Tomlinson topples top seed Olga Ertlova to win in Chennai
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad WSF Correspondent
While Egyptian favourite Mazen Hesham won the men’s title in the 8th World University Squash Championships in India as predicted, there was a major upset earlier today when Great Britain’s Millie Tomlinson, a 5/8 seed, toppled top seed Olga Ertlova in the other final to take the women’s title at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai against expectations.
Hesham, a 20-year-old from Cairo who is already ranked 34 in the world, dropped just one game en-route to the men’s final – where he faced No2 seed Zahed Mohamed in the event’s third all-Egyptian final since 2002.
The top seed needed just 35 minutes to overcome Mohamed, 22, from Alexandria, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.
“Zahed was a tough opponent to beat,” said Hesham afterwards. “This was my first world event win. I’m very happy. It’s a very good first title win for me. I’m going to USA to take part in the Professional Squash Association (PSA).”
Hesham becomes the third Egyptian men’s champion, following in the footsteps of illustrious former champions Karim Darwish (2002) and Ramy Ashour (2008) – both of whom went on to top the PSA World Rankings.
Tomlinson, a 22-year-old from Duffield in the English county of Derbyshire, enjoyed a distinguished career as a junior, winning the British Junior U13, U15 and U19 titles before moving to the USA to study at Yale University.
Her route to the title could hardly have been more demanding: A quarter-final victory over South Africa’s 3/4 seed Cheyna Tucker took Tomlinson into the semis, where she overcame second-seeded Egyptian Farah Abdel Megid 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7 in 55 minutes.
In her first meeting with Ertlova, the world No59 from the Czech Republic, Tomlinson despatched the 28-year-old 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 in 38 minutes to clinch the title.
“It was a very tough match,” admitted Britain’s latest world squash champion. “It’s one of my biggest victories – winning this has given me lot of confidence. I’m thinking of going for the Women Squash Association (WSA).”
Tomlinson becomes the first British women’s champion since England’s Jenny Tranfield in 1998.
World University Squash Championships, Chennai, India
Men’s quarter-finals:
[1] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [5/8] Sanjay Singh (MAS) 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (38m)
[3/4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [5/8] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5 (68m)
[3/4] Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) bt Andrew Martin (RSA) 11-8, 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-3 (54m)
[2] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [5/8] Joel Makin (GBR) 12-10, 11-8, 11-8 (45m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [3/4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
[2] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [3/4] Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) 11-6, 7-11, 11-1, 11-7 (36m)
Final:
[1] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [2] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (35m)
Third place play-off:
[3/4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [3/4] Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (48m)
Women’s quarter-finals:
[1] Olga Ertlova (CZE) bt [5/8] Chloe Mesic (FRA) 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-6 (44m)
[5/8] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt [3/4] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11 (40m)
[5/8] Millie Tomlinson (GBR) bt [3/4] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4 (35m)
[2] Farah Abdel Megid (EGY) bt Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) 11-3, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 (28m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Olga Ertlova (CZE) bt [5/8] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (29m)
[5/8] Millie Tomlinson (GBR) bt [2] Farah Abdel Megid (EGY) 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7 (55m)
Final:
[5/8] Millie Tomlinson (GBR) bt [1] Olga Ertlova (CZE) 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 (38m)
Third place play-off:
[2] Farah Abdel Megid (EGY) bt [5/8] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 16-14, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7 (43m)
Picture courtesy of WSF