Another success for Laura Massaro, world champion and event promoter
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad WSA Correspondent
England’s world squash champion Laura Massaro crowned her national team-mate Sarah Kippax the Women’s CourtCare Open champion after the world No.22 survived a five-game final to win the Women’s Squash Association World Tour event promoted by Massaro at her home club in Chorley, Lancashire.
Massaro, who became England’s first women’s world champion for 15 years in March, launched the WSA Tour 10 event last year with her brother Chris Lengthorn, Head Coach at the Manchester National Squash Centre.
This year’s championship, which attracted players from eight nations to the David Lloyd Chorley club, reached an all-English climax between second seed Kippax and favourite Sarah-Jane Perry, the world No.18 from Kenilworth.
In a dramatic final, 30-year-old Chester-born Kippax (pictured above, right, with Perry) twice came from behind to overcome Perry 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7 – beating her higher-ranked 23-year-old opponent for the first time in four Tour meetings.
“Very proud to be the @CourtCareSquash champion 2014!” Kippax later told her Twitter followers. “Thanks to @ljmassaro & @lengthorn86 for organising a top class event!”
At the presentations, the Halifax-based champion told the crowd that she would be celebrating by eating some chocolate on Easter Sunday and having dinner with family!
“I’m really pleased with how I played during the week – staying at home and playing in the UK really helped me,” explained Kippax. “Thanks to all the sponsors – it was a great atmosphere throughout the week.”
Massaro can now look forward to resuming her own playing career: “It’s been a great experience running this event with my brother,” said the world No2. “It’s nice to give something back to the Tour and have the girls playing at my home club.
“I’ve really enjoyed my week as promoter – but I am ready to get my playing head back on after watching all the squash this week!”
WSA CourtCare Open, Chorley, Lancashire, England. First Round):
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Chloe Mesic (FRA) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
[Q] Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt [8] Birgit Coufal (AUT) 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [WC] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7
[Q] Leonie Holt (ENG) bt [7] Carrie Ramsey (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7
Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt [6] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 2-11, 11-5
Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt [4] Deon Saffery (WAL) 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4
[5] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Antonella Falcione (ARG) 11-6, 11-2, 12-10
[2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [Q] Victoria Temple Murray (ENG) 11-3, 11-5, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Julianne Courtice (ENG) 11-2, 11-3, 11-4
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [Q] Leonie Holt (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9
Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8
[2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [5] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-8, 11-1, 11-9
Semi-finals:
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [3] Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-13, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
[2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Maud Duplomb (FRA) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
Final:
[2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com