WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's Ottawa Squash International, Canada

Semi-finals:
[1] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt [3] Melissa Martin (AUS) 9-6, 9-7, 9-4 (35m)
[2] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt [5] Heidi Mather (AUS) 9-0, 9-7, 9-6 (26m)

Macree & Brind In All-English Ottawa Final

Top seeds Rebecca Macree and Stephanie Brind will meet in an all-English final of the Women's Ottawa Squash International after straight games semi-final victories over Australians at the Goodlife Fitness Club in Ottawa, Canada.

The first semi-final featured second seed Brind against Heidi Mather, who trains under the eye of former world champions Geoff Hunt and Rodney Martin in Brisbane and plays with the kind of perfect footwork and ball-striking that one might expect.

Brind shot out of the blocks and took the first game in little more than three minutes.  When Mather finally registered her first point at 3-0 in the second, she raised her arms skyward in mock jubilation!  Despite finding the tin in her relentless attacks, the 27-year-old from Kent still managed to squeeze out the second 9-7 to move two games ahead.

The Aussie gathered herself for the third and came out strong to build a 6-0 advantage - only to have Brind start chopping down the lead with her wristy boasts and drops, eventually taking the game and the match 9-0 9-7 9-6 in 26 minutes.

The other semi-final between top seed Macree and US-based Australian Melissa Martin, the third seed, was a more protracted battle.  The Englishwoman always seemed to have the right shot at the right time and managed to put away the first game 9-6.

The second game found Martin starting better, with a bit more length and accuracy on her shots early.  But again it seemed that Macree was the hungrier of the two, always more willing to do whatever it took to get the ball back.  Martin's lack of consistency cost her the second game as well, although at 9-7 it was close.

In the third game, Martin became increasingly frustrated with the number of lets, and it was clearly ruining her concentration.  Macree kept her composure well, and quickly sewed up the final game, and the match 9-6 9-7 9-4 in 35 minutes.