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Cyrielle Peltier and Cecelia Cortes in 2003, French Junior Open, Marseille...

I'm based in Manchester, and when I left two days ago, it's was pouring with rain and about 10°C. And when I arrived here, well, I thought I was in paradise!!! I'm 38, and I'm only starting on the WSA circuit. Thing is, last year, I finished 10th in the NZ Nationals, and I though, what the heck! The girls I'm beating have a world ranking, so, why can't I get one! Mind you, I just did a Malaysian Open, and people kept on asking me who I was coaching... My ambition is simply to get a world ranking, travel the world, and meet some awesome people...

GREAT START!!!

Well, if you thought that qualifications in a $5K would be boring, you would have been surprised with that opening match.

Nadine Cull, from NZ, who I never saw play before, axphyxiated her opponent with her excellent close to the tin hitting, plus an superb backhand volley that got her a few points today.

First game, very close, even if the score doens't reflect it. Second, well, Lovisa Forstadius got a bit discouraged, but as her coach/sister Anna-Carin (who is in the main draw) helped her with a few recommendations, the third was very close/interesting indeed. Close and intense rallies, lots of hitting/running. Cull needed 3 match balls to close it out...

CECELIA TOO ACCURATE

Another fast paced/disputed match, again, the score not reflecting the match. Noelie was prevented today to play her attacking gamer, and got frustrated in the last game, as Cecelia was putting the ball a bit too far away, forcing the Corsican n°1 Noelie Marchetti to hit the ball out of position, hence too many errors.

Still, some superb rallies, a lot of spectators keen to see the local girl do well, and although the outcome was not what they hoped for, lots of applause and appreciation at the end....

Cecelia is strangely enough coached by her younger sister by two years Casey. "She is the smartest player I've ever encountered, so it's nice to have her in my corner", says Cecelia.

"Cecelia can sometimes start a bit slowly, but by the end, she is really all on! And she is such a hard worker, I have no doubt she'll sort this out very quickly", adds Casey.

"Well, you have all the talent, so, I have to work hard, and have the legs!!! concludes Cecelia....

AND HERE WE GO
Framboise in Corsica

This is my fourth visit to Ile-Rousse for the tournament. Well, not the WSA, obviously, as it's the first ever edition (with a PSA to logically follow next year). But Jean-Louis and Corinne Guidoni, along with Tournament Director Xavier Romieu, have been organising a Men/Women tournament for 16 years now.

Needless to say they have a rough idea how to do a successful one.

This is their first attempt like I said, to a WSA, but according to the girls, it's already a success. "Well organised", "it's paradise", "feels like a dream", "we are on holidays, feel like"....

*Mayar Aly Ezzo withdraw

17.00
Virginie Fribourg (Fra) 3-0 Ise de Bruyker (Fra)                                w/o
                                                                                                  plays Mesic
Nadine Cull (Nzl) 3-0 Lovisa Forstadius (Swe)                   11/5, 11/1, 11/9
                                                                                                 plays Skaarenborg
Cecelia Cortes (Usa) 3-0 Noelie Marchetti                        11/1, 11/7, 11/4
                                                                                                plays Coufal
Nadeene Ayman M. Shahin (Egy) v Bilkis Nahaboo (Fra) 11/4, 11/4, 11/3
                                                                                                plays Eriksen