Chiu Upsets Perry In Yokohama
Hong Kong's third seed Rebecca Chiu claimed an unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open after upsetting Ireland's Madeline Perry, the second seed, in the semi-finals of the new WISPA World Tour event at the Cote-a-Cote Club in Yokohama, Japan.
The Asian Games champion will face England's top seed Vicky Botwright, who ended New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes' giant-killing run in straight games in the other semi-final.
The Hong Kong number one, with coach Faheem Khan in her corner, started well against Perry – and took the opening game. Chiu reached game ball at 8-3 in the second, but Perry hung in. The Irish champion saved two game balls, however, then found a couple of rasping cross court drives to take her up to her own game ball – which she duly converted to level the match.
Whilst the tide seemed to be turning the second seed's way, Chiu pinned Perry back and soon forged a 2/1 lead.
In the fourth, Chiu led 7-3, but Perry refused to give up and, helped by a number of errors from her Asian opponent, drew level in the game. A game ball for Perry was followed by a match ball at 9-8 for Chiu.
Three times Perry served for the game, and three times Chiu for the match. The deadlock was finally resolved after 61 minutes by a tight drop executed by Chiu to give her the match 9-3 8-10 9-3 10-9 – and a place in the final.
Unusually for the Irish loser, she looked tired: "I have had a couple of niggling injuries for the last couple of weeks and not trained at all. First it was my knee, then other pulled muscles. Still, I probably should have taken the fourth and then hoped for a second wind in the last, even though I was tired at that stage," Perry explained.
The other semi was a much swifter affair, with Botwright dominating the match against unseeded Hawkes – the surprise winner over the sixth and fourth seeds in the previous two rounds. In just 22 minutes, Botwright ended the New Zealander's brave run 9-2 9-1 9-1.
"I hadn't expected to do so well, so the semis are a bonus," said Hawkes. "I have been working hard with Dave Clarke [the NZ National coach] and my mum this year - and it is paying off." There was a rider added though: "But less with mum now that she has moved close to a golf course!" said the 22-year-old from Auckland, with a chuckle.
RESULTS: Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open, Yokohama, Japan
Semi-finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-2, 9-1, 9-1 (22m)
[3] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [2] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-3, 8-10, 9-3, 10-9 (61m)