Melbourne move pays dividends as Christine sinks seeds in NSW Open
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Australian Christine Nunn achieved the goal she set herself at the beginning of the year by claiming the Women’s New South Wales Open title – and thereby winning the first WSA World Tour title of her career.
The Canberra-born 23-year-old is reaping the rewards of a 2013 move to Melbourne, where she is now coached by former world No1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
Nunn, seeded four in the WSA Tour 5 event at Thornleigh Squash Centre in Sydney, made her breakthrough in the semi-finals where she ousted second-seeded New Zealander Kylie Lindsay in straight games.
Now in the second Tour final of her career, Nunn faced Coline Aumard – the No3 seed from France who also produced a stunning semi-final upset to remove Australia’s top seed Lisa Camilleri.
Women’s New South Wales Open, Sydney, Australia:
1st round:
[13] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Alexia Clonda (EST) 11-4, 13-11, 12-10
Victoria Leow (AUS) bt [12] Eloise O’Connor (AUS) 11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7
[11] Karman Siu (HKG) bt Reyna Pacheco (MEX) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3
[15] Heather Pilley (AUS) bt Iritana Gray (AUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-1
Shannon McNamara (AUS) bt [8] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) 11-5, 5-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3
[7] Vanessa Chu (HKG) bt Rachael Gibson (AUS) 11-1, 11-4, 11-1
[10] Sina Wall (GER) bt Sarah Nelson (AUS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4
[14] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) bt Moana Gray (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
Abbie Palmer (NZL) bt [9] Liu Kwai Chi (MAC) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2
Jasmine Chan (AUS) bt [16] Samantha Calvert (AUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-6
2nd round:
[1] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [13] Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
[5] Carmen Lee (HKG) bt Victoria Leow (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
[3] Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [11] Karman Siu (HKG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
Shannon McNamara (AUS) bt [15] Heather Pilley (AUS) 11-6, 11-1, 11-7
[7] Vanessa Chu (HKG) bt [10] Sina Wall (GER) 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [14] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-1
[6] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Abbie Palmer (NZL) 8-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-6
[2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt Jasmine Chan (AUS) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[1] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [5] Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-3, 11-7, 12-10
[3] Coline Aumard (FRA) bt Shannon McNamara (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [7] Vanessa Chu (HKG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-6
[2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt [6] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
Semi-finals:
[3] Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [1] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 5-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [2] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
Final:
[4] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [3] Coline Aumard (FRA) 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5
Picture courtesy of WSA