Nicol David Over Jenny Duncalf In $50K Cleveland 1st Round; Sobhy, Brown Lose
by Max Lavery & Bob Botti
King v Sobhy
Chinappa v Waters
Perry v Urquhart
Duncalf v David
El Weleily v Kippax
February 2, 2013 - Today was the start of the first round in the 2013 WSA Tub o’ Towels Cleveland Classic. It is still snowing in Cleveland and the galleries are still full!
Match 1- Low Wee Wern (MAS) def. Rachel Grinham (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
Wern was able to take it to Grinham today. Wern was able to play patient and error free the entire match. Grinham, not wanting to let Wern play her precision based game, came our going for winners. Grinham was making too many errors and Wern was able to pick up all of Grinham’s drop shots. The first two games were 11-4, 11-4 in Wern’s favor. In game three, Grinham looked like she would be able to string a few rallies together, but Wern was able to take the game 11-6.
Match 2-Annie Au (HKG) def. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8
Annie Au was simply too much for Kawy. In the first game, even with Kawy controlling most of the points, Au was always able to play retriever and put the ball back in play, even when Kawy thought she had the point won. Kawy wasn’t quite “on” and was making errors. Game one to Au 11-5. In game two, Kawy was clearly frustrated with Au’s play. Au played extremely efficient and patient, keeping the ball away from Kawy’s killer volleys. Kawy had to go for more shots, but was still making more errors than winners. Au was able to win comfortably 11-4. In the third game, Kawy played much better, but was still unable to control enough of the points. Au’s ability to retrieve the ball and put Kawy under pressure was too much as Au closed out the match 11-8.
Match 5- Nour El Sherbini (EGY) def. Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9
These two players had just come off playing each other in the Greenwich Open less than a week ago, so an exciting match was highly anticipated. In this match Brown could not quite get enough momentum to really take it to El Sherbini. Each game was close and well contested, but it came down to which player made the fewest errors. In the first game El Sherbini only made two errors to win 11-9, even though she had an early 7-3 lead. In game two, Brown came out more focused and was able to keep the ball closer to the wall away from Sherbini. Game two went to Brown 11-8. In game three, there were a lot of lets as each player was looking to move the other to all four corners of the court. El Sherbini was able to control most of the rallies, forcing Brown to make a few key errors. Game three went 11-6 to El Sherbini. Game four was exciting with both players trading points virtually the whole game. But in the end El Sherbini only needed one match ball to take the victory 11-9.
Match 7- Alison Waters (ENG) def. Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7
This was Chinappa’s third match in three days, but it did not show. She seemed to play her best in this match. The first game was a close 11-9, but that was due to frequent errors on Waters’ part. In game two Waters was still flat, which allowed Chinappa to attempt to blow the ball by Water’s and put her on the defensive. Water’s shots were too loose, allowing Chinappa to take the game 11-6. Waters’ was clearly frustrated with her play, but was able to turn it around for the rest of the match. Waters took the ball earlier, keeping Chinappa running all over the court. Waters took the third game easily at 11-4. Chinappa was able to keep the fourth game competitive, with excellent retrieving, but Waters had worked out all of her kinks and was attacking at will. Waters took the fourth 11-7.
Match 3 Raneem El Weleily (EGY) def Sarah Kippax (ENG) 13-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6
Game 1 Feeling each other out early, then a nice stretch of Kippax on the offense with good defense yielded a 8-3 lead. El Weleily steadied and worked her way back to 8all.A bad bounce put El Weleily ahead but 2 nice points by Kippax gave her the lead 10-9. Brilliant cross court winner tied it. Eventually a good drop by El Weleily and a tin by Kippax gave the game to El Weleily.
Game 2 El Weleily shooting a lot early, missed some made some. Kippax raised her game to go ahead 7-4. El Weleily simplified her game and squared it at 7.Back and forth to 9-8 and a clinging drop took Kippax to game point. A winner by El Weleily and a tin by Kippax tied at 10.Good length gave Kippax game point and a roll corner won the game for her.
Game 3 El Weleily came out shooting again. Kippax proved she could still get to them but a streak of brilliance by El Weleily took her from 3-5 to 10-5. A Kippax tin and game to El Weleily
Game 4 No errors this time early as El Weleily takes a 3-0 lead. Kippax hangs in there to level at 4.El Weleily bares down and moves out to 9-4 lead. Kippax didn’t give up getting to 6-9. But El Weleily finished it with a nice read and winner.
Match 4 Nicole David (MAS) def Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-9
The first few points showed the crowd great pace and athleticism. David was very deceptive giving her openings and winners and rolled to a first game victory. Second game was knotted 4-4 with some errors and good points mixed together. David righted the ship first and streaked to an 11-4 win. 3rd game Duncalf came out motivated still it was tied at 5. Eventually Duncalf moved out to a 8-5 lead. David answered with a run to 7-8. Duncalf hit a tremendous drop to move to 9-7. Two good points by David took her to 9-9. And then 2 great points gave her the match.
Match 6 Madeline Perry (N IRL) def Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-2, 11-7, 11-3
Perry out fast in the first game applying a lot of pressure and was up 6-0. Urquhart movement was limited by her ankle injury and she was overwhelmed. Perry still on her game in the second. Urquhart played better but was still down 6-4. She eliminated errors and moved back to 6-7. Perry then played 3 excellent points to go up 10-6 and finished with a straight drive winner. Urquhart did her best in the 3rd but Perry had all the answers this day winning 11-3 to take the match.
Match 8 Joelle King (NZL) def Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-2
Nice points and a LOT of power leading to an early 4all. King separated to go up 7-4 with some nice play. Sobhy came back to 6-8 but King went on a run to take the first game 11-7. Game 2 King controlled the play going up 6-2 and continued to apply pressure playing clean points to win it 11-7. 3rd game consisted of long points early and King won every one to 5-0. She kept the hammer down and took the game 11-2 and the match.
COMPLETE DRAW
by Max Lavery & Bob Botti
King v Sobhy
Chinappa v Waters
Perry v Urquhart
Duncalf v David
El Weleily v Kippax
February 2, 2013 - Today was the start of the first round in the 2013 WSA Tub o’ Towels Cleveland Classic. It is still snowing in Cleveland and the galleries are still full!
Match 1- Low Wee Wern (MAS) def. Rachel Grinham (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
Wern was able to take it to Grinham today. Wern was able to play patient and error free the entire match. Grinham, not wanting to let Wern play her precision based game, came our going for winners. Grinham was making too many errors and Wern was able to pick up all of Grinham’s drop shots. The first two games were 11-4, 11-4 in Wern’s favor. In game three, Grinham looked like she would be able to string a few rallies together, but Wern was able to take the game 11-6.
Match 2-Annie Au (HKG) def. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8
Annie Au was simply too much for Kawy. In the first game, even with Kawy controlling most of the points, Au was always able to play retriever and put the ball back in play, even when Kawy thought she had the point won. Kawy wasn’t quite “on” and was making errors. Game one to Au 11-5. In game two, Kawy was clearly frustrated with Au’s play. Au played extremely efficient and patient, keeping the ball away from Kawy’s killer volleys. Kawy had to go for more shots, but was still making more errors than winners. Au was able to win comfortably 11-4. In the third game, Kawy played much better, but was still unable to control enough of the points. Au’s ability to retrieve the ball and put Kawy under pressure was too much as Au closed out the match 11-8.
Match 5- Nour El Sherbini (EGY) def. Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9
These two players had just come off playing each other in the Greenwich Open less than a week ago, so an exciting match was highly anticipated. In this match Brown could not quite get enough momentum to really take it to El Sherbini. Each game was close and well contested, but it came down to which player made the fewest errors. In the first game El Sherbini only made two errors to win 11-9, even though she had an early 7-3 lead. In game two, Brown came out more focused and was able to keep the ball closer to the wall away from Sherbini. Game two went to Brown 11-8. In game three, there were a lot of lets as each player was looking to move the other to all four corners of the court. El Sherbini was able to control most of the rallies, forcing Brown to make a few key errors. Game three went 11-6 to El Sherbini. Game four was exciting with both players trading points virtually the whole game. But in the end El Sherbini only needed one match ball to take the victory 11-9.
Match 7- Alison Waters (ENG) def. Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7
This was Chinappa’s third match in three days, but it did not show. She seemed to play her best in this match. The first game was a close 11-9, but that was due to frequent errors on Waters’ part. In game two Waters was still flat, which allowed Chinappa to attempt to blow the ball by Water’s and put her on the defensive. Water’s shots were too loose, allowing Chinappa to take the game 11-6. Waters’ was clearly frustrated with her play, but was able to turn it around for the rest of the match. Waters took the ball earlier, keeping Chinappa running all over the court. Waters took the third game easily at 11-4. Chinappa was able to keep the fourth game competitive, with excellent retrieving, but Waters had worked out all of her kinks and was attacking at will. Waters took the fourth 11-7.
Match 3 Raneem El Weleily (EGY) def Sarah Kippax (ENG) 13-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6
Game 1 Feeling each other out early, then a nice stretch of Kippax on the offense with good defense yielded a 8-3 lead. El Weleily steadied and worked her way back to 8all.A bad bounce put El Weleily ahead but 2 nice points by Kippax gave her the lead 10-9. Brilliant cross court winner tied it. Eventually a good drop by El Weleily and a tin by Kippax gave the game to El Weleily.
Game 2 El Weleily shooting a lot early, missed some made some. Kippax raised her game to go ahead 7-4. El Weleily simplified her game and squared it at 7.Back and forth to 9-8 and a clinging drop took Kippax to game point. A winner by El Weleily and a tin by Kippax tied at 10.Good length gave Kippax game point and a roll corner won the game for her.
Game 3 El Weleily came out shooting again. Kippax proved she could still get to them but a streak of brilliance by El Weleily took her from 3-5 to 10-5. A Kippax tin and game to El Weleily
Game 4 No errors this time early as El Weleily takes a 3-0 lead. Kippax hangs in there to level at 4.El Weleily bares down and moves out to 9-4 lead. Kippax didn’t give up getting to 6-9. But El Weleily finished it with a nice read and winner.
Match 4 Nicole David (MAS) def Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-9
The first few points showed the crowd great pace and athleticism. David was very deceptive giving her openings and winners and rolled to a first game victory. Second game was knotted 4-4 with some errors and good points mixed together. David righted the ship first and streaked to an 11-4 win. 3rd game Duncalf came out motivated still it was tied at 5. Eventually Duncalf moved out to a 8-5 lead. David answered with a run to 7-8. Duncalf hit a tremendous drop to move to 9-7. Two good points by David took her to 9-9. And then 2 great points gave her the match.
Match 6 Madeline Perry (N IRL) def Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-2, 11-7, 11-3
Perry out fast in the first game applying a lot of pressure and was up 6-0. Urquhart movement was limited by her ankle injury and she was overwhelmed. Perry still on her game in the second. Urquhart played better but was still down 6-4. She eliminated errors and moved back to 6-7. Perry then played 3 excellent points to go up 10-6 and finished with a straight drive winner. Urquhart did her best in the 3rd but Perry had all the answers this day winning 11-3 to take the match.
Match 8 Joelle King (NZL) def Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-2
Nice points and a LOT of power leading to an early 4all. King separated to go up 7-4 with some nice play. Sobhy came back to 6-8 but King went on a run to take the first game 11-7. Game 2 King controlled the play going up 6-2 and continued to apply pressure playing clean points to win it 11-7. 3rd game consisted of long points early and King won every one to 5-0. She kept the hammer down and took the game 11-2 and the match.
COMPLETE DRAW
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