[5] Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-0 [2] Georgia Adderley (SCO) 13-11, 14-12, 12-10 (46m)
Not sure that Georgia will put Torrie on her Christmas list. From the start, it felt like those two had maybe a bit of history as Georgia very quickly asked the ref to watch her opponent’s movement…
The first game seemed to be going in Malik’s direction, 5/1, 7/3, 8 /4, but as usual, the Scottish lady was like a dog with a bone, and just clawed back, 7/8. Her length was not as good as she would hope and would give Torrie a good position to attack 10/7.
The Scot just found her best squash at that point, and kept stringing winners after long and intense rallies, levelling the score 10/10, 11/11.
At 12/11for the English, 5th game ball, the ref warned her, “I need you to clear the way better to give your opponent access to the ball”. Still, the English girl clinches the opener, 13/11, 15m game
10 winners for the English, 7 for the Scot.
A bit of mirroring for the second game; this time, Georgia leads from 2/2, 3/3 to 7/4, 9/6, and it’s Torrie’s turn to claw back to 9/9. A stroke gives the Scot a game ball, 10/9, a no let takes it away, 10/10.
A game ball for Torrie, but the Scot levels, 11/11. At that point, a very unhappy Georgia appeals the no let decision, still a no let says the video ref. 12/11, game ball Torrie, a sublime drive tight to the wall from the Scot, back level! 12/12.
Finally, Torrie clinches the second game, 14/12, but the ref is not happy with her movement, and will start the third with a warning “at the end of the game, we saw a movement we didn’t like, code of conduct might be applied if it happens again”.
I guess they watched some replays slow motion? Because I personally didn’t see anything wrong, I will take a look to try and see what they saw on the replay.
4/1 to Georgia, again, Torrie catching up 6/6, and she accidentally hits her opponent with her racquet, and goes to apologise immediately to her opponent, ‘I’m sorry, I hope you are OK, I’m so sorry”. “No you are not” replies Georgia… Like I said, not sure Christmas cards will be exchanged this year…
Funnily enough, at 8/7, the Scot receives exactly the same warning about her movement that the English did at the start of the game: bad movement and code of conduct if it reoccurs. 9/7 Torrie.
A winner and a stroke for Georgia, 9/9, followed by a no let against Torrie, game ball to Georgia, 10/9.
A rally of all rallies, but ending in an error from the Scot, 10/10. Stroke to the English, 11/10, and a nice dropshot nick to finish the match, 12/10, 11m, quickest game of the match.
Torrie
“I’ve played Georgia twice in the last year or so, and we’d both won one, so I was excited to play her today. I couldn’t wait to get on court.
“I feel really good on court – I feel much more confident now when I’m playing. I’m happy with how the off season has gone, and it has shown here.
My dad is a very easy man to please; just do your best and keep working hard…
