Sensational Serme Becomes First French Women's British Open Champion by Howard Harding
photo Steve Cubbins, Allam British Open
photos Squashpics.com
May 17, 2015
- Outsider Camille Serme pulled off the biggest win of her life when
she beat higher-ranked Laura Massaro, the 2013 champion from England,
in today’s final of the Allam British Open Squash Championships to
become the first French winner of the title in the world famous event’s
93-year history.
In her maiden appearance in the climax of the WSA World Series event at
the Airco Arena in the English city of Hull, sixth seed Serme started
the match at a ferocious pace, making it difficult for three-time
finalist Massaro to get in front of her opponent.
At two games down, the English former World Champion fought back to
reduce the deficit to give herself a glimmer of hope - but Serme
regained the upper hand in the fourth to close out the match 11-3,
11-5, 8-11, 11-8 after 51 minutes.
The triumph marked Serme’s first WSA World Series title – with a prize
fund more than four times that of her previous biggest title - and the
ninth World Tour title of her career.
“I felt really relaxed out there,” said the ecstatic 26-year-old from
Creteil afterwards. “I was focusing so much on my tactics,
volleying as much as I could and play my attacking game. She came
back strongly in the third game but then in the fourth I went back to
my tactics and I managed to do it on the important points.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I’m so happy. I’ve worked so hard for
that win and I still can’t believe it. I think I’ll only realise
it in a few days once I’m back at home with my family and
boyfriend. I’ve had so much support from everyone throughout my
career that I’m going to enjoy sharing my joy with them,” added world
No.6 Serme.
A disappointed Massaro – who reached the final after recovering from
2/0 down to upset title-holder and favourite Nicol David in the
previous round - praised her conqueror after the match but said that
she was proud of her effort in reaching her third Allam British Open
final in a row, becoming the first Englishwoman since 1967 to achieve
this notable feat.
Her run of form came immediately after a two-month break from the sport
– taken after considering retirement earlier in the season when feeling
mentally and physically fatigued.
“I’m disappointed but I’m proud of my week - I don’t feel like I really
could have given it much more out there,” said the dejected world No.4
from Preston. “It was a really big win yesterday beating Nicol
and obviously that match just took a little bit too much out of
me. It was 75-80 minutes and it proved to be a little bit too far
with Camille being as fresh as she was.”
Final:
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [3] Laura
Massaro
(ENG)
