[1] Gina Kennedy (Eng) 3-2 [3/4] Nada Abbas (Egy) 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10 (67m)
[2] Joel Makin (Wal) 3-2 [1] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (69m)
Graded Finals :
F : Finlay Duncan 3-1 Stuart Mitchell 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4
E : Michael Linsley 3-2 Kyle Brown 17-15, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9
D : Thomas Myers 3-1 Michael Clarkson 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4
C : Jamie Pearman 3-2 Stewart Morrison 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5
B : Chris Thomson 3-0 Archie Niven 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
A : Chris Shinnie 3-0 Joel Braddock 15-13, 11-3, 11-6
Gina retains TEO title
What a brilliant women’s final for the packed ESC crowd – top seed Gina Kennedy survives a second successive five game thriller to retain the title – 68 minutes of all-out effort from both players.
Nada Abbas, having ousted second seed SJ Perry in the semis, made a good start, leading the opening game 6-2, but Gina fought back, levelling at 7-all and getting the better of a close finish to take the lead 13-11.
Nada started the second well too, no mistakes this time as she converted a 10-55 lead to level 11-6. Gina was on top in the third, opening up a 5-0 lead and although Nada narrowed the gap it was Gina who retook the lead 11-7.
The tables turned again in the fourth, Nada again starting the better as she led 6-2, 9-6 then 10-8. Gina saved three games balls but Nada took the fourth for 13-11 and to set up a decider.
It was an even start to the fifth, but from 5-all Gina pulled away to 10-5 for five match balls. All were saved, four with winners from Nada and one tin from Gina, and it was 10-all again! Nada’s luck ran out as she made two errors and the title was Gina’s again.
“I just want to be on court as long as I can, I love squash so much,” joked Gina after the match.
“I never felt comfortable all match, I’d never played Nada before and she’s very skilful, she had me all over the court. I felt like I settled down and played well at the end of the fifth to get to 10-5, but then I tensed up and she relaxed, I was luck she made those two errors at the very end.
“I love this court and this tournament, I’m glad I came through again!”
Makin comeback denies Gawad
Runner-up last year, Joel Makin looked as though he was going to miss out again as top seed Karim Abdel Gawad took a two game lead, edging the first 11-8 from 7-aa, then displaying his array of winners to take the second 11-3.
But the Welshman is determined, and today he just refused to be beaten. He pulled away from 7-all in the third to reduce the arrears 11-9, and at the end of a point-for-point fourth a stroke and a Gawad tin set up a decider.
The Egyptian started the better, leading 4-1, but Joel somehow increased his efforts, surged ahead to 8-4, then 10-6 and crunched the ball away on his second match ball to take the title 11-7.
“Fair to say I was being outplayed in every aspect at the start of that match,” said Joel at the end.
“But I’ve been in probably five finals here and not won one, so I really wanted to win this time and I’m glad I could complete that comeback!”
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