First title in five years as dazzling Duncalf enjoys her squash again
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
Jenny Duncalf rolled back the years as she confirmed her status as one of the best women’s players in the world as she beat Sarah-Jane Perry in an all-English final of the Monte Carlo Classic.
Duncalf claimed her first PSA World Tour title win in five years as she saw off top seed Perry in straight games, winning 11-4, 13-11, 11-9 in 44 minutes. It was a special occasion as the PSA W35 event celebrating its 20th year at Stade Louis II in the Monaco capital.
Former world No.2 Duncalf has slipped to as low as 21 in the world rankings but has enjoyed a renaissance in recent months, having looked back to some of her best form at the World Series events at the US Open and Qatar Classic.
The 33-year-old from Harrogate continued to build on her improving form to secure an impressive victory over her powerful England team-mate Perry. She had to battle through three tough encounters to reach the final.
In the first round she overcame French wild card Coline Aumard in four games, and then faced sisters Natalie and Rachael Grinham in the quarter-finals.
After a 15-13 tiebreak in the first game, she powered through the next two games against Natalie. Then followed three close games against Rachael, with Jenny finishing each one strongly to take the match 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.
The win marks the 10th Tour title of Duncalf’s career.
A delighted Duncalf said: “I am thrilled to have won The Monte Carlo Classic! It was a great week from start to finish and it feels brilliant to win a tournament again.
“I’ve been enjoying my training and playing recently and taken some pressure of myself which I think showed in the way I played.
“It’s taken me a while to realise, but it’s not the end of the world if you lose a squash match, so just go out there, get stuck in and do your best. That’s what I did and that’s what won me the title. I’m very happy.”
Final:
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-4, 13-11, 11-9 (44m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [6] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-9, 13-11, 11-6 (40m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-8, 12-10, 11-9 (31m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [7] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 (66m)
[6] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [4] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-5, 11-5 ret.
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Natalie Grinham (NED) 15-13, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [8] Tesni Evans (WAL) 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (54m)
1st round:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, 11-3 (36m)
[7] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)
[6] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-3 ret.
[4] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10 (50m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [WC] Coline Aumard (FRA) 7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 (51m)
[Q] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [5] Heba El Torky (EGY) 7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7 (50m)
[8] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Samantha Teran (MEX) 12-10, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7 (55m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Nouran El Torky (EGY) 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 (21m)
Qualifying finals:
Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Enora Villard (FRA) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (23m)
Nouran El Torky (EGY) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7 (53m)
Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Nele Gilis (BEL) 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 (37m)
Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Fiona Moverley (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 13-11 (27m)
1st qualifying round:
Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Chloe Mesic (FRA) 11-4, 7-11, 1-11, 11-8, 11-6 (45m)
Enora Villard (FRA) bt Cyrielle Peltier (FRA) 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (31m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Elise Romba (FRA) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 (18m)
Nouran El Torky (EGY) bt Marija Shpakova (SUI) 11-7, 11-4, 11-0 (14m)
Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Laura Gamblin (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (21m)
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Deon Saffery (WAL) 1-11, 12-10, 13-11, 2-11, 11-4 (52m)
Fiona Moverley (ENG) bt Victoria Temple-Murray (ENG) 11-6, 11-1, 9-11, 11-6 (30m)
Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 (15m)