[1] Marina Stefanoni (Usa) 3-2 [2] Laura Tovar (Col) 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Stefanoni comeback seals title hat-trick
Adam Murrills reports
Marina Stefanoni came in to this event with her confidence sky high having won her previous two PSA Events.
She had looked very impressive in her semi final victory over Daniela Schumann and appeared the favourite going in to the final. Laura had other ideas though. She came out playing very aggressive, purposeful squash.
As soon as Laura worked the opening she was quick on to the ball and then clinical in her attacks. There were some big points at the end of the 2nd which in this heat can eat in to the reserves of the players. Laura played them well to open up a 2-0 lead.
Squash is a game of small margins though and these margins seemed to tip slightly in Marina’s favour from the 3rd onwards. Laura’s quality and intensity maybe dropped ever so slightly and Marina (who remained level headed throughout) began to start dominating proceedings.
It was her now who was slightly on top in the points and who was then finishing the points off confidently. The 3rd and 4th went in Marina’s favour quite quickly. With it tied at 2-2 we now had a 1 game shoot out for the title. Some high quality squash ensued and at 6-5 to Marina the match was anyone’s.
Over the next few minutes Marina held her nerve really well (possibly due to the confidence that her previous two titles had given her) and unfortunately for Laura she made a few mistakes. Marina managed to close it out 11-5 and in doing so become the Harneys BVI Squash Open 2019 Champion and the first ever winner of a female PSA Event in the BVI!!
The club members loved having the girls around and this event is definitely something we’d like to build on in the future!!
Here’s to the next one…
photos to follow …
Laura Tovar 3-0 Maria Tovar:
In the first semi final you wouldn’t have known the two players were sisters as no quarter was given… exactly the way the game should be played… hard but fair! They both came out ready to battle for every ball.
Laura’s slightly more aggressive basic game allowed her to just maintain the upper hand throughout most of the match, and when it came to the business end in each game she was ruthless in not allowing Maria back in. A very professional performance.
Marina Stefanoni 3-0 Daniela Schumann
Next up was ‘home’ favourite Daniela against 16 year old, Marina. This was a very impressive performance from Marina. Daniela didn’t do a lot wrong… but the young American did a lot right!
Her basic length is very accurate. When hitting straight she very rarely hits the side wall and the ball is always running away from her opponent. Daniela also commented that she found Marina quite difficult to read. Marina has a simple swing but she always makes sure when she arrives at the ball that she has several options.
With her compact swing (that looks the same regardless of the shot) she is then able to send the ball in a multitude of directions without revealing her shot until the very last second. This really hurts the movement of whomever she may be playing. She ran out a well deserved victor in three games.
With our Club Championships running alongside the Pro Event the crowds are looking forward to a day of finals culminating in what should be a high quality encounter between Marina and Laura! Bring on the games.
Having previously hosted a few Men’s PSA Events over the past 6 years in the BVI, this is the first ever Professional Women’s Squash Event in the BVI!
The first round provided all the spectators with a very enjoyable night of squash in which our local girls fought hard against their international counterparts. Having never seen women of this level competing in the BVI there is a real buzz about what is to come over the next couple of days!
Adam Murrills