Visiting Van Der Heijden In First WSA Title Win
by Matt Wagg
May 21, 2012 - Visiting Dutchwoman Milou Van Der Heijden crashed the WSA Tour 5 NT Alice Springs Open in Australia last weekend as she moved past a number of home players to claim her first WSA World Tour title.
After a bye through the first round, the 21-year-old defeated Jennifer Brown, Bethany Brazier and Tamika Saxby on route to the final, before facing unexpected South African threat, unseeded Cheyna Tucker.
Tucker was the surprise package of the tournament, as the world No143 beat 15th seed Nicole Stoneham in the first round, 5th seed Vanessa Pickard, 4th seed Christine Nunn and finally the tournament favourite Sarah Cardwell in the semi final.
The South African, also residing in the Netherlands, looked to continue her remarkable cup run as she took the first game from the Dutch international. But Van Der Heijden got a grasp of the match, drawing level after a narrow tie-break second game and maintaining a slight edge to close out the contest in four games.
Following her first WSA World Tour title in only her second final, Van Der Heijden tweeted after the match: “Just won my first WSA title! Beat Cheyna Tucker 3-1 in the final. So happy to win :)”
First Round:
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) vs BYE
Taylor Flavell (AUS) bt [13] Eloise O'Connor (AUS) 6/11, 7/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/6
[8] Grace Mcervale (AUS) vs BYE
[16] Carin Clonda (EST) bt Mona Gray (AUS) 8/11, 13/11, 115, 11/6
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) vs BYE
[12] Natalie Newton (AUS) bt Hannah Auld (AUS) 11/4, 11/8, 11/5
[5] Vanessa Pickard (AUS) vs BYE
Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [15] Nicole Stoneham (AUS) 11/5, 11/1, 11/3
[14] Larissa Huffer (AUS) bt Stacet Cope (AUS) 11/5, 11/2, 11/4
[7] Samantha Davies (AUS) vs BYE
[10] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Nichelle Joachim (AUS) 5/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/4
[3] Tamika Saxby (AUS) vs BYE
[9] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Sharmaine Mills (AUS) 11/6, 11/6, 11/5
[6] Bethany Bazier (AUS) vs BYE
[11] Jennifer Brown (AUS) bt Ayla Stevens (AUS) 11/1, 11/4, 11/3
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) vs BYE
Second Round:
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Taylor Flavell (AUS) 11/3, 11/6, 11/2
[8] Grace Mcervale (AUS) bt [16] Carin Clonda (EST) 15/13, 11/8, 11/4
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [12] Natalie Newton (AUS) 11/7, 11/9, 5/11, 4/11, 11/8
Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [5] Vanessa Pickard (AUS) 11/5, 11/6, 11/6
[14] Larissa Huffer (AUS) bt [7] Samantha Davies (AUS) 11/9, 11/6, 9/11, 11/13, 11/7
[3] Tamika Saxby (AUS) bt [10] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11/4, 11/6, 11/6
[6] Bethany Bazier (AUS) bt [9] Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11/9, 11/6, 8/11, 11/8
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) bt [11] Jennifer Brown (AUS) 11/4, 8/11, 11/6, 11/7
Quarter Finals:
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [8] Grace Mcervale (AUS) 11/7, 11/3, 11/1
Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [4] Christine Nunn (AUS) 11/7, 10/12, 11/6, 11/6
[3] Tamika Saxby (AUS) bt [14] Larissa Huffer (AUS) 11/7, 11/8, 11/7
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) bt [6] Bethany Bazier (AUS) 11/3, 11/8, 11/6
Semi Finals:
Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11/7, 11/6, 11/3
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) bt [3] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 12/14, 12/10, 11/5, 8/11, 11/8
Final:
[2] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) bt Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 9/11, 12/10, 11/9, 11/7
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