English stars fall in semi-finals
By JERMAINE XABA and BOB BOTTI – Squash Mad Correspondents in Cleveland
Top seeds Nour El Tayeb and Tesni Evans will contest the final of the Cleveland Classic after beating Alison Waters and Victoria Lust in the semi-finals.
Egyptian El Tayeb overcame Waters 11-9, 11-9, 11-2, while Evans fought back after losing the opening game to win 4-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4Â as Lust struggled with an ankle injury towards the end.
Nour El Tayeb vs Alison Waters
Game 1: Feeling each other out 7-7. Nour with good length making openings and taking advantage of them 11-9 game to her.
Game 2: Intensity ratcheting up. Not much separation between these two, but once again good length leads to openings for Nour. 11-9 game to her.
Game 3: Nour has the wind in her sails. She moves from 3-0 to 6-1 and powers through to 11-2.
Tesni Evans vs Victoria Lust
Game 1: Lust came out firing. Evans struggled to contain the Lust and taking a while to find her rhythm. Lust cruises to 5-1 lead, only giving up three more points to finish the game 11-4.
Game 2: Evans had to fight for every point. Lust, very light on her feet, defends exceptionally well, getting to everything. Evans opted for a deep game, reduced errors and eventually took game two 12-10.
Game 3: More grinding from Evans – she kept the ball in the back court for the most part, played very neatly forcing Lust to make her own luck. Game stays close, Evans also takes this one – but just! 11-8.
Game 4: Evans starting to find her rhythm and covering the court with greater ease. Lust ups the tempo, introducing and re-introducing Evans to every inch of the court. An ankle injury for Lust signals the end for the Englishwoman. The game ends 11-4.
The crowd gives Lust a well-deserved round of applause, acknowledging her grit and sportsmanship for playing the match through past her injury.
PSA World Tour Bronze $51,250 Women’s Cleveland Classic 2019, Cleveland Racquet Club, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Semi-finals:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [3] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-2
[2] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [4] Victoria Lust (ENG) 4-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4Â
Final:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [2] Tesni Evans (WAL)
Pictures by ANDREA DAWSON for Cleveland ClassicÂ