Cream rises to the top at Tasmanian Open

10-Jul-2010 - Squash Australia

Malaysia’s Sharon Wee stamped her authority on the Tasmanian Open squash tournament when she downed 19-year-ol Victorian Sarah Cardwell 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Wee, the world number 34, had too much class and experience for her younger opponent as she set up a final against second seeded Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri.
Wee suffered a shock loss in the quarter-finals of last week’s Victorian Open but said she was suffering from the flu in Melbourne and had not been able to perform at her best.
But she is now fully recovered and has disposed of three of Australia’s younger brigade – Challen Stowell, Maggy Marshall and Cardwell – on the way to the final.
“I’m playing much better than I did in Melbourne and I’m feeling really good on court,” Wee said after her semi-final win.
“I know against Lisa it’s going to be tough so I’ll have to work hard.
“We’ve never played each other in a tournament, but she’s a good friend and we’ve been practising with each other this week.”
World number 39 Camilleri reached the final when she beat Melbourne’s Melody Francis in a tough three-game clash.
Camilleri won the first game in a tiebreak then held off Francis to win 15-13, 11-3, 11-8 and put herself in with a chance of winning her 11th career tournament and her fifth in a row.
The men’s final also sees a clash of the top two seeds with both South Australian Mike Corren and Nathan Stevenson in convincing form in their semi-finals.
The 36-year-old Corren will be aiming for an incredible 28th title on the men’s Professional Squash Association tour after he beat third seeded Dutchman Bart Ravelli 11-6, 11-7, 11-6.
He and Stevenson have played six times on the PSA tour with the older Corren winning each time, including in three finals.
However Stevenson, who is yet to claim a PSA title, looked sharp as he demolished unseeded Kiwi Evan Williams 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.

Results (prefix denotes seeding):

Semi-finals

Men

1-Mike Corren (SA) bt 3-Bart Ravelli (NED)  11-6, 11-7, 11-6
2-Nathan Stevenson (Qld) bt Evan Williams (NZL) 11-3, 11-5, 11-3

Women

1-Sharon Wee (MAS) bt 6-Sarah Cardwell (Vic) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
2-Lisa Camilleri (Qld) bt 3-Melody Francis (Vic) 15-13, 11-3, 11-8