WSA: Cornett looks tasty in Montreal Open

World No42 Sam Cornett won her third WSA title after a 60-minute battle against national rival Miranda Ranieri.

Both players had put in strong performances on their way to the final.  Cornett’s semi final match was forced to four against Kristen Lange of the USA, but had otherwise looked untroubled throughout the event, whilst Ranieri was yet to lose a game in the WSA $5k Montreal Open.

With just two WSA World Rankings points separating the pair, the final was anything but a forgone conclusion, and the first game showed evidence of this as both players gave it their all.  Ranieri was guilty of a number of errors early on, which allowed Cornett to extend a lead, but the world No44 then won eight of the nine remaining points to come from behind and take the first game on the tie-break.

In the second game, Cornett again constructed healthy leads and, unlike the first game, maintained her composure to see out the game.

Ranieri played her best squash in the third game, in which the Canadian found a better length and minimised her unforced errors to put herself back in the lead.  Cornett again responded with determination, and some consistent squash allowed her a 5-point lead in the fourth, which she closed out to force the deciding fifth game.

A margin of just two points separated the pair throughout the deciding game, though Cornett was always in the lead, and the Canadian No1 was unable to stop her younger counterpart seeing out the win on the hour-mark.

The 21-year-old, Cornett wins her third title in just seven WSA World Tour finals, her last win coming in theTasmanian Open in July 2011.

Final:

[1] Sam Cornett (CAN) bt [2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) – 11/13, 11/6, 6/11, 11/8, 11/9

Semi final:

[1] Sam Cornett (CAN) bt [6] Kristen Lange (USA) – 11/8, 9/11, 11/3, 11/4

[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [4] Stephanie Edminson (CAN) – 11/8, 11/6, 11/7

Quarter final:

[1] Sam Cornett (CAN) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) – 11/2, 11/7, 11/2

[6] Kristen Lange (USA) bt [3] Alexandra Norman (CAN) – 13/11, 11/9, 11/6

[4] Stephanie Edminson (CAN) bt [8] Leonie Holt (ENG) – 12/10, 11/8, 9/11, 11/7

[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [5] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) – 12/10, 11/7, 11/7

First Round:

[1] Sam Cornett (CAN) bt Maia Kirk (CAN) – 11/1, 11/7, 11/0

Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [7] Genevieve Lessard (CAN) – 11/4, 10/12, 11/3, 11/9

[3] Alexandra Norman (CAN) bt Runa Reta (CAN) – 11/5, 11/8, 11/3

[6] Kristen Lange (USA) bt Maria Fernanda (MEX) – 11/9, 11/5, 11/5

[8] Leonie Holt (ENG) bt [Q] Olgo Puidgemont (ESP) – 11/9, 6/11, 11/5, 11/5

[4] Stephanie Edminson (CAN) bt Diana Garcia (MEX) – 10/12, 11/3, 12/10, 11/7

[5] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) bt Erin Roberts (CAN) – 11/3, 11/4, 11/8

[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [Q] Michelle Craig (CAN) – 11/3, 11/3, 11/6