Sutton Coldfield International 2022

Finals

Amina Orfi 3-0 Kaitlyn Watts 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (34m)

Kaitlyn started the match really positively, using height and hold in a way that no other player had tested the young Egyptian with so far this week; A very even first game really could have gone either way.

The next two games remained very competitive with Watts having some success with the same tactics, however Amina was really starting to find her range and the accuracy of her length hitting was quite something, never letting her opponent settle onto an easy ball.

Both have been a pleasure to have at the club and we wish them success for the rest of the season.

Emyr Evans 3-1 Simon Herbert 11-2, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8 (44m)
An attack minded Simon began the match frequently opening up the court and looking for the quick winners. Emyr soaked up the pressure and countered well to take a comfortable first game assisted by a number of errors from Herbert.

The second game was closer but Herbert still perhaps looking to attack too early and handing too many opportunities to the Welshman. A much more patent approach paid dividends in the fourth game and for the first time all week it looked as though Evans could be beginning to tire as the number 2 seed clawed a game back. Evans regrouped in the fourth to take a commanding 10-3 lead and looked well on the way to a comfortable victory.

However, there were a few nerves as Simon pegged him back to 8-10 before a stroke decision gave Evans his first Challenger title at the eighth attempt.

Semis :

Kaitlyn Watts 3-0 Anna Kimberley 
A very open start to this match with both players trading point for point right to the end of the game, Watts just edging it. The second followed a similar pattern with Kimberley starting to look slightly uncomfortable with a potential injury towards the end of the game. By the third game the momentum was well and truly with the Kiwi, Kimberley now noticeable hampered in her movement.

Emyr Evans 3-0 Elliott Morris 
This was an exceptionally high-quality match with both players looking to take control of the middle of the court in some punishing early exchanges. Morris becoming frustrated with a few decisions as Evans stayed consistent to take the first game. The second game was very close with Morris throwing everything at his opponent but Evans soaking up the pressure and responding with some great attacks of his own to edge it. A still competitive third game but Evans was now in the ascendancy to close out the match.

Amina Orfi 3-1 Hana Ismail 
The match up between the two Egyptian girls was always destined to be a hard-hitting affair with neither taking a backwards step and the pace very rarely dropping. Orfi again showing fantastic accuracy and relentlessness to take charge of the first two games. Ismail showed fantastic spirit to fight back and step in front to take the third and prolong the match. Things were looking even until
about 5-5 in the fifth before Orfi managed to pull away.

Simon Herbert 3-0 Alisdair Prott 
An impressive attacking display from Herbert, taking advantage of a slightly tired opponent who had left it all on court the day before. Still, it had been a very good tournament for the Scot who had taken out two higher seeds on his way to the semi-finals.

Quarters

The standard of squash on display this evening was superb, with every match being very closely contested.

The first of the ladies’ matches was a real see-saw affair with Kaitlyn Watts rushing into a 2-0 lead before Katriona Allen hit back to level, Watts regrouping in take the fifth. Youngsters Amina Orfi and Hana Ismail coming through real tussles against Asia Harris and Alison Thomson respectively, both matches in front of an appreciative crowd. Anna Kimberley just had enough to see of a spirited performance from Emilia Korhonen.

Emyr Evans won in four against Ben Smith to kick off the men’s matches in 50 minutes of very good squash. Elliott Morris and Stuart Macgregor met in a local derby which Morris one in three games, the scoreline not quite reflecting the effort from Macgregor. Alisdair Prott and James Peach split the first four games, with the Scot sneaking home on the fifth. Another five setter completed the evening as Simon Herbert took the honours against Temwa Chileshe.

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Round 2

There was a fantastic atmosphere at the club this evening as the top 8 seeds entered the draw, with a couple of shocks along the way.

For the second year in a row our men’s top seed went out in the second round, this time Stuart Macgregor getting the better of Lwamba Chileshe in a pulsating encounter on court 2. The rest of the men’s seeds made it safely through, none of them getting an easier ride however.

Perry Malik pushing Emyr Evans all the way in another of the night’s best matches. Impressive youngsters Amina Orfi and Hannah Ismail scored seeding upsets over Yasshmita Jadishkumar and Kiera Marshall respectively, with the rest of the top seeds in the ladies draw advancing to the quarter finals unscathed.