Confident Atkinson Storms To Monte Carlo Title
Six years after finishing the event as runner-up, Vanessa Atkinson stormed to victory in the tenth staging of the Women's Monte Carlo Squash Classic when she beat Ireland’s Madeline Perry in straight games in the final of the $31,000 WISPA World Tour championship in Monaco.
In the aftermath of her semi-final victory, favourite Atkinson had bared her soul about the demons that had been affecting her this year. Only a few months after winning the World Open title last December in Malaysia, her head began to swirl with new forces which had completely changed her outlook. Instead of arriving at a championship thinking one match at a time, her mind was already focusing on the latter stages of the event.
“I am tricking myself by pretending that these matches are not important, and it is working,” said the new Monte Carlo Classic champion after her 9-2 9-5 9-7 triumph over Perry in 42 minutes.
“I am just happy to be on court and if somebody is good enough to beat me then that's fine,” added the 29-year-old from The Hague who did not concede a game throughout the tournament.
“I just go out and play now, I don't want 50 thoughts in my head,” explained Atkinson after winning the 26th WISPA title of her career.
Fourth seed Perry, who had her former UK-based coach Marcus Berrett – now based in Milan, Italy - in her corner, was pleased to have exceeded her seeding.
“I knew that Vanessa had been playing well all week and it was going to be tough,” explained the 28-year-old Irish champion afterwards. “I got a little tired in the end but I cannot complain.”
RESULTS: Women's Monte Carlo Squash Classic, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Final:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-2, 9-5, 9-7 (42m)