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Blake's strategy takes
Subway title
Jim Wellington reports

Aisling Blake's strategy to "keep it straight and simple and not let her volley" worked like a charm as the auburn haired lass from the emerald isle went through a frustrated Alana Miller in a six minute first game, 9-1.

The tall Canadian remained frustrated in the second, tinning the few opportunities given her, and went down 0-4 in five rallies.

But she was able to get focused, change her game plan, and be more patient, which led to longer rallies and a point-for-point struggle to 6-6.

Blake noted that "the second game could have gone either way," but a few loose balls from Miller and a few tight kills from Blake gave Blake the game 9-6 in 20 minutes.

The third game saw long rallies and tough play from both sides, but Blake's relentless straight length and tenacious court coverage gave Alana Miller nothing to put away, and only four hand outs.

Blake closed out her maiden tour victory in three games and 39 minutes.

Mami Nishio likes to run, so Alana Miller's plan was to shoot the lights out, and she succeeded for the first two and a half games. Then Nishio started picking up more of Miller's shots, and hitting more of her own, while Miller tightened up.

Although Miller led 7-3 in the third and had match ball at 8-6, she was unable to close, and within a few minutes she found herself down 1-6 in the fourth.

She then got her head back in the game, and from 3-7 down, won six straight rallies to serve another match ball at 8-7 in the fourth. Unable to close again, she had to save a game ball at 8-9 before clinching it 9-7, 9-2, 8-10, 10-9 in 59 minutes.

Joshna Chinappa played more conventionally than in her quarter final, but she still used relentless, unreachable boasts to great effect as she won the first two games easily against Aisling Blake.

Both player were quite contentious with each other and the referee, but the third game saw the gritty Irish woman focus on her straight shots instead of banter, and she started to turn the match around.

Blake used a lot of physical effort to make the pickups necessary to stay in the rallies with Chinappa, but it paid off and Chinappa's short game started to miss. Blake came back from two games down to take it 4-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-2, 9-2 in 65 minutes.

14 Oct, Quarters:
Semi Line Ups Complete

Jenny Wright and Alana Miller played tight squash with excellent depth in the first two games. Wright went up 7-4 in the second, and although she served four times with seven in hand, she was unable to close the game. Wright looked coordinated and smooth. She challenged well throughout, but Miller's strength and experience was apparent as she finished 9-6, 9-7, 9-4 in 42 minutes.

Chinatsu Matsui started out cold and nervous with tins and missteps as a confident and focused Aisling Blake won the first two games at one and love. The third game was a see-saw, barn burner with four game balls and two match balls saved before Chinatsu held on to take it 10-9. Aisling appeared to be devastated in the fourth as she quickly went down 0-6 in seven short rallies, but fatigue and nerves got the better of Chinatsu. Aisling steadied her resolve and won 11 of the next 12 rallies and the match 9-0, 9-1, 9-10, 9-6 in 48 minutes.

The strong and talented Katie Patrick was not quick enough to stay with a very fit and tenacious Mami Nishio. Nishio's third game nerves were the only blip in an otherwise fait accompli: 9-2, 9-3, 9-7 in 27 minutes.

"Up-and-comer" Joshna Chinappa proved very tough to read as she played the front court as relentlessly as most players hit length. Tara Mullins strove mightily and took a nail biting third game, but fell in four to the tricky Indian, 9-1, 9-3, 9-10, 9-3 in 44 minutes.

13 Oct, Round One:
Valiant debut for Karen

Local entrant, court owner, and tournament co-director Karen Wellington made a valiant effort but was overpowered by Canadian Tara Mullins in 23 minutes. 9/0 9/0 9/0. Fans appreciated the friendly atmosphere for Wellington's professional debut.

Imelda Salazar's WISPA debut saw a nervous start with tins and wrong footings as Jenny Wright kept the pressure on with good lengths and cross-courts. Salazar eased into the match in the third game as Wright's back tightened up, but with Salazar up 6-4, Wright ran the table winning six straight rallies to take the match, 9-2 9-0 9-6 in 21 minutes.

Miller & Wright


Chinatsu & Blake

Nishio & Patrick


Chinappa & Mullins
 

A unique event The tournament takes place, uniquely, on the squash court built in the home of Dr Jim and Karen Wellington. More from 2005