet in the final of
the US$5,000 Court Tech PSA Women’s Classic at Squash XL Club in
Avondale, Auckland.
 Both
had to battle in their semfinals to make the title match with
top seed and world No.53 Christine Nunn from Australia
take a lengthy 44 minutes to defeat fourth seed Jemyca Aribado
(Philippines) ranked 90th .
In front of a good crowd including participants in the Auckland
Junior champs at the same venue the first semifinal featured
plenty of strategic rallies before Nunn won the opening game
11-7 and then dominated the second game 11-3.
However the third game had Aribado claw her way back into the
match, including finding herself sprawled on the floor on
several occasions. She fought her way to 10-10 before taking the
game 14-12.
The fourth game showed the fitness and finesse of Nunn who won
it and the match 11-7.
Nunn, 27 now takes on to Kiwi junior Kaitlyn Watts for
the title after the 17-year-old beat compatriot Abbie Palmer in
four games.
Palmer took the first in relatively easy fashion 11-6, but then
Watts showed her game fitness and won the following three games
11-6, 11-5, 11-9 to take the match in 31 minutes. Watts has a
current PSA women’s ranking of 119 and will find Nunn a real
test for her fledging pro career.
Watts and Palmer have been using the tournament as a build up to
the NZ nationals in Auckland next month which will feature names
such Joelle King, Amanda Landers-Murphy and Paul Coll.
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Quarters:
Kiwi Finalist Assured
Dave Worsley reports
A New Zealand player is guaranteed a place in the final of the
US$5,000 Court Tech PSA Women’s Classic at Squash XL Club in
Avondale, Auckland this weekend
However top seed and tournament favourite Christine Nunn
of Australia is looking sharp and will be the player to beat
after she easily dispatched Wakato junior Anika Jackson in
straight games in 18 minutes in the quarter-finals.
Nunn, ranked 53 in the world will face fourth seed Jemyca
Aribado from the Philippines in her semifinal. Aribado beat
Kiwi Emma Millar 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 in her match.
However in the bottom half of the draw a couple of locals have
reached the semfiinals after good wins in the last eight
contests.
Northland 20-year-old Abbie Palmer the tournament third
seed at 89 in the world beat eighth seed Au Yeong Wai Yhann
(Singapore). Palmer will play top Kiwi junior Kaitlyn Watts
from Palmerston North for a spot in the final.
Watts ranked over 100 defeated second seed and world No.59
Vanessa Chu from Hong Kong 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in her quarter-final
match.
New Zealand players in the event have been using the tournament
as a good warm up for the nationals championships to be held in
Auckland next month.
Semifinals start from 4pm with the final on Sunday from 5pm.
STREAMING & Replays
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Round One:
Four Kiwis through to Quarters
Dave Worsley reports
A solid first round for local players at the the US$5,000 Court
Tech PSA Women’s Classic in Auckland.
Waikato
junior Anika Jackson scored the upset of the round with a
win over sixth seed Liu Kwai Chi from Macau in straight game to
set up a clash with top seed and world No.53 Christine Nunn
from Australia.
Nunn made the third round of singles at the Commonwealth Games
and is coached by former world champ Sarah Fitz-Gerald but had
an initial battle in her first round match against Kiwi
qualifier Ellie Epke.
Epke, 20, had game ball at 10-8 in the first but eventually lost
13-11, 11-7, 11-3 in 28 minutes.
Other Kiwis to win included seventh seed Emma Millar over
her Korean opponent in straight games, while third seed Abbie
Palmer from Northland won in four games against Singaporean
qualifier Sneha Sivakumar.
Top ranked New Zealand junior Kaitlyn Watts won her first
two games in straightforward fashion, but in the third it was
her opponent Gigi Yeung who fought back from 7-10 down to
equalise before the hometown player won 13-11.
Watts will now play second seed Vanessa Chu from Hong
Kong who accounted for Kiwi wildcard Casey Owen in straight
games.
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