British Open Squash 2023: Gina Kennedy staves off Gillis fightback thriller

By Alan Thatcher

April 12, 2023 - 3:46pm

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“I live to fight another day,” said Gina Kennedy, as the Englishwoman racked up another impressive milestone on Wednesday in reaching a first British Open women’s quarter-final after a whirlwind matinee performance at Birmingham Rep.

Watching some of Kennedy’s matches is sometimes akin to actually being transported on court against her opponent. And this was no different. You felt Kennedy’s nerves, the edginess. Once those are evaporated, the raw power arrives, the free-wheeling haste and need to get the job done, to sink her opponent. In this case it came in the form of the tenacious Tinne Gillis, of Belgium, who produced a remarkable comeback to take this third round to a five-game conclusion.

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Yet, if there is one thing the hard-hitting Kennedy – who is still learning her art month by month as she continues her remarkable trajectory – won’t be beaten on, it’s her physicality and fitness. And this serious attribute saw her through to a last eight at Birmingham Rep. “I was lucky to win that one,” the Londoner added.

Finding herself 3-0 down in the first after a tentative opening set of shots, Kennedy found her range but still had to save three game balls as she finally found the quality needed after some average mid-court rallies. She won it on a sublime backhand kill and a stroke after 19 minutes, a game which could have gone either way. 

.@ginakennedyy's home crowd enjoyed that one!