WSA: Lauren’s back in the Brigg time

Lauren Briggs didn’t drop a game on her way to winning the 2012 Artemis Edinburgh Open, which culminated in an impressive 3-0 win over no2 seed Orla Noom.

Claiming her 11^th WSA title, the final score of 11/3, 11/9, 11/8 appropriately reflected the No1 seeds’ dominance as she finished off the event in 32 minutes.

Briggs was understandably delighted with her performance: “I’m happy to have won. I was a bit nervous before but felt positive.  I wanted to try and attack from the get-go.”

Her tactics worked out perfectly as the Essex-born player never allowed Noom to settle in the first game. A sustained attack on the Dutchwoman’s backhand allowed Briggs to quickly build a lead, from which Noom never recovered.

“If Orla hits a couple of winners, she grows in confidence very quickly,” explained Briggs.  “So I tried to keep it off her forehand and extend the rallies.”

A combination of the pace and a tight quad meant Noom was struggling by the third game.  She said: “I was struggling to lunge on that leg.  That’s not why I lost, but I wasn’t moving as well as I would like.

“Lauren doesn’t make many mistakes.  After the first I told myself to breathe and slow down, and I stepped up more in the second.  As soon as she’s on the tee you are just playing fetch.”

Briggs has little time to celebrate following her win, as she now flies out to Winnipeg for the Meadowood Pharmacy Open.  “It’s going to be cold, but then again, it’s cold here too!  I’m looking forward to it.”

Reflecting on the weekend, Edinburgh Sports Club Manager Jonathan Tait said: “The standard was high across the board.  The women’s tournament was very competitive, and Lauren was a worthy winner.”

 

Final:

[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [2] Orla Noom (NED) 11/3, 11/9, 11/8

Semi final results:

[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [3] Birgit Coufal (AUT) 11/7, 11/6, 11/5

[2] Orla Noom (NED) bt [6] Zephanie Curgenven (ENG) 11/7, 12/10, 11/3

Quarter final results:

[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [5] Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11/7, 11/7, 12/10

[3] Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt Julia Lecoq (FRA) 11/5, 11/7, 12/10

[6] Zephanie Curgenven (ENG) bt [4] Maud Duplomb (FRA) 6/11, 12/10, 11/3, 11/6

[2] Orla Noom (NED) bt [Q] Frania Gillen-Buchert (SCO) 8/11, 11/6, 12/10, 11/8

Round 1 results:

[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt Nada El Kalaawy (EGY) – 11/7 11/3 11/5

[5] Laura Pomportes (FRA) bt [Q] Melissa Alves (FRA)- 11/7 11/4 4/11 8/11 12/10

[3] Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt [Q] Victoria Bell (ENG)- 11/9 11/5 10/12 11/7

Julia Lecoq (FRA) bt [8] Dominika Witkowska (POL) – 11/2 11/8 11/13 11/12

[6] Zephanie Curgenven (ENG) bt Anna Jurkun (POL) – 11/7 11/5 11/3

[4] Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt [Q] Cigany Sillevis (NED) – 11/13 11/5 11/2 11/2

[Q] Frania Gillen-Buchert (SCO) bt [7] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN) – 8/11 5/11 11/4 11/6 11/8

[2] Orla Noom (NED) bt Bine Malund Lind (DEN) – 11/5 11/5 11/3