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WSA Ile-Rousse 16th International
Open
18th-22nd June 2012,
Corsica - France |
19th June 2012 - First Round
F5 to refresh
[8]
Sally
Skaarenborg (Den) v [Q] Nadine Cull (Nzl)
11/6, 11/3, 11/6
[5]
Zephanie Curgenven
(Eng) 3-0 Anna-Carin Fortadius (Swe)
11/9, 11/5, 11/6
[Q]
Nadeen Ayman M. Shahin (Egy) 3-2 [4] Lotte Eriksen (Nor)
6/11, 9/11, 11/7, 16/14, 12/10
Evening session
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry
(Eng) 3-0 Belen Etchechoury (Arg)
11/6, 11/4, 11/4
[3]
Maud Duplomb (Fra) 3-0 Cyrielle Peltier (Fra)
11/4, 11/4, 13/11
[7]
Chloé Mesic (Fra) 3-1 [Q] Virginie Fribourg (Fra)
11/6, 9/11, 11/8, 11/4
[6] Laura Pomportes (Fra) 3-0 LL Noemie Marchetti (Fra)
11/5, 11/5, 12/10
[1]
Brigit Coufal
(Aut)
3-1 [Q] Cecelia Cortes
11/9, 6/11, 11/4, 11/5 |
CUBS SUMMARISES FOR YOU
FROM SUNNY ENGLAND
The main draw of the inaugural Corsican WSA got off to an early
start in Ile Rousse, with the only upset of the day coming in
the lunchtime session which featured three matches.
 Denmark’s
Sally Skaarenborg and England’s Zephanie Curgenven,
the eighth andf fifth seeds, both won in straight games, but
further Scandinavian interest in the quarter-finals was thwarted
by Egyptian qualifier Nadeen Shahin who overcame
Norwegian fourth seed Lotte Eriksen in a thrilling
five-setter, coming from 2-0 down to take the last two games
16/14, 12/10.
The evening session didn’t see any more upsets, but was a
fruitful one for the French as Maud Duplomb, Chloe Mesic
and Laura Pomportes all progressed, as did top seeds
Birgit Coufal and Sarah-Jane Perry.
The French are kept apart in the quarter-final lineup of Perry v
Skaarenborg, Duplomb v Curgenvenm, Mesic v Shahin and Coufal v
Pomportes, streamed live on SiteSquash.com from 18.00 on
Wednesday. |
EN BREFS 1
PHOTOS
QUALIFICATIONS
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SARAH JANE,
AN EGYPTIAN IN DISGUISE...
 A
bit of of a one sided one that was to be honest, with the English girl hitting
lovely winners from everywhere, and completely dominating her opponent.
To be mention as well, in the first two games, so many errors from Belen in the
return of serve, I thought for a moment she was injured. But no, in the 3rd,
when Sarah-Jane thought she would take a brain from her brain, the Argentinian
lead 4/0, so I guess she was fine actually.
A very quick and painless win for the Seed number 2, even if she had a few
lapses of concentration.... |
 I
was up 8/0 in the 1st when I went to lala land for a while...
I was making too many unforced errors because I was not keeeping it
simple. So I went back to hitting crosscourt nick, which is, would
you believe, keeping it simple to me!!!
Difficult to point out one thing in particular about the event that
is great, it's just a great one. My French is bed, some of the
people's English is not perfect - still, much better than mine, but
we are all getting on fine
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I worked hard physically recently, so I
felt good, and didn't put too much pressure on myself, but if my
brain was relaxed, my legs didn't follow. I just couldn't move, and
against Maud and on a warm court, not a good idea.
Maud played very well, strong and consistent game, super length,
great width. She was preventing me from attacking from the right
position, hence forcing errors from me.
First two games, not that good for me. In the third, I was more in
it, went up 7/4, but Maud started to get into her rhythm again,
running everywhere. It was tight in the end, but Maud finally gets
it!
A bit disapointed to lose, of course, but I was for so many months,
riddled with injuries, the fact that now, I'm fit, and able to train
properly gives me confidence. Today, I felt fine physically. And I
feel very confident for the months to come, summer training after
the Pyramides. Lots of positive here.
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CYRIELLE TOO STRESSED
 Speaking
with Cyrielle, the challenger who is yet to beat Maud, she
didn't put too much pressure on herself. But from where I stood,
she did....
In my humble opinion, Cyrielle never was able to play the right
tactic against experienced/runner Maud. Cyrielle kept hitting
hard, not tight enough, not varying the pace enough, playing
right into her opponent's game.
Maud, loving the hitting style, was able to pick everything up,
as ever. The French team comments Maud's match normally by a
"Maud run, run, run, and she won". Today was no different.
Normally, Cyrielle attacks a lot, but
today, she barely got me to the front, and kept on hitting hard,
which suits me fine, I just keep on running and volley when I can!
Happy to win in 3, keeps me a bit of energy for tomorrow...
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I had trouble handling two factors.
One, the warmth of court, I just couldn't find any king of decent
lenght. Two, the emotional factor of playing a local, when all the
players were like "it should be an easy game, easy win, etc"!
I never saw Virginie play, and gave her all the respect owed, and I
was right. She played a perfect game, created some good
opportunities and used the fact I was frustrated. Well done to her.
I'm happy to get away with that one, to be honest. That's something
I may have to work on. I've notice that when I'm playing against
somebody where there is a bit of a gap level wise, I find myself
struggling to get ahead, taking the ball far too late for example.
But I just finished my mid term exams (Ingeneering Prepa), only
three days ago, it was a bit of a difficult and stressing period, as
I missed a lot of classes because of squash, but now, I can relax
and focus again on my sport.
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I'm based in Vienna, I'm coached by the
former Austrian number 1, and a few months ago, I changed my fitness
coach, and she's been great. I can see the improvement with my
movement.
There is nothing more difficult than playing those young hungry
girls, they've got nothing to lose, and you just don't know what to
expect!
She's got a great tight length that get straight to the back, and
then she suprises you with her attacking shots. She mixes her pace
well, and retrieves very well.
Plus, as she is a young player, I thought she would be less patient
than she actually was!
I guess I was lucky she got a bit tired in the 3rd, allowing me to
put her under pressure.
I'm going to have a good summer training, and my aim for the coming
months would be to break to the top 40, but a lot of work needs to
be done for that.
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"I was a bit nervous to start with, I
was struggling with her attacking skills, in particular on the
backhand. So I managed to lob her more when I found myself in
trouble at the front, to prevent her from volleying as much.
This place is lovely!!! I love it here. In Denamark, it's grey and
rainy. I'm so happy I was playing early today, I'm going to be able
to enjoy the sun today. Well, not too much though, I'm playing
tomorrow!
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NERVOUS START
 Nadine
Cull surprised Sally today - well, she surprised me, you see a
past 30 lady arriving on court that you never saw on the tour,
you think, that's going to be quick - as the NZ played with the
assurance and "aplomb" she used the day before. Attacking pretty
well - her backhand drop shot well in place - Nadine was able to
ask question in the first game.
 Then
maybe fitness came into it in the second, lot of work was being
done, plus Sally finding her pace as well, slowing down her
shots and taking her opponent much more to the back. But the NZ
came back with a vengeance in the third, again some great
rallies, nice counter-attacking.
This is a match that could have gone much longer has Sally
didn't stay focused at all times. |
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I was born in Guernesey, but I moved to
England to play squash I guess! I'm now based in Colchester, and
training with Lee Drew.
Well, I have a bit of a funny life choices really. I was playing
squash as a junior, then did my training as an accountant in
Guernesey, was working there, but then realised how much I missed my
sport and more precisely squash. So, after 9 years of absence on the
squash circuit, I went straight into professional - that was about 2
years and a half, which I realise now, was probably a bit naive....
I had an injury a while back, I put a bit of weight on, so, I'm
fighting hard to come back to my best, but I'm getting there.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this place! Weather is
gorgeous, plenty of place to go and eat, don't have to worry about
rain, you stay outside...
They even have plasma tvs for the football, not that I'm following
it, but in those conditions, I don't mind watching!
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So nice to be back, it's great to be
here...it's paradise.
I just couldn't win today, I was not precise enough, and anything
loose, she would volley it away. Plus, I had an old injury that
flaired up during the game, I had a bit of trouble to push off the
T, and I think she probably noticed it, and kept on pilling it to
the front.
My tactic not good enough, I was playing too high and not tight
enough, and found myself two metres behind the T constantly. Too
easy for her to put the ball away.
Oh well, now I'll HAVE to enjoy the beach. It's a tough job but
there are some advantages to losing....
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It took me a while to get used to her
pace, well, a game and a half!
I started too defensively, that suited her game, she is so accurate
and tight at the back of the court. Slowly, I was able to attack
more, and develop my own game, and my shots started to come in
nicely, after I tightened my drives.
I am so happy to reach the quarters, and I so hope to get to the
semis!!!
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MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT
Not an empty space/seat/floor space
while those two great warriors battled on today. Lotte (77WR)
had the experience and I guess quite logically the belief she
would win against that young Egyptian appearing from nowhere
(205WR), with a bit of an akward technique, very tall and slim
for her age. And like yesterday, the youngest was a bit nervous
when she got on court.
The Norvegian found it more and more difficult to absorb the
relentless attacking from Nadeen and if the 2nd was very close,
she relaxed a bit in the 3rd, probably thinking she would be
able to close the match down in the 4th.
But the Egyptian was now on a roll, and led 9/3, 10/4 in the
4th! With all her talent/experience, Lotte patiently,
relentlessly, strung 6 points to come back to 10/10. The crowd
was enjoying that battle immensely. Lotte even got a match ball
at 14/13, after 2,405 game balls that her opponent had. But
eventually, it's the Egyptian that forces a decider, 16/14.
Back to the drawing board for the Norvegian, who had to absorb
finding herself 2/2 after leading 2/0. And the Egyptian took the
mental advantage, leading 7/4, 8/5. Like in the 4th, Lotte
clawed back to set her second match ball up, 10/9.
But a few great rallies later, including a lucky nick from the backwall,
the youngest participant to the tournament was creating the
first upset, 12/10 in the 5th... |
 Ile-Rousse
International
2012
18th-22nd 2012, Corsica, France, $5k |
Round One
19th June |
Quarters
20th |
Semis
21st |
Final
22nd |
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng)
11/6, 11/4, 11/4
Belen Etchechoury (Arg) |
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry 18.00
[8] Sally Skaarenborg |
19.00 |
18.00 |
[8] Sally Skaarenborg (Den)
11/6, 11/3, 11/6
[Q] Nadine Cull (Nzl) |
[3] Maud Duplomb (Fra)
17.45
Cyrielle Peltier (Fra) |
[3] Maud Duplomb
18.45
[5] Zephanie Curgenven |
[5] Zephanie Curgenven (Eng)
11/9, 11/5, 11/6
[WC] Anna-Carin Fortadius (Swe) |
[Q] Virginie Fribourg (Fra)
11/6, 9/11, 11/8, 11/4
[7] Chloé Mesic (Fra) |
[7] Chloé Mesic
19.30
[Q] Nadeen Shahin |
19.45 |
[Q] Nadeen Ayman M. Shahin (Egy)
6/11, 9/11, 11/7, 16/14, 12/10
[4] Lotte Eriksen (Norq) |
[LL] Noemie Marchetti (Fra)
11/5, 11/5, 12/10
[6] Laura Pomportes (Fra) |
[6] Laura Pomportes
20.15
[1] Brigit Coufal |
[Q] Cecelia Cortes
11/9, 6/11, 11/4, 11/5
[1] Brigit Coufal (Aut) |
*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
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