Hansen's Black Knight Win Caps Back-to-Back Titles
by Matt Wagg
August 6, 2012 - Denmark’s Line Hansen won her second successive WSA World Tour title at the weekend after claiming the $10K Black Knight Open 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.
After winnning the New South Wales Open last week, the world No27 received a bye in the first round in Melbourne, before putting down a spirited challenge from unseeded Antonella Falcione in four games. The Dane then went on to beat Thaisa Serafini of Brazil and Wales’ Tesni Evans to book her place in the final.
There she faced English teenage prospect Emily Whitlock, who herself had seen comfortable victories against Christine Nunn and Sarah Cardwell, before being forced to four games by No3 seed Joshna Chinappa in the semi finals.
In an event where all four top seeds were contesting the semi’s, the quality of squash was very high, but it was the top two who progressed.
The experienced Dane was in control throughout most of the contest, as her younger opponent seemed nervous early on. A close first game led to a breakaway game from Hansen, and she managed to hold firm despite a late rally from Whitlock to force a tiebreak third, but the damage was already done.
“I’m really happy with my form, though I think my intensity dropped late on and she played really well to come back at the tiebreak,” Hansen said. “I played well, but I don’t think she would have been that happy with how she went.”
The 29-year-old, who now has her sights firmly set on her Australian Open first round match against world No10 Kasey Brown. “I’ve got no pressure on me against Kasey. I played her earlier in the year and although she beat me three-love the match went over an hour and I think I was in with a chance of winning it.”
Whitlock will also feature in the Australian Open and will face Jaclyn Hawkes in round one, starting on the 15th August.
Final:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [2] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 12-10
Semi-finals:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [4] Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-7, 11-6, 12-10
[2] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [3] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-9, 4-11, 11-3, 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [7] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 13-11, 11-4, 11-4
[4] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [8] Maggy Marshall (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
[3] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [5] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9
[2] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [6] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-3
2nd round:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Antonella Falcione (ARG) 11-8, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5
[7] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt [15] Alix Younger (CAN) 11-9, 15-13, 11-6
[4] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
[8] Maggy Marshall (AUS) bt Jennifer Brown (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8
[5] Tamika Saxby (AUS) bt [11] Chloe Mesic (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
[3] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [12] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
[6] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [14] Genevieve Lessard (CAN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
[2] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [9] Christine Nunn (AUS) 11-7, 11-2, 11-5
1st round:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bye
Antonella Falcione (ARG) bt [16] Grace McErvale (AUS) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3
[7] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt Kristen Nightingale (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4
[15] Alix Younger (CAN) bt Nicole Stoneham (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2
[4] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Larissa Huffer (AUS) 11-7, 12-10, 11-9
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [10] Vanessa Pickerd (AUS) 11-8, 13-11, 11-8
[8] Maggy Marshall (AUS) bt Moana Gray (AUS) 13-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7
Jennifer Brown (AUS) bt [13] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11
[11] Chloe Mesic (FRA) bt Iritana Gray (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
[5] Tamika Saxby (AUS) bt Jacqueline Barnes (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4
[12] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) bt Taylor Flavell (NZL) 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8
[3] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
[14] Genevieve Lessard (CAN) bt Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
[6] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Victoria Leow (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
[9] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt Cecelia Cortes (USA) 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10
[2] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bye
Back To Main
