Women's final:
[6] Joelle King (NZL) bt [2] Annie Au (HKG) 11-6, 11-13, 14-12, 11-7 (48m)
New Zealander Joelle King her maiden crown - when she emerged triumphant after today's (Sunday) finals of the Clare Valley Australian Open at the Valleys Lifestyle Centre in Clare, South Australia.
Joelle King became the second New Zealand winner in three years when she beat defending champion Annie Au 11-6, 11-13, 14-12, 11-7 in the final of the women's $18,700 WISPA World Tour event.
The 20-year-old from Cambridge was seeded sixth heading into the Open, but downed top seed Kasey Brown in the semi-finals before accounting for Au, the second seed from Hong Kong, in the final.
Her power and speed proved the difference against Au, a player who relies more on placement than sheer force.
The Kiwi also showed enormous determination as she saved five game balls in the crucial third game, which would have given Au a 2/1 lead.
"I think if I had won that third game the result would have been different," Au said. "But I lost concentration and she didn’t give up – I think maybe she was more eager to win than me.
"She played more shots and I felt like I was under pressure all the time."
King’s countrywoman Shelley Kitchen won the Open in 2007 in its first year in Clare, while King and fellow Kiwi Jaclyn Hawkes both made the semi-finals last year.
"This is just huge for me – this is a big step in my career and I’m just absolutely over the moon," said King, ranked 53 in the world. "I knew that if I could keep on top of her with my pace I would be okay but it’s hard to do that against a class player like Annie."
King agreed that winning the third game from so far behind had been crucial: "I don’t know where that mongrel in me came from," she said. "It was just a kind of blur from 5-10 down and then a few quick easy points and you’re back in the game.
"I think winning the third got me up for the fourth."
King was always in control in the fourth as she took the match to join fellow New Zealanders Kitchen, Susan Devoy and Leilani Joyce on the Heather McKay Cup.
"This is by far the biggest title I’ve ever won," said the new champion. "At the end of last year I got to a certain point on my natural talent and ability and I knew that I had to put in some big work physically and mentally to take me to the next step, and I’ve done that this year.
"I’ve always thought I could be a top 20, top 10 player and now I’m starting to beat these girls I definitely know it’s possible."
