RESULTS: Racquet Club Invitational, St Louis, USA
Final:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [3] Victoria Lust (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8
Great Dane Line Hansen justified her top billing in the Women’s Racquet Club Invitational when she brushed aside England’s Victoria Lust in the final of the WISPA World Tour 8 squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
While the world No30 from Odense reached the final after beating local star Olivia Blatchford, the fourth seed from New York, in four games, third seed Lust battled to a five-game upset over second seed Latasha Khan to claim her unexpected place in the climax.
But the toil of the semi had clearly taken its toll on the 21-year-old world No38 from Cheltenham as Hansen romped to an 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 victory to win the inaugural Tour title in the second-largest city in the US state of Missouri.
The title triumph marks Hansen’s first Tour success of the year – but the ninth of the 27-year-old’s career.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [7] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 14-12, 11-7, 11-8
[4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [8] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt [5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9
[2] Latasha Khan (USA) bt [6] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5
Semi-finals:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt [2] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5
Khan Conquered In St Louis
England’s Victoria Lust put paid to US interest in the final of the Women’s Racquet Club Invitational when she upset second seed Latasha Khan in the semi-finals of the WISPA World Tour 8 squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
Third seed Lust, the 21-year-old world No38 from Cheltenham, stemmed a fightback by Khan to beat the 38-year-old world No31 from Seattle 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5.
And top-seeded Dane Line Hansen doubled the US disappointment in the climax of the inaugural WISPA event at the Racquet Club when she defeated New York-based fourth seed Olivia Blatchford 11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8 in the other semi.
Lust is celebrating her 11th Tour final appearance, while Hansen, the 27-year-old world No30 from Odense, is marking her 14th WISPA final.
RESULTS: Racquet Club Invitational, St Louis, USA
1st round:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) 11-8, 11-0, 11-2
[7] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Larissa Stephenson (NZL) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [Q] Heidi Mather (AUS) 11-2, 11-8, 11-5
[8] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) bt Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-2, 11-9, 11-8
[5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-3
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt Kristen Lange (USA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6
[6] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [Q] Nour Bahgat (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10
[2] Latasha Khan (USA) bt Genevieve Lessard (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5
US Interest Alive In St Louis
Latasha Khan and Olivia Blatchford kept home hopes of success in the Women’s Racquet Club Invitational alive after straight games wins in the opening round of the WISPA World Tour 8 squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
Second seed Khan, the world No31 from Seattle, despatched Canadian Genevieve Lessard 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 – while fourth seed Blatchford, the 18-year-old world No42 from New York, ousted Australian qualifier Heidi Mather 11-2, 11-8, 11-5.
Both now face Canadians in a bid to make the semi-finals – Khan will line up against sixth seed Miranda Ranieri and Blatchford eighth seed Stephanie Edmison.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) v [7] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [8] Stephanie Edmison (CAN)
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) v [5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
[2] Latasha Khan (USA) v [6] Miranda Ranieri (CAN)