08-Jul, Finals:
[1] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) bt [2] Kasey Brown (Nzl)     9/3, 9/7, 9/4 (56m)
[1] Stewart Boswell bt [2] Cameron Pilley (Aus)        11/4, 11/6, 6/11, 7/11, 11/6 (82m)

Kitchen takes Australian
Open title to NZ

"I couldn’t do anything – she was just on top of her game today. She was really sharp today and got some good length.

"She always plays well on this glass court and I knew it was going to be tough to beat her – I just couldn’t get there today."

Number three for Boswell

Canberra’s Stewart Boswell won his third Australian Open squash title when he beat New South Welshman Cameron Pilley in a five-game thriller in Clare, South Australia on Sunday.

The world number 12 successfully defended his title when he fought off a Pilley comeback to win. Boswell, who also won the title in 2002, looked headed for an easy win when he took the first two games and got out to a lead early in the third before world number 22 Pilley launched a remarkable fight back to take the third.

The top seeded Boswell led early in the fourth but Pilley again stormed back to send the final into a decider.
Once again Boswell got an early break and this time he was able to hold onto the lead and take the title.

Boswell is making a habit of winning epic matches at the Australian Open - in 2006 he beat then world number two David Palmer in a five-game classic.

"I needed to stick to what I was doing in the third and fourth, I just tightened up. In the fifth, he just started so well. You’ve got to try and stick with Stewart for the first half of the game or else he’s just going to run a way with it and it’s all over before you know it.

"I was happy to get to the final, but it was a good opportunity to do well in this tournament. He just snuck it in five unfortunately."

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

"I think I played today the way she played three weeks ago when she beat me. We’re very close and she’s come up the rankings so quickly over the past year.

"I started off well and she didn’t find her way as quickly as I did on the court. I played on that court at the Commonwealth Games many times and I did really well on it there [winning a Bronze Medal].

"That second game was really close and I was so pleased to go up by two games. Being one-all is a lot different to being two-love up so that second game was so important."

"I was expecting Cameron to get into it at some stage.

"In the third game he outplayed me then I had a good lead in the fourth and I somehow managed to lose the game and then it was anybody’s match.

"I’m happy with how I played in patches. I got a few points ahead in the fifth, which helps you when you’re struggling, and I just managed to sneak through.

"All the Australian Opens I’ve won have been in five games so they tend to be quite tough finals. I’m happy to get a third one."

07-Jul, Semis:

[1] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) bt [3] Amelia Pittock (Aus)         9/1, 9/3, 9/4 (36m)
[2] Kasey Brown (Aus) bt [7] Lisa Camilleri (Aus)             9/1, 9/4, 6/9, 9/1 (50m)

[1] Stewart Boswell (Aus) bt [6] Scott Arnold (Aus)          11/3, 11/5, 13/11 (29m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt [3] Kashif Shuja (Nzl)            11/4, 11/7, 10/12, 11/6 (65m)

"I was feeling pretty comfortable in the first two games and went really well. I played really well but then my length dropped off and I started to struggle after that, and then I had to grind it out.

"I lost my head a little bit then through the third game, but I was able to get it back in the fourth."

Brown has now had two hard and long matches in succession, following her quarter-final win over Australian Institute of Sport teammate Peta Hughes on Friday.

Kitchen stays fresh

Kitchen hits the ball with enormous power, which Pittock found difficult to cope with early on.

In contrast to Brown, Kitchen has had two relatively easy matches and said she would go into the final fresher than her opponent. She also said she wanted to get some revenge over Brown, who beat Kitchen the last time the two met, at the Central Open in New Zealand last month.

"When we played last, she played really well and I didn’t play very well at all so it would be nice to get on there and do a bit better.

"Tomorrow’s going to be really tough so I’m happy I’ve saved a bit of energy today."

Boswell aims for two in a row

Canberra’s Stewart Boswell will try and make it two national titles in a row when he takes on Cameron Pilley in the men's final on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Boswell was too good for Sydney’s Scott Arnold in their semi-final, winning in straight games. Last year Boswell beat then world number two David Palmer in a five-game classic and he looks capable of defending his title against second seed Pilley.

"I feel in good shape heading into the final. I’ve had a pretty good hit out this week – all the matches have been tough three setters but physically I should be right for tomorrow.

"I’m finding it a little bit better each match as the games get a bit harder, but tomorrow I’ll have to play a little bit better again against Cameron."

In a match of contrasting styles, the powerful Pilley held off the tricky New Zealander Kashif Shuja to win in four games.

World number 22 Pilley was cruising at two games up when Shuja changed tactics and began to slow the ball down.
The New Zealander grabbed the third game and was looking a real threat before Pilley regrouped and closed out the match.

"He’s a decent player, he can play some shots. I went on there thinking I had to tighten things up a bit more than over the past two days.

"Credit to him in the third – he came out and volleyed and changed the pace and took me by surprise a bit.

"In the fourth I went back to what I was doing in the first two games. I tried to get in front of him some more and dictate play a bit more and it came off perfectly.

"On this court especially, if you stay in front and dictate play you’re going to do well.".

The finals take place at 11.00 and 12.00 on Sunday.

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

"I was disappointed at letting her off the hook so quickly after fighting so hard to win the third game.

"I felt I lost momentum in the fourth and I started going for easier shots. I should have been a bit more patient."

“I couldn’t keep up with the pace and for the first two games my head was just all over the shop.

"She was just hitting it so hard and she gives you no time to think. She was just too strong – I need to get fitter and stronger to try and keep up with the top girls.

"The rallies go a lot longer and there are less mistakes the higher you go in the rankings, so I just have to get used to that."

"It was only in the third game that it clicked that I couldn’t just play the length that I play against guys my level if I wanted to compete. So I knew I had to start being more aggressive and I started playing better, but Stewart’s just another class.

"You definitely learn a lot playing guys the calibre of Stewart – it’s a different game. It’s a lot faster, it’s a lot more consistent. If you leave a ball half court, the point’s over pretty much."

"I was happy with my comeback in the third game.
I slowed the pace down and I was controlling the rallies but I think I went to the front of the court and spoiled his movement a bit too much in the fourth.

He played well in the fourth and didn’t lose focus like he did in the third."

 9/1, 9/3, 9/4 (29m)

Amelia Pittock

9/3, 9/7, 9/4 (56m)

Kasey
Brown

9/1, 9/4, 6/9, 9/1 (65m)

Kasey Brown

11/3, 11/5, 13/11 (36m)

11/4, 11/6, 6/11, 7/11, 11/6 (82m)
 

Cameron
Pilley

11/4, 11/7, 10/12, 11/6 (50m)

Cameron Pilley

Qualifications :

Finales :
Steve Robinson bt Campbell Grayson                         11/9, 11/7
Matthew Karwalski bt Sam Atkins                               12/10, 11/13, 11/6
Nathan Turnbull bt Joe Desira                                    12/10, 11/5
Zac Alexander bt Jacob Lohrisch                                11/7, 11/3

Premier tour :
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Nathan Aggarwal (WA)      11/0, 11/2
Steve Robinson (Vic) bt Navin Samarasinghe (SRI)     11/4, 11/8
Sam Atkins (NZL) bt Nathan Stevenson (NSW)            11/6, 11/6
Matthew Karwalski (NSW) bt Justin Beard (SA)           11/6, 9/11, 11/8
Nathan Turnbull (Qld) bt Cheng Yao Huang (CHN)       11/8, 11/8
Joseph Desira (Vic) bt Aaron Fyfe (Qld)                     11/13, 11/8, 11/5
Jacob Lohrisch (SA) bt Joong-Won Hwang (KOR)        11/2, 6/11, 11/8
Zac Alexander (Qld) bt Cameron White (Vic)             7/11, 11/9, 11/7
 

"It was probably a bit tougher than last night against Zac Alexander. Steve’s a bit more experienced and we’ve had some pretty hard matches before. I’ve won them 3-0 but we’ve had some tough rallies and the scores don’t reflect the matches.

I think tonight was another one of those. I think he made a couple of unforced errors going for a bit too much and that was probably the difference between us.

"I’m feeling alright – I’ve got a semi against Scott Arnold tomorrow, my practice partner, so I’ll just try and get ready for that one."

Experience Shows For Shuja

New Zealand third seed Kashif Shuja said his extra experience had proved the difference in his quarter-final win over Ryan Cuskelly.

Shuja edged out 20-year-old Cuskelly in the second of the four men’s quarter-finals. Despite the closeness of the games, the New Zealander always seemed in control and was able to win the crucial points to set up the win.

"Ryan’s been playing the circuit for about a year and a half I think, and I’ve been playing a bit longer than him so I’ve got more experience – but I had to be on my toes

"I think I made a few too many mistakes, but apart from that it was good to come out and win in three."

Sydney’s Scott Arnold beat good friend Aaron Frankcomb in four games to become the first man in the semi-finals.
The sixth seeded Arnold caused a minor upset when he defeated Frankcomb, the tournament fourth seed in a marathon quarter-final.

"I think the first game went for about half an hour and when you start a match like that you know you’re going to be out there for a while.

"Me and Aaron lived together and trained together every day for the past four years so we know each other’s games really well so it was always going to be a pretty tight match. "I was just happy to get there in the end."

Camilleri blows Ng away,
Pittock & Brown impressive,
Kitchen comeback ...

Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri caused the first upset in the women’s draw of the when she crushed fourth seed Elise Ng of Hong Kong. The seventh seeded Camilleri from Tully in far north Queensland overpowered an out of sorts Ng to set up a semi-final against either Kasey Brown or Peta Hughes.

Third seed Amelia Pittock continued her recent good form when she beat a determined Sachiko Shinta in straight games in the quarter-finals. The Victorian  said she adapted to the glass court quicker than her opponent.

"Both of us were trying to get used to the court – I got lucky. I got in front of the volleys as much as I could in the first game and Sachiko let everything go. Then she realised what she had to do on the court and get it deeper.

"It was quite tough – the scoreline doesn’t indicate how tough it was. We both had the same game plan, which was to volley it as much as we could, so it fast and a good match. I enjoyed it."

 

Defending champion Kasey Brown looked in ominous form as she defeated Australian Institute of Sport teammate Peta Hughes in straight games. Brown took 52 minutes to defeat Hughes in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggests. She now faces Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri for a place in Sunday’s final but said Hughes made her work for every point.

"I don’t think the score reflected the match because it was quite tough. It went for quite a long time, but it was good to get that scoreline and get a bit of confidence for the next round.

"We’ve only played each other on the professional tour one or two times before and it’s always been really tough with Peta so I knew what I had to do today."

Top seed Shelley Kitchen recovered from being 2-8 down in the first game against Donna Urquhart to win in three and book a semi-final against third seed Pittock.

Kitchen looked in deep trouble early on but she came back to dominate her rival as Urquhart began to tire and the New Zealander won comfortably in the end.
 

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

"He’s improved heaps since the last time I saw him. I played a bit better than I did yesterday.

"I wanted to tighten up a bit and work on a few things on court to get ready for the later rounds.

"But yeah, it was a good match."

PM supports Kiwis in
Trans-Tasman rivalry!

"I just concentrated on getting good length – I sort of overpowered her. I saw her play yesterday against Kerry Wickett, one of the New Zealand girls, and I’ve been beating those young girls quite consistently so watching here yesterday gave me a bit of confidence.

"I thought she likes a slower pace so I picked the pace up because I thought with a bit more power and pace on the ball she might struggle a bit.

"At 2-8 I just thought I had to hang in there. For her to get to eight I made so many errors – she played some really good squash but I also hit the tin with four or five in a row.

"So I just thought, cut the errors out and keep the ball in play ..."

"I’d heard from the girls this week that she was pretty good so I was expecting a tough match and it was, particularly for a first round.

"I’d never heard of her before, but I know she’s had a couple of good wins recently and has done well against some of the younger girls."

Kitchen now plays New South Wales sixth seed Donna Urquhart in the next round, a player she hasn’t met since they were in juniors together. Urquhart reached the second round courtesy of a win over surprise entrant Vicki Cardwell.

Cardwell, an inductee in the Australian Squash Hall of Fame, has won the Australian Open five times, most recently in 1989.
She entered this year when there was a last minute withdrawal which left a hole in the draw.

Twenty-one-year-old Brown, who has spent the past few months training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Brisbane and has only played one tournament recently – the Central Open in New Zealand - was far too good for an outclassed Cranston and said she felt in excellent touch against the young New Zealander.

"I wanted to work on a few things and I knew that if you give her a good length she can put the ball away with some nice short shots but I was able to hold her out today.

"I had a good win in New Zealand which prepared me for this, but I’ve been in Brisbane for a few weeks now as well training with Michelle (Martin), Byron (Davis) and Rod (Martin) in preparation for the Australian Open.

"Beating Shelley in the Central Open definitely gives me a confidence boost – Shelley’s been playing really well lately and to get that win gives me a bit of confidence before this one."

Hong Kong’s Elise Ng fought off a challenge from New Zealand’s Kerry Wickett, who pushed the fourth seed hard in the first two games before falling away in the third. Ng, making her first appearance at an Australian Open, won 10-9, 9-6, 9-0.

“That was the first time I’ve played her,” Ng said. “For the first game it was quite close and then after that I worked out how to play against her.”

Third seed Amelia Pittock, who has won twice this year on the Australian circuit, beat New Zealand’s Joelle King 9-3, 10-8, 9-7, fifth seed Peta Hughes was too strong for Tasmanian junior Maggie Marshall 9-0, 9-2, 9-3, Lisa Camilleri ousted Jackie Laurenson 9-2, 9-1, 9-0 and Japan’s Sachiko Shinta beat Kirsty Groves 9-7, 9-4, 9-1.
 

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

PM supports Kiwis in
Trans-Tasman rivalry!

"I thought I was competitive for about five rallies!

"And then of course the lack of fitness and the lack of preparation kicked in, but it was fun for a while.

"But I think I’ll be paying for it for the next four days ..."

Seconds out for Glass Court

The main rounds will be played out on the all-Glass court, erected on the basketball court in Clare's recently opened The Valley Lifestyle Recreation centre.

The court is the same one used for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and has been in storage since then. 

"I didn’t know he was a bit lame before we started, I just had to keep on top and keep hitting good lengths and keep in front of the volleys – it was working well so I’m very happy with that.

"I felt tired in first round of qualifying but I've been feeling better and better as the tournament has progressed. I was happy just to make the first round – I didn’t think I’d make it through qualifying to be honest."

"He’s a young player, about the same age I am. He went overseas last year, so he’s learning more about the game, just like myself. I’m just happy to get through it.

"Obviously the first match of the tournament you’re just trying to feel your way in and it was a tough one to get first up."

During the fourth game Frankcomb was warned by the umpire for his conduct and said it was an indication of how close the match was.

"As it gets tight you feel that a few decisions either way could make a difference so you do get a bit tense. Sometimes I just let it out more than I should."

Men's Draw
Women's Draw

"It should be good – obviously they’ve made a big effort down in South Australia to get sponsors and get the glass court up, so I’m looking forward to playing there."

"Cameron beat me the last time we played each other so he’s been playing well. Then you’ve got some of the younger guys who are coming through pretty quickly as well, so it’s not going to be easy.

"It's a pity David and Anthony can't play, when we’re back here we normally try and support the Australian Open, especially this year when they’ve put such a big effort into getting it up and running."


 

Men's Draw     Women's Draw

"I’ve done well so far this year – I’ve made the quarter-finals in the bigger tournaments, and my goal is to break into the top ten by the end of the year, so yeah, the increased points on offer this year are a factor.

"When I'm in Brisbane with Anthony I play with the girls a lot there, and also in New York when they’re based in New York with (AIS coach) Rodney Martin.

"I played with Amelia Pittock a few times there and Lisa Camilleri, and also with Kasey so I guess we know each other really well."

Women's Draw

Men's Draw

"I’ve done well so far this year – I’ve made the quarter-finals in the bigger tournaments, so yeah, the points (at the Australian Open) are a factor. I'm pleased with my form and my aim is to break into the top ten by the end of the year.”

"I've only played Kasey twice before and that was in February last year. I know she’s improved a lot since then and her world ranking’s really come on. I’ll take it one match at a time, but she’ll be very tough to beat.



"When Anthony [Ricketts] and I are  in Brisbane (where the Australian Institute of Sport squash program is located) I play with the girls a lot there, and also in New York when they’re based in New York with (AIS coach) Rodney Martin.

I played with Amelia Pittock a few times there and Lisa Camilleri, and also with Kasey so I guess we know each other really well."

World number 16 Kasey Brown has confirmed she will defend her Australian Open squash crown when the country’s most prestigious tournament is held in the South Australian town of Clare from July 4-8.

The 21-year-old from Taree in northern New South Wales won her first Australian Open title last year, signalling her arrival on the world stage after a promising career in the junior ranks.

In a stellar 2006 during which her world ranking went from the mid 30s to her present career-high 16, Brown captured five WISPA titles, including the Australian Open. In 2007 she has made the final of two tournaments in North America and consolidated her position in the world’s top 20.

Brown has returned to Australia from her base at Harrogate in Yorkshire for three months to train at the Australian Institute of Sport in Brisbane and prepare for the local tournaments.

She concedes the Australian Open, which has boosted its prize money this year, will be a sterner test than last year.

“It will be quite tough this year,” she said. “Shelley Kitchen is playing – she’s the top New Zealand girl and she’s ranked 13 in the world, so yeah, it will be quite tough, but I’m pretty confident.”

Brown’s other main rivals will be Victoria’s Amelia Pittock, reigning Australian junior champion Peta Hughes and Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri, who won the City of Perth International Challenge two weeks ago.

Brown said she was looking forward to playing in Clare on the glass court, which was last used at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Men’s champion Stewart Boswell will also defend his title this year, with the world number 12 from Canberra certain to be the top seed ahead of New South Welshman Cameron Pilley, currently ranked 22 in the world.

Other challengers include New South Welsh pair Scott Arnold and Ryan Cuskelly, who have both been in top form on the current Australian tour.
 

2006 Australian Open

A new move
for the Open

2007 marks the first time the Australian Open has been played outside a capital city.

The Australian Open is the country’s most prestigious tournament, with its honour roll including some of the greatest names in world squash.

Past men’s winners include Geoff Hunt, Brett and Rod Martin and Chris Dittmar, while Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Vicki Cardwell, Rhonda Thorne and Rachael Grinham have all taken the women’s title.

The Clare and Gilbert Valley Council has backed the tournament logistically and financially and is making a number of its sporting facilities available to help attract players and spectators to the region.

Organisers will erect the all glass court in the town’s basketball stadium and use the newly-opened $7 million Valleys Lifestyle Centre as a warm-up and practice area.

Clare Squash is also organising Clare Valley Squash Festival around the event, with a country championship and a junior event planned in the weeks prior to the Australian Open.

“We were very impressed by the bid submitted by Clare Squash Club and the Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council.

"Squash has always been a popular sport in country Australia and that was a major factor in moving the tournament to Clare.

"Squash is really strong in most regional areas and we’re hoping that taking the Australian Open to the country will allow us to grow the sport even more."


Squash Australia president