Egyptian claims maiden WSA Tour title
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Egypt’s Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy justified her top billing in the Women’s NASH Cup in Canada by defeating surprise opponent Hollie Naughton in the final of the WSA Tour 5 squash event at London Squash & Fitness in London, Ontario, to claim her maiden WSA World Tour title.Â
The 20-year-old from Cairo, who is currently studying at Trinity College in the USA, reached the final after overcoming unexpected semi-finalist Nikki Todd, the No7 seed from Canada.
Todd, originally from Regina in Saskatchewan but now based in Toronto, made her breakthrough in the previous round where she upset third-seeded Brazilian Thaisa Serafini.
Naughton, the fourth seed from Canada, raised home hopes by upsetting USA’s No2 seed Cecelia Cortes in the other semi-final.
The shock win took the 19-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, into the first Tour title of her career.
Both finalists were looking for their first Tour titles – and favourite El-Defrawy took the opening game.
“In the second game, Kanzy raced into a 9-0 lead through a mixture of pressured play and wonderful shot-making,” explained event spokesman Kárlis Zauers. “This is the Egyptian brand of squash people have come to love – hitting dead nick winners when the opportunity presents itself.
“After finishing the second game 11-5 Kanzy again charged into an 7-1 lead in the third game. Hollie managed to claw some points back but Kanzy ran out the game 11-5 and took the match three games to love.”
The 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 victory in 23 minutes made it fifth time lucky for El-Defrawy (pictured above, right, with runner-up Naughton and tournament founder Jay Nash) who finished as runner-up in her previous four finals on the WSA World Tour since September 2009.
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RESULTS: Women’s NASH Cup, London, Ontario, Canada:
1st round:
[2] Cecelia Cortes (USA) bt Holly Delavigne (CAN) 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (20m)
[8] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) bt Brooke Burrowes (JAM) 11-0, 11-3, 11-0 (12m)
[4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Giselle Delgado (CHI) 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 (25m)
[6] Antonella Falcione (ARG) bt Arden McKillop (CAN) 11-5, 11-1, 11-4 (14m)
[7] Nikki Todd (CAN) bt [WC] Melina Turk (CAN) 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 (16m)
[3] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt Micaala Seth (CAN) 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11 (35m)
[5] Diana Garcia (MEX) bt Laura Savage (CAN) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (17m)
[1] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt Nicola Crich (CAN) 11-0, 11-2, 11-1 (13m)
Quarter-finals:
[2] Cecelia Cortes (USA) bt [8] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
[4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [6] Antonella Falcione (ARG) 11-3, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 (54m)
[7] Nikki Todd (CAN) bt [3] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (19m)
[1] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [5] Diana Garcia (MEX) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4 (18m)
Semi-finals:
[4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [2] Cecelia Cortes (USA) 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 (41m)
[1] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [7] Nikki Todd (CAN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (25m)
Final:
[1] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt [4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (23m)
Picture courtesy of WSA