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FINALS:
[2] Ryan Cuskelly bt [1] Luke Margan
       11/7, 11/6, 11/5
[5] Sarah Fitz-Gerald bt [2] Peta Hughes
       9/1, 9/3, 9/0

Sarah Fitz-Gerald captured the 66th professional title of her career as 19-year-old Ryan Cuskelly won his first at the Top End Open squash tournament in Darwin on Sunday.

Fitz-Gerald, making a rare comeback to the professional ranks, was ruthless in her defeat of reigning Australian junior champion Peta Hughes, while Cuskelly surprised top seeded South Australian Luke Margan in the men’s final.

Fitz-Gerald retired from the professional tour in 2003 but still plays in the men’s competition in Melbourne to keep fit.

Fitz-Gerald, who looks as though she could rejoin the professional tour tomorrow, used her superior pace and volleying to unsettle the young Queenslander.

Reigning Australian men’s junior champion Cuskelly had better fortune than Hughes in his final as he eased to a straight games win over Margan.

The 19-year-old from northern New South Wales showed why he is considered a top prospect by outlasting the 23-year-old Margan, who has recently returned to the court after a foot injury.

"I knew he wasn’t as fit as he could be because of his injury so I tried to start each game as hard as I could. I got a lead early in each game and went on with it.”

"I really want to do well in the next few tournaments and get my world ranking down before I head overseas in August."

  

"I’m still playing at a high level so it’s not like I dropped off the face of the earth when I retired from the tour."

"Hopefully Peta will use today’s final as a learning experience. I’m hoping to have chat with her to give her my perspective on how she played. I want these girls to learn as much as they can."

Men's Semi-Finals:

Luke Margan bt Nathan Turnbull
    11/8, 11/5, 10/12, 11/4

Both players had by now acclimatized to the humid and bouncy conditions.

From early on it was obvious that the pace was going to be set by Luke who looked much more patient and in control through the first two games. Luke was hitting a very good length and with patient squash was able to place a short shot in during rallies that were long in the hot conditions.

After being two games up, the crowd was expecting it to be over and it seemed this way with the score line being in Luke’s favour and 8-5 up. Nathan then proceeded to lift the pace himself and go short of any shots played mid court.

This, alongside the retrieving that goes with a 6ft 6 frame, propelled him to take the third game.

Alas, it became obvious in the fourth that this extra energy had cost him and Nathan comfortably finished off the match which was played with minimal interference from players in a good spirit.

"I’m really happy with that win. I knew if I kept it tight, my fitness is good and the shots will come. Early on my length was good, and it was only after a few rallies that I felt comfortable going short early.

"I feel like I’ve played myself into good form and am ready for the final."



"I’m very happy with that match. I played well… Luke plays at such a high pace, I managed to slow it down for a few points and it all turned around in the third game.

"I was hoping to get a game pre-match and having done so, it’s a good result."

Ryan Cuskelly bt Graeme Wilson
    11/8, 11/3, 11/7

In a tightly contested match not represented by the score line Ryan Cuskelly, the number two, seed defeated Graeme Wilson the number three seed of New Zealand in three games.

The tone of the match was set early with Ryan getting a good length and cutting off the ball with accurate volleys alternating to depth and in short. Graeme rallied well in the first game and at one stage looked as if he might take the game at 8-all, but unexpected unforced errors cost him during the later stages of the game.

Capitalizing on this, Ryan came out aggressively in the second game, increasing the tempo and volleying short with accuracy. Graeme fought back bravely in the third, but the earlier running in the first two games were beginning to cause errors in the third.

Ryan finished the match off with a decisive cross court nick to earn a well deserved victory.

"It's getting better each match. I managed to get a good length early, and changing the pace throughout the match worked well. It was a matter of setting a high pace and hanging in there for the errors.

"I’ve got plenty left in the tank and am looking forward to the final."

12-May, Quarters:
Top four in NT semis
Jamie Broadfoot reports from Darwin

It will be the top four seeds who contest the semi-finals of the NT Open at Darwin Squash Centre in Australia's 'Top End', as Sarah Fitz-Gerald aims for a 66th tour title in the women's event ...

[1] Luke Margan bt Doug Black
      11/4, 11/8, 11/1

Margan too hot for Black

This was a match between the number one seed and one of Darwin's own local players in Doug Black. As would be expected, there was much vocal support from the crowd for the local boy.

Luke came out quickly moving Doug around around the court using all the angles and it wasn’t until the second game that Doug became accustomed to the pace of the match.

Doug was able to get an early lead but was unable to sustain the demands.

[4] Nathan Turnbull bt Jamie Broadfoot
       12/10, 11/6, 11/7

No home joy for Jamie

Once again this was a local players against one of the higher seeds and Nathan proved to be to strong and better equipped to play steady when required.

The first game was close all the way, with Jamie going short often and Nathan, with a long reach bought about from a 6ft 6 frame, managing to pick everything up. At 10 all it seemed as if Jamie might have a chance having won the last two points, but Nathan proved to be steady when required.

It was similar throughout the remainder of the match with Nathan managing the big points and the right time to take out a well earned victory.

[3] Graeme Wilson bt Luke Forster
        11/13, 12/10, 6/11, 11/4, 14/12

Wilson wins a thriller

In what was the match of the quarter finals, New Zealand player Graeme Wilson, the number three seed, defeated Luke Forster in a gruelling match of contrasting styles.

The first two games set the scene with Graeme playing steady and hitting a good length. Luke has an amazing array of shots with what must be a very strong wrist, and he is able to flick the ball around the court with good deception.

In the fifth it was down to the wire. Both players looked utterly exhausted and at 13-12 Luke slipped and there was a break to mop up the court. This short break seemed to energise both players and the last rally was extremely long and unfortunately ended on a controversial stroke much to Luke’s dismay.

But this did not detract from what was an excellent match from both players played out in good spirit throughout.

[2] Ryan Cuskelly bt Zac Alexander
        11/8, 12/10, 11/4

Cuskelly takes AIS clash

This was a very enjoyable match played between two players who know each other's games well as they are both in the Australian Institute of Sport and train together daily. The match was closely watched by their coach, former World Champion Rodney Martin who has travelled to Darwin for the event.

The match was played at a very high tempo, Zac setting the pace and Ryan adapting well and seeming to feed off the pace being set by Zac. The first two games were closely fought out, with Zac going short earlier and taking more risks than Ryan who was steady throughout and patient taking the winning opportunity when it was available rather than too early.

In particular it was Ryan's drop shots from mid court were most effective. Ryan moved around the court on very light feet and appears to read the game very well.

It was this movement and patience that was the decisive factor in the end with Ryan being much stronger and steady in the third game to take out the match.

"Yeah, I’m happy with the way I played. I’ve recently returned from a foot injury, and its only been the last two weeks that I’ve been hitting and pushing myself on the court.

"Doug played well, and it was nice to be able to get a match in early and play myself back into some form.

"I like the conditions here, it's hot and bouncy which suits my game. Its only going to get tougher from here on in, I’m hitting the ball well, just hoping the fitness can hold up after some time off."

"Too good. I don’t often get to play at that pace and it was really enjoyable, heaps of fun. Nathan had it together towards the end of each game when he needed to, all credit to him. Its just great to have the opportunity to play the guy at this level.

"This is the second year we have run this tournament, and this year the prize money is bigger than last. Hopefully we can build on this and start attracting more players up to the ‘Top End’.

"Its been great for us to have Sarah Fitzgerald to be playing, a real coup for NT squash."

"I played ok in patches… the courts are so hot and bouncy compared to back home in NZ…

"I’m very excited as this will be my first semi-final of a PSA event in Australia… "

"I started slowly due the forfeit in the first round and Zac was playing at a very high pace early on, which took a while to get used to.

"The courts here are hot and bouncy which I am not used to, but I was moving well and I’m happy with how I am hitting the ball."



"It's hard to play Ryan as we train together. I did try to set a high pace throughout the match and am really happy with how I played…… unfortunately I made a few mistakes, and at the wrong time."

[5] Sarah Fitz-Gerald bt [1] Amelia Pittock
        9-2, 9-2, 9-3

Fitz makes her mark

Having won five world championships and 66 world tour titles, Sarah Fitz-Gerald is creating quite a stir on her return to WISPA action in Darwin.

She made quick work of top seed Amelia Pittock in the semi-finals, and now meets second seed Peta Hughes in the final.

"Even though I lost, that was a really enjoyable match… Sarah has shown me how much fitter, stronger I need to be.

"She volleys so much, the rallies go longer and everything is so much tighter… all credit to Sarah."

[2] Peta Hughes bt  [3] Donna Urquhart
        9-3, 4-9, 9-4, 9-4

"I’m really happy with that result… I was very nervous, but my the match went according to the game plan I had set. We are both of a similar standard, and as we train together its hard as we know each others games so well.

"My length was short throughout, especially in the second game, but I was volleying well and playing at a high tempo… Looking forward to the final…"



"It's a hard match as Peta is my training partner… I’m been out for a couple of months with an injury and I’m just happy to be back on the court which has been for the last couple of weeks….. I’m not quite at full fitness yet, but really enjoying being back on the court again."

Carol Kawaljenko is the tournament director. She is one of those people who cannot do enough for Northern Territory (NT) squash and there haven’t been many tournaments in the past 10 years that she hasn’t organized. Carol is a director on the squash Australia board and is a life member of NT squash. She maintains a friendly happy atmosphere during the tournaments.

Scott Chamings is the manager of the Darwin squash centre. Scott is a former international player who achieved a highest world ranking of 62. He coached in Germany for many years before returning the Australia in 2003. He has been the centre manager for the last six months and still manages to beat all the local players with many tricky shots learned over the years. He is unfortunately injured for this tournament.

Sarah in Melbourne