WSA: Perry celebrates fifth triumph in Irish Open

By Alan Thatcher

April 29, 2013 - 8:41pm

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Milestone Tenth Title For Perry After Fifth Irish Open Win

The 36-year-old from Bambridge, Ireland set about reclaiming the title she last won in 2010 in a clinical fashion, dispatching Egyptian qualifierMariam Ibrahim Metwally in straight games after a narrow opener.

Last year’s event runner-up then made similarly short work of Japan’s Misaki Kobayashi in 30-minutes to ensure her tenth consecutive Irish Open semi-final appearance.

There, she faced surprise semi-finalist Deon Saffery had who scalped third seed and local hope Aisling Blake in straight games.  The Welshwoman caused Perry some trouble in the early stages of the game, just losing out in a first game tie-break before claiming the second by a similar score-line.  Perry’s experience at the top levels of women’s squash enabled the former world No.3 to move past her opponent in four games and in to the seventh Irish Open final of her career.

Her final opponent, No.6 seed Nicolette Fernandes made her way past qualifier Sarah Cardwell of Australia in the opening round, before surprising Mexican second seed Samantha Teran in a dominant three game victory.

The Guyana international continued her strong form into the semi’s as she shut out English teenager, fourth seed Emily Whitlock, also in straight games.

Reaching the seventh WSA final of her career, Fernandes was unable to continue her form against the quality of Madeline Perry, and the Irishwoman took a strong first game lead before doubling her advantage with a narrow second game.  Fernandes’ slow start had hindered her initial progress, but she slowly worked to establish herself in the contest.  Despite letting a good lead slip in the second, her resilience was rewarded in the third game, as she won to throw Perry’s dominance into question.

The experienced Perry responded well however, and her opponent had no response as she steamrollered the fourth game to end the competition with her milestone tenth WSA World Tour title, and fifth on home soil.

Madeline Perry’s first WSA title came in her third year of competing on the tour, as she won the Proctor Memorial event in March 2002.

Final:

[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [6] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)        11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3 (60m)

Semi-finals:

[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Deon Saffery (WAL)       12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4 (54m)

[6] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [4] Emily Whitlock (ENG)       11-2, 11-9, 11-6 (40m)

Quarter-finals:

[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)

[Q] Deon Saffery (WAL) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)

[4] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [7] Emma Beddoes (ENG)   6-11, 12-10, 13-11, 13-11 (64m)

[6] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [2] Samantha Teran (MEX)   11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (45m)

1st round:

[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Mariam Ibrahim Metwally (EGY)         13-11, 11-5, 11-5 (31m)

[8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO)  13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (41m)

[Q] Deon Saffery (WAL) bt [3] Aisling Blake (IRL)            11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (30m)

Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [5] Lauren Briggs (ENG)            11-4, 11-2, 5-11, 11-7 (46m)

[7] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [Q] Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (24m)

[4] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE)  11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 11-7 (57m)

[6] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [Q] Sarah Cardwell (AUS)      11-3, 11-3, 12-10 (33m)

[2] Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Lauren Selby (ENG)         6-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-6 (37m)