Aussie star Sarah Cardwell takes out top seed Kiwi Megan Craig
By Squash Mad Reporter
Dutch champion Milou van der Heijden picked up the second WSA World Tour squash title of her career when she beat home hope Sarah Cardwell in the final of the Women’s City of Perth WA Open in Western Australia.
It was after a four-game semi-final win over fourth-seeded Korean Kim Ga-Hye in the WSA Tour 5 event at the Terrace Squash Centre in Perth that No2 seed van der Heijden reached her eighth Tour final – to face surprise opponent Cardwell, the third seed.
Cardwell had produced a significant upset in the other semi – beating New Zealand’s top seed Megan Craig for the first time in seven Tour meetings to make her sixth final.
But 23-year-old world No54 van der Heijden cruised to victory in the final, beating 22-year-old Cardwell – ranked just four places lower – 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 in 28 minutes.
Women’s City of Perth WA Open, Perth, Australia
1st round:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt Sonja Bromehead (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
[13] Kim A-Hyun (KOR) bt Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) 6-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6
[10] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Katrina Palmer (NZL) 11-2, 11-2, 13-11
[5] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [Q] Yvonne Trotter (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Sandy Blakeney (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
Sam Mickleson (AUS) bt [11] Eloise O’Connor (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
[14] Carin Clonda (EST) bt Linda Roberts (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 19-17
Cindy Robarts (AUS) bt [6] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9
[8] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) bt Amanda Hopps (AUS) 10-12, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
[15] Samantha Calvert (AUS) bt Lynette Jackson (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7
[16] Anaka Alankamony (IND) bt Karen Young (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
[4] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) bt [LL] Maddy Jamieson (AUS) 11-1, 11-1, 11-0
[7] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Victoria Leow (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Sue Hillier (AUS) bt [9] Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
[12] Heather Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joanne Ttophi (AUS) 11-3, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6
[2] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [Q] Luka Stroop (AUS) 11-3, 11-2, 11-0
2nd round:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [13] Kim A-Hyun (KOR) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2
[5] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [10] Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Sam Mickleson (AUS) 11-1, 11-9, 11-4
Cindy Robarts (AUS) bt [14] Carin Clonda (EST) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
[8] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) bt [15] Samantha Calvert (AUS) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
[4] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) bt [16] Anaka Alankamony (IND) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8
[7] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Sue Hillier (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 16-14
[2] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [12] Heather Pilley (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-1
Quarter-finals:
[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [5] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 (32m)
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Cindy Robarts (AUS) 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (20m)
[4] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) bt [8] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (34m)
[2] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [7] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [1] Megan Craig (NZL) 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-0 (28m)
[2] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [4] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9 (35m)
Final:
[2] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
Picture courtesy of Louise Winger