Teran & Crome Line Up Again In Mexican Open Final
Semi-finals:
[1] Samantha Teran (MEX) bt [4] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 9-5, 9-2, 9-3 (26m)
[3] Louise Crome (NZL) bt [5] Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 1-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 (33m)
Just seven days after contesting the Los Angeles Open final in the USA, Samantha Teran and Louise Crome will meet again in the climax of the Women's Harrow Mexican Open after successes in the semi-finals of the maiden $16,000 WISPA World Tour squash event at Silver Squash in Pachuca, Mexico.
Favourite Teran, the 27-year-old Mexican number one who inspired this inaugural event some 90 kilometres east of Mexico City, continued her powerful run with a 9-5, 9-2, 9-3 defeat of Australian Donna Urquhart, the fourth seed, in 26 minutes.
The scoreline belies the true picture of the match - it was a closely-contested battle the whole way through. In the end it was the Aussie's many errors and the constant pressure from the home heroine that cost her the match and gave Teran a place in her fifth WISPA final of the year.
"This was a great game - it’s always harder to play a lefty!" said the victorious Mexican afterwards. "She played very well - it was good experience for me to play her last week in LA to understand her game. I am very happy she came to Mexico and hope that she comes back for more!"
After an impressive upset in the previous round over second seed Latasha Khan, fifth-seeded Dutch player Karen Kronemeyer went into her match against New Zealand's Louise Crome, the third seed, with her confidence soaring - and stormed to a 9-1 victory in the first game.
The Kiwi, having looked nervous in the first, started the second a different player. The 30-year-old from Auckland picked up the pace, sending Kronemeyer to all the corners of the court and soon levelled the match.
The third and fourth were very much a repeat of the second - the Dutch player unable to keep up with the pace as Crome powered to a 1-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 victory in 33 minutes.
"I’m really pleased to win that one," said the New Zealander, now in the 13th Tour final of her career.
"Karen played exceptionally well in the first game, and I was really struggling to get into the game. For the rest of the match I was hitting better length and taking control of the rallies. It’s been great here in Mexico. It’s like one big family… everyone is so friendly."