Waters Joins Top Seeds In Montreal Atwater WSA Semis
by Matt Wagg
L Khan v S Kippax
March 22, 2012 -Alison Waters continues her promising return from injury as she joins the top three seeds in the semi finals of the Atwater Cup in Montreal.
The former world No3 beat her English compatriot and no4 seed Emma Beddoes in the first round of the event, as well as dispatching Aisling Blake of Ireland in the quarters.
So far Waters has provided the only upsets in the competition. Tournament favourite Kasey Brownwasted no time moving past unseeded Czech, Lucie Fialova in round one and later No5 seed Line Hansen, both 3-0.
Sarah Kippax beat Pakistani qualifier Maria Toor Pakay in three games, but was forced to five in the next round by No6 seed Latasha Khan. Kippax struggled at times to halt the momentum of her opponent but eventually got the better of the American, coming from 2-1 down to win 3-2.
Hong Kong international Joey Chan fought a deceptively close 3-0 win against qualifier Miranda Ranieri in the first round in which she was forced to a tie-break second game by the Canadian. The no2 seed then went on to play the experienced Swiss, Gaby Huber in a match which could have gone either way at one-all, but for some errors from Huber. Chan seized the opportunity and scraped back two game-balls in the third, before claiming the next two games to win 3-1.
Glen Wilson Files This Report:
Quarters
A Waters beat A Blake 11/2 11/4 11/5
This was a very dominating performance by the former world number 3. Waters started strong and never looked back. The pace was high and accurate and Blake had no answer to the relentless pressure she was being placed under. A very convincing 3/0 win that had the crowd in awe of what was a very strong statement moving through to the semi finals.
K Brown beat L Hansen 11/8 11/7 11/8
Hansen started the better leading 7/2 early settling into a nice rhythm. Something triggered in Brown as she stepped up the court, cut down the T and started hitting the ball more firmly into the back corners. This gave Hansen less time to get set as she found herself under a mountain of pressure. Brown won the next 8 points to go game ball for Hansen to peg one before before closing it out.
In the next two games Hansen played well but Browns consistency and ability to get herself out of trouble was enough to see Hansen off in what was a spirited challenge. Brown moves through unscathed and an interesting match up against Kippax looms.
J Chan beat G Huber 11/4 5/11 12/10 11/7
The number 2 seed Chan came out guns a blazing blasting though the first 11/4 in 8 minutes.
The second was interesting as Chan started to play a little more conservative, a few errors crept in and Huber went onto the attack and played some great squash to level it at 1 game a piece.
A new found confidence had Huber dominating the exchanges looking very comfortable as she moved the ball around nicely. Huber served at 10/8 only to hit 3 errors to give Chan a game ball and thats all she needed to close it out. Chan found her game again in the fourth and led 10/5 eventually finishing it 11/7. Waters is next in what will be a highly anticipated match.
S Kippax beat L Khan 11/5 8/11 8/11 11/9 11/6
Kippax started the better with Khan hitting it too short allowing Kippax to dominate early, 1/0 to Kippax. In the second Khan came out and hit the ball more tightly trying to extend the rallies banking on her technique to get her in the match. Kippax was always the first to try something even from pressure situations which backfired a little allowing Khan to cut the ball off and hit some nice shots. Khan levelled at 1 game all. The third was a replicate of the second with Kippax not quite sure how to break down Khans solid game. It was now or never for Kippax, she had to find a way to break Khans momentum. That she did has she started mixing it up, cross lobs, trickle boasts, low hard drives, trying anything to get Khan moving quickly away from the middle. The fourth was close 7 all, 8 all, 9 all then Kippax hit a couple of great shots to push the match to a 5th. In the decider Kippax came out strong breaking out to a commanding 6/1 lead that she never surrended winning it 11/6 to her relief and a well deserved semi final placing.
Semi-finals:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) vs [3] Sarah Kippax (ENG)
Alison Waters (ENG) vs [2] Joey Chan (HKG)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [5] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8
[3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [6] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [7] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [8] Gaby Huber (SUI) 11-4, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7
1st round:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
[5] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Siyoli Waters (RSA) 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7
[3] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [Q] Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
[6] Latasha Khan (USA) bt [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13
[7] Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Alexandra Norman (CAN) 11-4, 11-0, 11-5
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [4] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
[8] Gaby Huber (SUI) bt [Q] Sina Wall (GER) 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 2-3 ret.
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [Q] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 11-6, 12-10, 11-8
Back To Main
