Final: It’s Hollie in three
[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-0 [2] Olivia Fiechter (USA)
Both players come out strong and a great mix of length and attacking drops from the back make for some entertaining rallies, 7-6 Hollie, lots of pace from Hollie and some unforced errors from Olivia,9-6 then a tin and a beautiful cross court drop to take the game 11-7.
Olivia comes out fighting, taking a 3-1 lead, Hollie pulls back then they level out at 5-5 a beautiful cross court kill followed by a deft length and Hollie pulls ahead and get game ball 10-6, 11-6 game and looks like last night semi final battle has taken its toll on Olivia.
Some brutal rallies to start the third game score tied at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 then two great drops from Olivia and and unforced error bring it to 8-5, Hollie storming back to 10-9 match ball, Olivia levels it then onto 11-11 a unforced tin and second match ball and Hollie coverts. 13-11 and Champion of the 2020 RC Pro Series.
The victory marks Hollie’s third and biggest PSA title.
Semis : Top seeds survive
Mike Puertas reports
[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-1 Hana Ramadan (EGY)
Hollie starts the game with a lot of energy, Hana looks a little nervous catching three tins in a row Hollie leads 7-1 then 9-3 with some solid length and pressure, game ball at 10-3 saved and Hana is getting back into the game, a no let on minimal interference closes out the game 11-4
Hollie starts with a flurry of attacking shots to take a 5-1 lead keeping Hana in the back and taking away her attacking game, Hana claws back and the points are neck and neck Hollie then pulling ahead with some positive squash closing out the game 11-7.
Hana uses the momentum to push ahead in the third taking a 7-3 lead and maintaining the pressure finishing of the game with a straight volley drop nick winner 11-5.
Hana takes a 3-0 in the fourth, Hollie pulls back and levels at 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 Hollie then edges ahead and controls the T, 10-7 match ball..Match 11-7
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 3-2 [3] Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
The match starts with both players finding their length, some hesitant play before Danielle takes the lead at 7-6, she keeps the pressure up and closes out the game 11-7.
The second game starts with the players exchanging points unlit 3-3, then all the way to 9-9, fantastic volley nick 10-9 game ball, next one in the tin 10-10, slotted nick from Danielle off the serve 11-10 game ball…unforced error with reverse boast levels it again, Olivia battling back to bring the score to 12-12, 13-12 Olivia with a sublime hold, back to 13-13 after a short kill from Danielle and error from Olivia and game ball 14-13 a forced error and the second game to Danielle 15-13.
Third game starts just as close 3-3, Olivia pulling ahead 6-4 but still very close, Olivia maintain a 2 point buffer to 8-6 and then pushes to 10-6 with some accurate length and counter attacking, Danielle claws back to 9-10 then 10-10, a massive hold by Olivia 11-10, tight drop by Danielle 11-11, loose play by Danielle and Olivia is back in the match 13-11.
Olivia uses the momentum and storms into the lead 5-1, Danielle pulls back to 4-5 trying to right the ship, Olivia was having none of it pushing ahead and taking the game 11-5
This what all the training is for, fifth game semi-final…let’s see who wants it more!
Danielle takes the lead 3-0..Olivia fight back and now leads 5-4 after some unforced errors from Danielle contested stroke and 6-4 Danielle, Backhand volley kill 7-4..8-4, one back for Danielle with a serve return nick but the momentum is against her 10-5 match ball saved 6-10, 7-10, a miss hit off the a tight ball and match to Olivia..what a battle!
Quarters : Revenge of the Seeds !
After a day of upsets in Round Two, the seeded players asserted themselves in the quarter-finals in St Louis …
Mike Puertas reports
[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-2 Lily Taylor (ENG)
Naughton survives!
First game is neck and neck on a warm court both players are finding their depth and pace, Lily getting the edge taking it 11-7
Back and forth until 6-6, Hollie this time capitalizing on some unforced errors from Lily and finishing the game with sole sharp attacking volley drops. 11-6
Lily using some short angles to apply pressure to the front takes a 3-1 lead, Lily unleashes a barrage of attacking shots hitting winner after winner to take an 8-4 lead. Hollie clawing back from 5-10 to 9-10 before Lily slotted a forehand drop to take the game 11-9.
Hollie surges ahead and never looks back taking the game comfortably 11-2.
The fifth game Hollie kept the pressure on and the workload took its toll on Lily, Hollie closing out the match with a strong 11-6 final game.
Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-0 Catalina Pelaez (COL)
Hana seems to have answers to everything Catalina is trying, combine that with her incredible touch and short game and she takes the first two games 11-7, 11-7.
Catalina starts with a flurry in the third taking a 4-1 lead, Hana claws it back to level at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9 Catalina doing a great job of keeping Hana in the back corners 10-10 then 11-11 big rally at 11-11 Hana hitting a rolling nick then finishing the match with a stroke after a tight drop.
[3] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 3-1 Alicia Mead (ENG)
After a tough match yesterday it will be challenging for Alicia to back it up against No.3 seed Danielle Letourneau. Alicia starts well taking the lead 5-1, Danielle fights back and it is a see saw battle until 9-9 when two winning shots from Alicia close out the first game 11-9. Danielle gets her composure back in game two and comfortable takes it 11-4. Lots of unforced errors from Alicia give Danielle a 7-2 lead, fatigue is becoming a factor as Alicia is struggling to chase down shots she got easily in last night’s battle, Danielle taking the game 11-3. The fourth game is more of the same and it is evident that last night’s match emptied the tank on Alicia. 11-4 Match.
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 3-0 Diana Garcia (MEX)
Olivia continuing where she left off last night with an impressive display of attacking positive squash to start the first game taking a 9-3 lead, Diana clawing back a few points before Olivia closes out the game 11-5.
Tight back and forth until 4-4 then Olivia runs the table with seven straight unanswered points 11-4. Olivia continues to dominate the T and it appears that Diana has no answer losing the last game 11-4.
Upsets galore in Round Two
Mike Puertas reports
[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3- 0 Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
Hollie seemed to always just have the edge in this match, just keeping a point or two between her and Jessica. A quality match with both players displaying a good mix of power and touch.
Lily Taylor (ENG) 3-0 [6] Salma Youssef (EGY)
Lily Taylor was in control throughout this match, condoling the T and attacking with precession volleys and a clinical short game.
Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-0 [8] Marina Stefanoni (USA)
After a tough first game Marina lost confidence and Hana sensed it pushing harder and closing out a comfortable 3-0
Catalina Pelaez (COL) 3-0 [4] Emilia Soini (FIN)
After a tight first two games, perennial favorite at the Racquet club Catalina Pelaez closed out yet another upset win by 3-0.
[3] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 3-0 Georgia Adderley (SCO)
Danielle started fast putting a lot of pace on the ball and countering with some sublime volleys and drops, Georgia tried to change the pace of the game but found no answers to the accuracy and pace of Danielle’s game.
Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-2 [7] Anna Serme (CZE)
Tight first game, Anna just getting the better of the T taking it 11-8, Alicia comes out firing in the second taking a quick 4-0 lead only to catch three tins and have Danielle take the momentum to 6-4, Alicia playing some positive attacking squash brining the score to 7-7 then pushing through for a 11-8 win to tie it up.
The third is neck and neck again, Anna clipping some tin and crucial times and Alicia taking advantage of her opportunities taking the game and a 2-1 lead. Alicia storms to a 5-0 lead in the fourth, Anna clawing back only to have Alicia surge ahead to have a match ball at 10-9, a long rally benefiting Anna taking the wind out of Alicia and leveling it at 11-11 the effort took its toll and Anna seals the game 14-12.
Fifth game and Alicia appears to have her energy back, chasing balls down and attacking early taking a 10-8 lead and converting on the first opportunity.
Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1 [5] Ineta Mackevica (LAT)
Diana Garcia starts fast taking the first and second games comfortably 11-6, 11-3, some physical play in the third and traffic issues help Ineta get back into the match 11-9 making 2-1. Garcia takes the first 5 points in the third before Ineta claws back 4, Garcia then goes on a run taking the next 5 points and a healthy lead, one match ball lost at 10-6 and 10-7 finally closing it out 11-8 and another seed goes down.
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 3-0 Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
Both former Princeton teammates start tentatively taking the score to 5-5, Olivia steps up taking the initiative and attacking first closing out the first game 11-6.
Olivia keeps her momentum taking the second game 11-4 and closing out a comfortable 11-7 in the third.
