Melissa Martin Un-Retires For Second WSA Title
by Matt Wagg

November 12, 2012 - Retired WSA pro Melissa Martin won her second tour title in the Tour 5 2012 Caboolture Open in Australia this weekend, as a local entrant.

The 36-year-old Australian hasn’t featured in the WSA World Tour rankings since January 2008, but the former world No.25 stormed through the event at the Caboolture Squash and Fitness Club, taking out five seeded players.

Martin’s only WSA title before this weekend came back in 2004 as she defeated a 19-year-old Kasey Brown in the South Australian Open.  But despite having entered just two events in the past two years, the veteran stormed past opening round opponents No.16 seed Stacy Cope and No.6 seed Grace McErvale in straight games.

Thirty-six minutes was all it took for the unseeded Martin to claim a scalp of top seed Christine Nunn, after a narrow tie-break third game gave the more experienced Australian the advantage.  She was then pushed to five-games by a resilient Sally Skaarenborg, but was lethal when it mattered in the final stages as she won two tie-break games to set-up the final against second seed Victoria Bell.

Runner-up in last week’s Mackay Open, Bell gained a bye through the first round thanks to her seeding, before seeing off the challenges of No.12 seed Jacqueline Barnes and unseeded Zoe Petrovansky.  The Englishwoman’s ruthless form continued as she sped past third seed Larissa Huffer in another 3-0 win to set up her second ever WSA final, in as many weeks.

Martin’s experience showed in the opening stages of the final, claiming yet another tie-break victory in the first game, and then extending her lead in the second.  Bell was providing good value for her final, but until the third game, had lacked the ability to win the important points.  This changed drastically as the Englishwoman romped to an 11-0 win as the Australian’s fitness looked to be flagging.  A second dominant game for Bell saw her level the score and force the deciding fifth game.

Having regained her breath, Martin once again matched Bell’s efforts on the court, and stayed with her opponent to force her fifth tie-break of the tournament.  Again, experience overpowered Bell’s youthful enthusiasm and ensured Martin’s long anticipated second WSA World Tour title.

Final:

Melissa Martin (AUS) bt [2] Victoria Bell (ENG)    12-10, 11-7, 0-11, 5-11, 12-10 (34m)

Semi-finals:

Melissa Martin (AUS) bt [4] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN)     7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11

[2] Victoria Bell (ENG) bt [3] Larissa Huffer (AUS)           11-8, 11-7, 11-8

Quarter-finals:

Melissa Martin (AUS) bt [1] Christine Nunn (AUS)          11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6 (36m)

[4] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN) bt [8] Samantha Davies (AUS)      11-2, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5 (42m)

[3] Larissa Huffer (AUS) bt [7] Maggy Marshall (AUS)    9-11, 12-10, 11-3, 7-11, 12-10 (28m)

[2] Victoria Bell (ENG) bt Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (32m)

2nd round:

[1] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [9] Jennifer Brown (AUS)   11-4, 11-3, 11-1

Melissa Martin (AUS) bt [6] Grace McErvale (AUS)          11-1, 11-4, 11-6

[4] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN) bt [11] Natalie Newton (AUS)       11-7, 11-5, 11-3

[8] Samantha Davies (AUS) bt [13] Aimee Slatter (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8

[7] Maggy Marshall (AUS) bt Lakeesha Rarere (AUS)      5-11, 13-11, 11-4, 12-10

[3] Larissa Huffer (AUS) bt [10] Taylor Flavell (NZL)      11-4, 11-3, 11-6

Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) bt [5] Selena Shaikh (AUS)         11-8, 11-3, 11-8

[2] Victoria Bell (ENG) bt [12] Jacqueline Barnes (AUS)  11-4, 11-5, 11-5

1st round:

[1] Christine Nunn (AUS)    bye

[9] Jennifer Brown (AUS) bt Melissa Bonello (AUS)         11-6, 11-7, 11-6

[6] Grace McErvale (AUS) bt Renelle Karwalski (AUS)    6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9

Melissa Martin (AUS) bt [15] Stacey Cope (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-8

[4] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN)           bye

[11] Natalie Newton (AUS) bt Kristen Nightingale (AUS)            11-2, 11-4, 11-8

[8] Samantha Davies (AUS) bt Nathalie Sutter (AUS)      11-2, 11-3, 11-7

[13] Aimee Slatter (AUS) bt Heather Pilley (AUS)            11-2, 11-3, 11-7

Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) bt [14] Carin Clonda (EST)         11-9, 11-0, 10-12, 11-7

[7] Maggy Marshall (AUS) bt Samantha Calvert (AUS)    11-9, 11-4, 11-2

[10] Taylor Flavell (NZL) bt Rebecca Baum (AUS)            12-10, 12-10, 11-2

[3] Larissa Huffer (AUS)      bye

Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) bt [16] Jasmin Burnard (AUS)    11-8, 11-2, 11-6

[5] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Iritana Gray (AUS)     11-8, 11-3, 11-4

[12] Jacqueline Barnes (AUS) bt Tiffany Loss (AUS)        w/o

[2] Victoria Bell (ENG)          bye

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