Cleveland Classic 2022

Cleveland Classic 2022 : FINAL
[7] Georgina Kennedy (Eng) 3-1 [1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng)    11-7, 6-11, 11-2, 11-6 (40m)

Gina Kennedy topples top sed SJ Perry in all-English final in Cleveland …

report to follow

LIVE STREAM : Court 1    Court 2

Quarters :

[2] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-1  Mariam Metwally (EGY)

Tough encounter for Joshna since the statistics have had Mariam winning 3 matches to 1 in the past.
Too many crosscourts from Joshna during the first game opened up the court for a very skillful Mariam. That gave the Egyptian the lead.

Joshna managed to straighten her game, and not without hard work and long rallies, took the second game.

More of the same during the 3rd game, and then Mariam gave away 2 points of the return of serve errors, and then another error during game ball that gave Joshna the 2-1 lead
Chinappa sails through her victory by imposing her physicality in the fourth game.

[7] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1 [3] Olivia Fiechter (USA)

The match started off with long hard flat points. A few more errors from Fiechter made the difference in the first game.

Very physical second and third games, with a lot of hard work from both players. Little details shift the momentum towards Kennedy to give her the 2-1 lead. The pressure was on after 3 hard fought games and Gina rose to the challenge.

[8] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 [4] Olivia Clyne (USA)

Physical match since the get-go. A very solid Tinne Gilis had to do a lot of work and rally building to counterattack a fast Olivia Clyne, which ended up making just a few mistakes that, however, made the difference on the outcome of the match.

[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-1 Sabrina Sobhy (USA)

Very strong start of the match from the English player, who managed to impose her game and give Sabrina no chance to get into her rhythm.

More of the same during the second game, where a combination of a few mistakes from the American and really good winning shots from SJ give her the 2-0 up.

Perry was able to bring back her initial strategy to finally take the victory.

Round Two :

[2] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-1 Haley Mendez (USA)

Mendez takes a quick 4-1 start to the first game. Chinappa makes her mark, though, by eventually tying it 5 a piece. Chinappa’s momentum would carry her to the end of the game. Mendez would get one more point before Chinappa takes the first game 11-6.

The second game was a constant ‘ping-pong’ back and forth of points until Chinappa turns it on and wins the final 3 points in a row, she takes the second game 11-8.

A similar pattern followed in the third game, with a different outcome. Alternating points until Mendez found herself with 2 game balls. Chinappa would take one of those away, but Mendez nonetheless pulled the third game away, 11-9.

Chinappa found her rhythm in the fourth game and dominated throughout. She easily finished the match taking the fourth game 11-4.

Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-1 [6] Nadine Shahin (EGY)

Shahin started the match out strong taking the first three points before Metwally got on the board. Shahin maintained a high pace and gained momentum to a 9-6 lead. Metwally then rattled off a few winners, leveling it at 9-9. Shahin took the game in a tiebreak at 12-10.

Shahin maintained her momentum in the second game, roaring to a 7-3 lead. Metwally then leveled the score at 7-7. The game ended in another tiebreak with Metwally taking the game 12-10 leveling it at 1-1.

Metwally carried her momentum the third game gaining a quick 8-3 lead. She quickly finished out the game 11-3.

The fourth game started out close and remained close with the score at 9-7. After a few decisions Metwally took match ball at 10-9. Metwally then took the match on a stroke.

After the match Metwally had this to say:

“Well, I feel good mentally & physically on court. I’m really glad with my performance lately. Today I was so hungry on court. I remember last tournament I played Nadine in blackball. After the match I heard her coach telling her that she could win 3/0 so today I wanted to do so. So I kept those words in my mind until we meet again on court. I think 3/1 sounds good too. I guess I’m on the right track mentally. & I’m ready to keep pushing forward. Tomorrow is a new day. A new chance to move forward so I’ll just keep doing my best to get the win.”

[7] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-0 Enora Villard (FRA)

Kennedy takes a dominant charge in the first game with nothing stopping here. She takes it 11-3.

Villard comes with a bit more of a fight, picking up points in specks. Kennedy still takes a quick 10-3 lead, and Villard has a mini-comeback to save 3 game balls, but it was too little too late. Kennedy wins the second game 11-6.

Kennedy gets another dominant lead to start the third, 6-0. Villard would only rally two more points before Kennedy sails to the finish line taking the third and final game 11-2.

[3] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 3-0 Aifa Azman (MAS)

Fiechter started out the match strong taking a quick 7-3 lead. Fiechter then closed out the game decisively 11-3.

The second game began closer than the first tied up at 6-6. Fiechter then won 5 of the next 6 points taking the game 11-7.

The third game started out similar to the second with the score leveled at 6-6. Fiechter then didn’t look back and took the game and the match 11-8.

[4] Olivia Clyne (USA) 3-0 Rachel Arnold (MAS)

Olivia was really consistent throughout all of the match, which gave her opponent little error chance. Quick pace of the game with both of them hitting with quality length and around mid-height.

[8] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-1 Jasmine Hutton (ENG)

Gillis started out very strong, storming to a 7-0 lead. Hutton then stormed back to working one point at 7-8. Gillis then halted the comeback to take the first game 11-8.

The second game started out very physical with several rallies lasting more than a minute. The score was level at 6-6. The game remained close into a tiebreak at 10-10. Hutton then prevailed to take the game 13-11.

Gillis came back after losing the second game taking an 8-4 lead. Gillis maintained her momentum despite Hutton putting up a good fight to take the game 11-9.

Gillis never looked back after winning the third game and was in the driving seat for the whole game. She closed out the game and the match 11-5

After the match Gillis had this to say:

“I’m very relieved to have won this match. Jasmine played really good squash today and literally gave me nothing. I had to fight for every point. I’m just happy to be in the quarterfinals and excited for another good battle tomorrow.

Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-0 [5] Tesni Evans (WAL)

Unbelievable squash from Sobhy, who was able to counter attack a very skillful and sharp Tesni Evans. Very entertaining squash game with unreal retreavings, great exchanges around the middle and quick hands from both of the players.

[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-2 Zeina Mickawy (EGY)

Sarah-Jane knew that she had her work cut out, given that in their last encounter Zeina had a 2-0 lead and had 4 match balls. Today also proved to be tough, with a lot of discussions with the referee from both players but SJ managed to find her focus and gain control over the match in the fifth game.

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No upsets on Day One as the 9/16 seeds progress to the last sixteen …

Round ONE Reaction :

Haley Mendez (USA) 3-0 Nadia Pfister (SUI)

“I haven’t played since October so I felt a bit edgy. I just started business school is a priority at the moment so I am feeling less pressured on the squash court, which makes me enjoy it at the time.”

[9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0  Cristina Gomez (ESP)

“I feel very fresh, very focused, in the mood to play good squash. I was trying to attack any time I had the opportunity to. Really looking forward to playing again tomorrow, I feel like the court benefits my game.”

[9/16] Enora Villard (FRA) 3-0 Anna Serme (CZE)

“At the beginning I was really nervous and so I started hitting the ball with a lot of pace, pressuring Anna. She slowed it down and used my pace in the second game to attack my own game, and that made it tough. The third game I was more attacking and felt more comfortable”

[9/16] Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-0  Ineta Mackevica (LAT)

First and second games had a very good length. The ball was very cold during the last game so I lost that length and quality but I was able to push through.

[9/16] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-0 Tessa ter Sluis (NED)

I felt very good on court today. Tessa played really well, the first game was close. Always tough to play the first round but hopefully I will feel more comfortable tomorrow.

[9/16] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-1 Menna Nasser (EGY)

“I was nervous at the start, since I haven’t played since November. I was able to attack more once I found my length and I could inject more pace. I made her attack from further back in the court and that made me get into the match.”

[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-0 [WC] Caroline Fouts (USA)

“I felt a bit strange because my last tournament was in October, but I managed to stay focused and play my own game. She is a very good raising American junior, so I had to remember to treat her like another opponent. I am very impressed with her drive and attitude, I felt like that ignited a good feeling of competing again. It was a very good and clean squash match from both of us.”

[9/16] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0 Nicole Bunyan (CAN)

I was focused at the beginning, I didn’t want her to get into the match at all. Third game I was in charge until I was 6-2 and then started to make some errors. I’m happy that I managed to win that third game and also to get through. Very much looking forward to playing tomorrow again”.