Emma Beddoes beats Egyptian Kanzy to win biggest tour title in St Louis
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
England’s Emma Beddoes celebrated the tenth – and biggest – WSA World Tour squash title of her career when she beat Egypt’s Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy in tonight’s final of the Women’s Emerson RC Pro Series in St Louis, USA.
The top seed arrived in Missouri in fine form, having defeated compatriot Laura Massaro, the world No.3, for the first time at last week’s Windy City Open in Chicago en-route to her first WSA World Series quarter-final for more than three years.
Beddoes blasted through the WSA Challenger 15 field at The St Louis Racquet Club to reach the final without dropping a game, downing Dane Line Hansen, the third seed, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 in the semi-finals.
Eighth seed El-Defrawy caused a couple of mighty upsets to reach the final against expectation. The 20-year-old from Cairo beat Japan’s No.4 seed Misaki Kobayashi in the quarter-finals, then survived a mammoth five-game semi-final battle with second-seeded Indian Joshana Chinappa to make the seventh Tour final of her career.
The young Egyptian, ranked 50 in the world, took an early 9-3 lead in the final – but the experienced world No.16 Beddoes (pictured above, right, with El-Defrawy) fought back to draw level. But after 20 minutes, it was El-Defrawy who drew first blood, taking a 13-11 lead after converting her second game-ball.
The opening game clearly took its toll on underdog El-Defrawy as the favourite extended the rallies to good effect to take the second game.
The Egyptian mounted a comeback in the third, keeping the game level until seven-all, at which point it was clear that fatigue was a factor as Beddoes moved ahead to take the game – before running away in a one-sided fourth to win the title 11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2.
“I’m really happy to get my biggest tournament win to date – it was a tough final,” conceded the 29-year-old from Leeds after her 58-minute triumph.
“Kanzy was obviously feeling the effects of yesterday’s semi final but she is a tough competitor and fought with all the energy she had.”
Women’s Emerson RC Pro Series, St Louis, USA.
1st round:
[1] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
[6] Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Catalina Pelaez (COL) 11-8, 13-11, 11-7
[3] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
[5] Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Antonella Falcione (ARG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
[8] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [Q] Ivonne Diaz (MEX) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
[4] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt [Q] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6
[7] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [Q] Anna Kimberley (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3
[2] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt Cecelia Cortes (USA) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[1] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [6] Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-2 (39m)
[3] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [5] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (45m)
[8] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [4] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
[2] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [7] Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [3] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
[8] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [2] Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5
Final:
[1] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [8] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) 11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (58m)
Pictures courtesy of WSA and social media