RESULTS: Women's Icelandair Group Squash Classic, Reykjavik, Iceland
Final: [3] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt [4] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 2-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-5 (59m)
Nursing an ankle injury, Lloyd-Walter had been unable to train before landing in Iceland - and thus her expectations were low.
However, her defeat of top seed Jaclyn Hawkes in the semi-finals had taken her through to an unexpected final - where she faced compatriot Sarah Kippax, the No4 seed.
Kippax started brightly and took the opening game. But Lloyd-Walter, the 26-year-old world No22 from Harrow, fought back to clinch a notable 2-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-5 victory in a minute short of an hour.
Having come through the disappointment of pulling out of the British Open earlier in the month, Lloyd-Walter was elated with her Reykjavik win: "I have never won a tournament this big so I am really, really pleased. I put in a lot of work this summer with Steve Townsend, Steve Evans and Jenny Tranfield. All three have given me so much support and I am glad that I have now given something back to them."
Asked about her foot issue, the new champion explained: "It wasn't so much the blister but the taping restricting my movement a little and it was slipping until I fixed it. I was thinking more about that than my game early on."
Lloyd-Walter maintains a distinctive record - having won all three WISPA World Tour final in which she has competed!
Kippax had mixed emotions: "I am delighted to have got to the final but disappointed to have lost. I started well and felt I was playing decisively. But once I had taken the first and was up in the second I seemed to lose some momentum and she picked up the pace.
"But I gave it my best shot and I am happy as I have picked up some things to go away and work on," added the 24-year-old from Chester.
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| Issued by Howard Harding on behalf of WISPA Women’s International Squash Players' Association Tel: (+44) 1737-243333; Mobile: (+44) 7773-325130; Email: [email protected] WISPA: Tel: (+44) 20 7222 1667; Email: [email protected] WSQ 4103 30 September 2007 |
