WISPA Roundup: New Zealand’s Craig Goes The Distance At Caboolture
by Elliot Selby
November 17, 2011 - New Zealand’s Megan Craig won her first WISPA title last weekend at the Queensland, Australia, Caboolture Open beating second seed Maggy Marshall in the final.
The 18 year old from Blenheim has been in good form this year, reaching the last 16 of Women’s Junior Worlds and reaching two WISPA finals.
Craig upset sixth seed Christine Nunn in the second round and then recovered from two games down to edge top seed Sarah Cardwell 11-9 in the fifth in the quarter finals. Craig again found herself down in the semi final, this time against fourth seed Tamika Saxby, but she won a two tie breaks in the second and third games to ease away to victory in the fourth.
On the opposite side of the draw second seed Maggy Marshall was also having a tough time of it, making it to the final the hard way. She recovered from two games down in the second round to beat Aimee Slatter and then saved match balls in the quarter finals to beat Jessica Turnball in an epic 13-11 in the fifth. Her semi final opponent was a former top 30 player in Melissa Martin, making a welcome return to action. Martin hadn’t dropped a game in her first three matches and gave Marshall all sorts of problems. The second seed however prevailed in four games.
The final saw Marshall start strongly and take the opener, both players hungry for their first tour title. It seemed the previous matches had taken their toll on Marshall though as Craig began to take control of the match and eased through the next two games before holding off a late surge from Marshall in the fourth.
Watch out for Megan Craig in 2012, she could be one to watch.
Final:
[10] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [2] Maggy Marshall (AUS) 9-11 11-4 11-1 11-8 (34m)
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