Aussie wins on home soil as Chinappa takes women’s title
By FIONA YOUNG
Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly has had the perfect preparation for this week’s Australian Squash Open, breezing through the final of the Victorian Open in straight games on Sunday.
Cuskelly’s 12-10, 13-11, 11-9 win over Scotland’s Greg Lobban was his first tour title on Australian soil since 2007.
“It was a tough match, it was pretty physical and it was quite bouncy out there and with the higher tin it was difficult to really finish the ball,” Cuskelly said. “Greg was hitting the ball quite hard and trying to keep the ball real hot and I was trying to hit more winners so it was a real contrast of styles.”
The 28-year-old Cuskelly, who has a current world ranking of 34, admits he found it hard to find rhythm at times over the past days.
“I felt a bit flat this week but still managed to get 3-0 for most of the matches so pretty happy about that,” he said.
“I’ve just got a few minor things to change for next week and to step up for the $25k event. I’ll spend the next day or so relaxing and get ready for Wednesday and start again.” In the semi-finals, Cuskelly beat India’s Mahesh Mangaonkar in straight games, while Lobban took 90 minutes to battle past Australia’s Steve Finitsis.
In the women’s final No.3 seed Joshana Chinappa caused a minor surprise by beating second seed Line Hansen of Denmark 11-5, 11-4, 11-9.
Chinappa beat New Zealand’s Megan Craig in the quarter-finals, then took out Australia’s Christine Nunn in the semis. Nunn had beaten top seed Rachael Grinham in four games in the quarters.
Hansen, recently married to Australian number one Cameron Pilley, beat Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZ) in the quarters and Siyoli Waters of South Africa in the semis.
Joshana said: “The win sets up a great lead in to the Australian Open. I’m so happy it’s at the same centre! The courts are fabulous and the venue is great but of course with Annie (Au) and Joelle (King) in the draw the competition is going to be that much tougher.”
Qualification for this week’s Australian Open, which will be played at the Melbourne Sport and Aquatic Centre, begins today (Monday).
$15,000 Men’s Victorian Open 2015, Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, Melbourne, Australia (July 27-August 2).
Final:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [4] Greg Lobban (SCO) 12-10, 13-11, 11-9 (65m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [6] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 17-15, 5-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4 (90m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [7] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-5, 11-9, 14-12 (60m)
[3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [8] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 13-15, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 (67m)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Joel Makin (WAL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (49m)
[6] Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Kush Kumar (IND) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (43m)
2nd round:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Farhan Zaman (PAK) 11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9 (50m)
[7] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-2, 11-3, 11-9 (31m)
[8] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS) 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 (43m)
[3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Joshua Larkin (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (37m)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-3, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6 (51m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [5] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 (114m)
[6] Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt [Q] Joshua Masters (ENG) 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 (30m)
Kush Kumar (IND) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (38m)
1st round:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Robert Downer (ENG) 11-0, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt Lance Beddoes (NZL) 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (45m)
Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt [Q] Mike Lewis (USA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (27m)
[7] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Martin Svec (CZE) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (26m)
[8] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 14-12, 11-7, 11-5 (40m)
Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS) bt [Q] Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-3, 12-10, 11-5 (35m)
Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [Q] Chris van der Salm (NZL) 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-7 (59m)
[3] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [WC] Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (32m)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [Q] Mike Corren (AUS) 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (34m)
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 11-8, 11-4, 15-17, 11-6 (70m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt Jonathan Maloney (ENG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 (28m)
[5] Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt Evan Williams (NZL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (72m)
[6] Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Ben Grindrod (NZL) 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (32m)
[Q] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Rhys Dowling (AUS) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (43m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [Q] Manuel Wanner (SUI) 5-11, 11-8, 11-13, 13-11, 11-3 (63m)
Kush Kumar (IND) bt [2] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 (47m)
$16,000 Women’s Victorian Open:
Final:
[3] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [2] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (32m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [8] Christine Nunn (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (34m)
[2] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [5] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 15-13, 12-10, 11-3 (34m)
Quarter-finals:
[8] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 (42m)
[3] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [7] Megan Craig (NZL) 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9 (47m)
[5] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt [4] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-5 (53m)
[2] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [6] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-3 (51m)
2nd round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [11] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-5, 12-10, 11-5 (26m)
[8] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [16] Reyna Pacheco (MEX) 11-1, 11-3, 11-3 (19m)
[7] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [13] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
[3] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [14] Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (17m)
[4] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [10] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (28m)
[5] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Moana Gray (AUS) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6 (15m)
[6] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt [12] Sachika Ingale (IND) 11-7, 11-2, 11-2 (16m)
[2] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [9] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (26m)
1st round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bye
[11] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bye
[16] Reyna Pacheco (MEX) bt Alexia Clonda (EST) 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 (13m)
[8] Christine Nunn (AUS) bye
[7] Megan Craig (NZL) bye
[13] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-2 (26m)
[14] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Stephanie Wighton (AUS) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (24m)
[3] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bye
[4] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bye
[10] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bye
Moana Gray (AUS) bt [15] Jasmine Chan (AUS) 12-10, 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4 (53m)
[5] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bye
[6] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bye
[12] Sachika Ingale (IND) bt Danielle Fourie (NZL) 11-7, 12-10, 12-14, 12-10 (36m)
[9] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bye
[2] Line Hansen (DEN) bye
Pictures courtesy of Victoria Squash