Fiona Flourishes In Florida
Almost 15 years after winning her first WISPA World Tour title in Finland, England's Fiona Geaves has added a new trophy to her cabinet after securing the Women's Florida State Open in Boca Raton, USA, without dropping a single game.
Despite being the oldest player in the WISPA world top twenty, the 37-year-old former world No5 powerfully demonstrated at the University of Miami Athletic Center that she is still a force to be reckoned with!
After despatching Canada's fourth seed Alana Miller – last year's runner-up - 9-6 9-1 9-1 in the semi-finals, top seed Geaves met third seed Lauren Briggs in a surprise all-English final.
Briggs, 26, from London, battled past second seed Melanie Jans Burke in the other semi-final to claim a notable 9-7 10-8 9-3 upset over the experienced Canadian.
The final lived up to expectation, with both players playing at the top of their games. Briggs saved five game balls in the first game, but eventually saw Geaves take the opening advantage on a stroke. The Gloucester girl, now resident in New York as a coach at the Height Casino, maintained the upper hand throughout the next two games to forge a 9-5 9-3 9-3 victory after 44 minutes.
The success marked Geaves' first WISPA title triumph since winning the Las Vegas Open in May 2001.
RESULTS: Women's Florida State Open Squash Championship, Boca Raton, USA
Semi-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [4] Alana Miller (CAN) 9-6, 9-1, 9-1
[3] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [2] Melanie Jans Burke (CAN) 9-7, 10-8, 9-3
Final:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [3] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-5, 9-3, 9-3 (44m)