Weymuller Down To Two
by Linda Elriani

October 5, 2013 - Semi finals day is here at the 2013 Carol Weymuller Open. Everyone was excited to see some more action packed squash.

It’s “World Squash Day” today so happy squashing to everyone around the world J It’s quite a coincidence that we have most of the best players in the world playing on our courts on this special day. Before the semi finals began we held a ‘Play a Pro’ event for our juniors so that they had a chance to get on court with some of the top women’s squash players. World # 21 Sarah Kippax, World #43 Kylie Lindsay, World #73 Sarah Cardwell, World #32 Samantha Cornett, World #22 Aisling Blake, World # 29 Samantha Teran, World #35 Vicky Lust, World #25 Donna Urquhart and World # 5 Joelle King all very kindly agreed to play with our two groups of juniors. The juniors all had such a fun time, trying their hardest to win a point or two off the pros! Thanks so much to the WSA players for taking part in this. We really appreciate it. They are all a huge credit to women’s squash as they are so prepared to give back to the tournaments and help spread the joy of playing squash.

The first semi final today was between the world # 2  and previous Weymuller winner in 2011 Raneem El Weiley and world #1 and seven time world open champion Nicol David. In the head to head they are 10-2 in Nicol’s favor but in the last year they are 2-2.

Raneem got off to a very nice start with some amazing, precise drops and she even got a ‘wows’ from crowd!! Nicol didn’t look settled in yet and Raneem was playing some crazy winners but soon started to also hit a number of tins too. Nicol started to find her lengths and control the T and soon evened up the score and onward to 7-4. Nicol’s pressure seemed to build throughout the game and Raneem didn’t seem fully committed to patiently set up her rallies. Raneem had another push and played some more outlandish winners and pulled back to 7-7. It was Nicol’s flawless movement and focus that got her through to win the first game 11-8.

Raneem started the second well again with some wonderful drops and a mistake from Nicol. Both players were moving around the court with such incredible grace and ease that it makes everyone feel that they too could go there and do the same, though we all know that this not the case! Nicol again found her rhythm and kept a consistent pressure on her opponent which must have been the main reason why Raneem’s winner/error ratio was not leaning in the right direction. Raneems squash was very spotty today. It was either delightful and amazing or an error. Meanwhile Nicol played very few errors after the first game and looked incredibly focused. Nicol took the second game 11-7.

The third game started out the same as the first 2 games and Raneem took a small lead of 3-1. Nicol took the next 4 points straight and Raneem only won one more rally after that and Nicol stormed through from 6-4 to 11-4 in one hand. Nicol played so well and really proved to us why she is world #1 and is in the Guinness Book of Records for the most consecutive world opens wins!!!

Nicol was very happy and when I asked how she felt she said “Good, I mean to beat Raneem 3-0 is a huge deal! It came together at the right time and I want to bring that through to the finals tomorrow”.

A disappointed Raneem said “She played really well. I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be. I should have done better but it’s been a great tournament and I’ve enjoyed my time here. Thank you everyone for everything!”

The second semi final match was a totally European affair with Laura Massaro world # 2 and defending Weymuller champion playing giant killer Camille Serme who is French #1 and world #10. Both players are amazing athletes and very steady and accurate so the quality of the squash was bound to be fantastic.

Camille started off the match very well and very quickly found her rhythm and was lunging well and moving Laura around the court. Laura looked unusually tentative and made some uncharacteristic errors. You could see Laura trying her hardest to regain some of the spark that she had in last night’s match. There were some great rallies but Camille always seemed that little more in control until she was 9-4 up! Laura then dug deep and pushed up the court and stayed 100% focused to claw her way back to 10-9 game ball in one hand! Camille started to look flustered for the first time and it was looking as though Laura had finally found her grove. A forehand boast mistake from Laura gave Camille another chance and Camille took it by the horns and came through to win the first 12-10.

Camille came out on fire in the second and very quickly put the pressure back on Laura. There were a couple of shots that swayed her way with a back wall nick and perfect boast when she was under maximum pressure. It was as if today was definitely her day! Laura as always tried everything to stay in the match and came back to 4-4 but Camille made no errors and defended as well as she attacked so it left Laura with nothing! Camille went from 6-6 straight through to 11 to win the second 11-6.

It was going to be interesting to see if Camille could keep up her amazing play or if Laura’s vast experience could help her find the answer to combat Camille’s fire.

The third game followed a very similar pattern with Camille looking as confident as ever and not seeming to be fazed by the fact she could also take out the world #2 as well as the world #4 and #6! Camille was looking so comfortable on the court and Laura was looking increasingly the opposite. It wasn’t for lack of trying on Laura’s part it was just so difficult to impose her game on a player that was obviously feeling so good in every way. Camille came through the third and final game 11-4.

A delighted Camille said after her huge win “I feel so well physically. I wonder how it is possible!! I just want to say a big thank you to my physical coach as he gave me a hard program to follow this summer. I think I feel well as I have close people here to share it with me (Camille’s boyfriend’s parents are here). Squash is so much mental and if I feel well in my life then I play relaxed and focus on what I want to do on the court. I just wish my boyfriend and parents were here to share it and see how well I can play. For now back on the bike and stretch!”

Congratulations to both winners and we very much look forward to the final tomorrow. Will Nicol manage to win the Weymuller title that she hasn’t won since 2005 or will it be confident Camille that can take the title and take out another higher seed! Can’t wait to find out!

Sunday's final is between Camille Serme and Nicol David at 2pm and everyone is so excited to see who will be the 2013 Carol Weymuller Champion. See you then!

Summary of Saturday's semi finals..

Nicol David beat Raneem El Weiley 11-8, 11-7, 11-4.

Camille Serme beat Laura Massaro 12-10, 11-6, 11-4.