World Champs Day4: RSA vs Mexico

Squash Captain’s Report: Day 4 at World Champs 2014

RSA beat Mexico 2-0

Mexico was the next team on our path to our Top 10 goal. This team is lead by Samantha Teran who has been a Top20 player for many years. The order of play was 2,1,3.

Milnay Louw went on first against a player that runs after every ball. She played good attacking squash to see her get into the lead, but her opponent picked up everything and took the first game. Louw then mixed up the pace in the second game, which seemed to do the trick. Game Score1-1. The players were quite evenly matched and were fighting hard in each rally. Then it was 2-1 to Mexico, the 2-2. In the last game, Louw decided to stop playing catch up, and took control of the game by dominating in the middle and being clever with her shot selection. She went 8-3 up before finally clinching the final and crucial game!

I went on next knowing it would never be an easy battle, especially since I had recently lost to Teran in October. Instead I focused on the game plan we had come up with, and it worked! I took the first game 11-2. In the second game, she raised her game, but I didn’t respond fast enough and she took that game, also 11-2. In the 3^rd and 4^th, I went back to the plan and managed to produce the squash to execute it, and soon took the match 3-1, which gave South Africa the victory we needed!!!

We will now go on to play New Zealand, 9^th seeds, to fight for a place in the Top10.

Squash Captain’s Report: Day 1 at World Champs 2014

The Women World Squash Team Championships 2014 have kicked off here in Canada, and there’s no turning back now. We are ranked 12^th out of 20 teams, and our goal is to finish in the Top 10. In our pool we have some tough competitors, Hong Kong (4^th), France (5^th), India (13^th), Austria (17^th).

We have already had a taste of defeat and victory on Day 1. The tough match was the first one where we played Hong Kong in the morning. The matches were all a lot closer than what they looked on paper. Each of us had pivotal moments in the matches which could have turned the matches around, especially in tie-breakers, but Hong Kong finished them off better than we did. All in all, the basic groundwork was there, but we just needed to take our opportunities better when they presented themselves. That is exactly what we did when we played Austria later in the same day, and each of us won our matches in straight games.

As the captain of SA Team, I am really excited about what we can accomplish here at White Oak Resorts and Spa, as this is the first time our squad consists of only WSA professionally ranked players. Every single player has been working hard to get the right level of exposure by playing tournaments on the pro circuit and training at various locations overseas. We have a strong team with myself at no.1, Milany Louw (2), Cheyna Tucker (3) and Alex Fuller (4).

We hope to really bring some African flavour to the World Champs this year, on and off the court. With the Niagara falls just down the road, a reminder of God’s awesome creation, there are plenty of things that can be a source of inspiration to us to be the best we can be. For so long, we look to admire what other nations are capable of doing. It is time to show what South Africans are also capable of doing. Go Team SA!!!

For full results, visit http://www.wsfwomensteams.com

Winner of UCT KEITH GRAINGER MEMORIAL OPEN 2014

UCT Keith Grainger Memorial Open 2014, Cape Town
April/May (Tour 5)

Siyoli vs Salma

I won this event last year. I was really pleased to be able to win it again, with more foreign players coming to South Africa to compete.

1st Round: Won 3-0 vs Danielle Van Niekerk (South Africa), 11/4 11/1 11/1
Quarter Final: Won 3-0 vs Sasha West (South Africa), 11/4 11/3 11/4
Semi Final: Won 3-0 vs Cheyna Tucker (South Africa), 11/7 11/6 11/5
Final: Won 3-0 vs Salma Nasser (Egypt), 11/7 11/6 11/8

UCT KEITH GRAINGER MEMORIAL OPEN 2013

VICTORY IN CAPE TOWN
1st -4th May 2013

 

Final:
[1] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 11-3, 11-5, 11-9 (30m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt [4] Nadine Ayman Mohamed Shahin (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (23m)
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt [3] Julia Lecoq (FRA) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (22m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt [8] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (17m)
[4] Nadine Ayman Mohamed Shahin (EGY) bt [6] Ahn Eun Chan (KOR) 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8 (41m)
[3] Julia Lecoq (FRA) bt [5] Adel Weir (RSA) 11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 6-11, 13-11 (40m)
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt [2] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 (28m)

1st round:
[1] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt [Q] Zoe Durbach (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (20m)
[8] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt [LL] Catherine Atkinson (RSA) 11-7, 11-7, 14-12 (21m)
[4] Nadine Ayman Mohamed Shahin (EGY) bt Danielle van Niekerk (RSA) 11-5, 11-1, 11-4 (14m)
[6] Ahn Eun Chan (KOR) bt Karen Schultz (RSA) 14-12, 12-10, 11-4 (27m)
[5] Adel Weir (RSA) bt [Q] Ria Kennerley (ENG) 11-7, 12-10, 11-3 (24m)
[3] Julia Lecoq (FRA) bt Karen Blom (RSA) 11-8, 8-6 ret. (15m)
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt [7] Julie Lee (RSA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (23m)
[2] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [Q] Sharon Bender (RSA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 (19m)

 

WORLD TEAM CHAMPS 2012 NIMES

THANK YOU

To the people who wrote messages to the team during the week and watched our matches on LIVE STREAMING, your encouragement was much appreciated. Videos are still available on YouTube.

To my personal sponsor for my preparation toward these world champs:
LASER GROUP
With your sponsorship, I was able to compete in Macau, New York and Mexico. These trips allowed me to get matches at the level of squash that is needed to compete with the best. As a result, I gave girls in the Top 10 a run for their money this last week, coming close to beating the World no 9.
The best is yet to come.

To my racket sponsor: TECNIFIBRE, thanks for looking after all my equipment needs.

To my team: YOU GIRLS ROCKED! You gave your all, and that all we asked for. See you in Canada in 2 years time!

NEW WORLD RANKING

It’s a start of a new month,and the world rankings have been updated.

WE’RE NO.44!! YEAH!!

We’ve finally cracked the Top 50…another milestone reached!
This calls for a celebration. WHOOO HOOOO!!!

Ranking History

Oct 2011: No.44
Sep 2011: No.51
Aug 2011: No.52
Jul 2011: No.63
Jun 2011: No.60
May 2011: No.64
Apr 2011: No.64
Mar 2011: No.78
Feb 2011: No.78
Jan 2011: No.63
Dec 2010: No.75
Nov 2010: No.77

NEXT UP:

Kuwait Open
6th – 9th October

BLOG CATCH UP: DEC 2010 – JULY 2011

BLOG UPDATE

So. It’s been a long time since I updated my blog. It has been a busy year with some exciting results, other results that I would like to forget and small milestones reached.

(All player’s rankings will be reported on their current August rankings.)

siyoli

egyptian circuit finalist

cape town

on an all glass court

Ladies in Paris

The Indians: Joshnna and Dipika

The victory in Brisbane

NEW SOUTH WALES OPEN, SYDNEY
JULY 2011

Opponent: Amanda Landers-Murphy
Country: New Zealand
World Ranking: No.66
Round Reached: Semi-Finals
Result: Lost 3-2

Hard match to lose considering I had beaten her the week before. She played well and went on to win the tournament. Some good lessons learned in that match.

QUEENSLAND OPEN, BRISBANE
JULY 2011

Opponent: Song Su Mi
Country: South Korea
World Ranking: No.50
Round Reached: Finals
Result: Won 3-0

It was so weird to end a tournament on a win. I guess we get so used to exiting a tournament on a loss. I played more calmly and clearly and it showed…and payed off. This was definitely the direct effect of the previous weeks training.

THREE CHEERS TO MY FIRST WIN ON THE TOUR!!!!

WISPA PYRAMIDES OPEN, PARIS
JUNE 2011

Opponent: Celia Allemargot
Country: France
World Ranking: No.81
Round Reached: Qualifying Finals
Result: Lost 3-0

This was a match that was tough to lose. I wanted to win that match, but just didn’t play well. The tension in my body was too obvious and affected how I played.

Fortunately, after the tournament, I went to Uk to visit family and friends, and also got the opportunity to train in Pontefract. The training I received there was exactly what I needed – a few things were mentioned before by others but no-one had ever been able to show me “how”.

SA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, JOHANNESBURG
JUNE 2011

June was a tough month on the squash court because I did not play the squash that I wanted. And the results did not lie either, I felt there was something I was doing wrong, but I did not know what it was.

Opponent: Tenille van der Merwe
Country: South Africa
SA Ranking: SA Champion
Round Reached: Semi Finals
Result: Lost 3-1

WESTERN PROVINCE OPEN, CAPE TOWN
JUNE 2011

Opponent: Milnay Louw
Country: South Africa
SA Ranking: SA No.1
Round Reached: Semi-Finals
Result: Lost 3-1

HURGHADA OPEN, EGYPT
MAY 2011

Opponent: Salma Hany
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No.79
Round Reached: Qualifying Finals
Result: Lost 3-2

This match was a little weird for me. I don’t like making excuses, however, I would like to say that 5minutes before my match, I seemed to lose all energy that I had. It was weird – yes I all of a sudden felt really sleepy and lethargic.

That means that as the match started I felt groggy and dizzy, which on the squash court looked like I was playing purposeless shots and shoddy footwork.
Suddenly I was 2-0 down…then the electricity went off!! This was probably my lucky break…literally. The lights were off in the entire complex. After a few minutes, I decided to lie down, and had a little nap. After what I think was 20minutes, I woke up with the electricity still gone, but I did feel fresher.

The lights came back on, went back on court and managed to catch up to 2-2 in games, In the last game, Salma showed no signs of giving up, and I started playing the wrong game against her, which gave her more confidence. In the end, she won in a tie breaker. I guess this time, I woke up too late.

EGYPT CIRCUIT NO.1, CAIRO
MAY 2011

Opponent: Heba El Torky
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No.29
Round Reached: Finals
Result: Lost 3-2

Heba is a strong fighter, so I knew the game was going to be somewhat physical and I would need to maintain my levels of positive aggressiveness. The match had a close result in the end, but I was more happy that I played the squash that I wanted to play.

HONG KONG OPEN
APRIL 2011

Opponent: Joshana Chinnapa
Country: India
World Ranking: No.31
Round Reached: Top 16
Result: Lost 3-0

The Indian girls are known for their deceptive moves. Joshna played well and did not allow me to settle into my game. It was a match that was a bit too short for my liking. It ‘s tough meeting the top players in the early rounds.

INDIA CHALLENGER NO.1, CHENNAI
APRIL 2011

Opponent: Dipika Palikal
Country: India
World Ranking: No.24
Round Reached: Top 16
Result: Lost 3-1

In this match, once again I was on the back foot from the beginning, with Dipika attacking me in the front of the court. The third game was long and had some great rallies and I played more confidently and began to attack her too. I soon had the egde and managed to take the game.
The fourth game is one I would love to forget. She played some great winners to start. Then I became too aware of the score line and lost focus. To close the match with a 11-0 loss, after taking the game before was bitterly disappointing…probably should be deemed “unacceptable”.

VINDEE WISPA OPEN, FRANCE
MARCH 2011

Opponent: Lauren Briggs
Country: England
World Ranking: No.49
Round Reached: Finals
Result: Lost 3-1

Lauren Briggs is a player that has had a ranking in the Top 30. Due to injury her ranking dropped and now she is back in the game. She was a tricky player to play – very calm and deceptive. It was a good experience to play against her game style.
THREE CHEERS TO MY FIRST FINAL!!!!! YEAH!

WORLD CUP TEAMS, INDIA
MARCH 2011

This was a team event where countries sent 3 men and 2 women.
Our SA Team comprised of Steve Coppinger, Clinton Leeuw, Rodney Durbach, Tenille ven der Merwe and yours truly.

Opponent: Raneem El Weielly
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No.12
Result: Lost 3-0

SA team was in a pool with Egypt, France and Sri Lanka. Only the top two teams were going to make it through to the finals rounds. Unfortunately we lost against Egypt and France.

ISP 100TH CELEBRATION INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
FEBRUARY 2011

This was a tournament to celebrate Indian Squash. It was invitational and not for world ranking purposes.

Opponent: Siti Murina Jusoh
Country: Malaysia
World Ranking: No.47
Round Reached: Semi Finals
Result: Lost 3-2

PUNJ LLOYD INDIAN SQUASH TOURNAMENT
DECEMBER 2010

Opponent: Jaclyn Hawkes
Country: New Zealand
World Ranking: No.16
Round Reached: Top 16
Result: Lost 3-0

Jaclyn is known to be a steady player who doesn’t often make mistakes. That means you win by outlasting her or playing accurate attacking squash. In the first two games, I was the won who made the mistakes. I then got into it and was able to rally with her longer and play more accurately. Her experience got he better of me. Next time!!

UPCOMING EVENTS
September will see me playing in the USA. I am looking forward to it.
WATCH THIS SPACE!!

DREAD SERIES OPEN NO.1, WASHINGTON DC
1st – 4th SEPTEMBER 2011

ORANGE COUNTY OPEN, CALIFORNIA
8th -11th SEPTEMBER 2011

PHOENIX OPEN, USA
15th – 18th SEPTEMBER 2011