Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Gale Well Open.
Danny and I arrived in Hong Kong after a long journey on Sunday night at 10pm and went to the YWCA i'd booked.Monday I was feeling abit tired but I went on court and watched some qualifying. I had a really good practice and then a solo in the afternoon. We were feeling pretty tired by the time evening came round.
Tuesday was the second day of practice and I was feeling abit more lively. The day was similar to yesterday. Practiced and then watch the last round of qualifiers.
I got drawn against Emma Beddoes as the qualifier to play. Emma's been playing really well but I felt alot more relaxed and training had been going really well. We were on first at 3.30pm which was quite early compared to some matches. I was feeling good and started really strongly and won 11-6, 11-7. The 3rd was abit tighter and I was 9-7 down but managed to come through 11-9. Glad to win 3-0 and be in the last 16.
In the last 16 I was playing Dom Lloyd Walter. She won against Latasha Khan 3-1. Again I started really well. I felt relaxed and calm. I was feeling the ball well and playing my short shots. I won fairly easy in the 1st and 2nd 11-6, 11-6. The 3rd game was abit different. I became abit more in my head again and that showed in my play. I wasn't committing to the short shots any more a it all became abit length and to the back. I just won the 3rd 14-12 but was lucky as Dom had 3 game balls.
The next day was quarter final day. I was playing Alison Waters and it was on the glass court at the squash centre. I hadn't beaten Al for a while and so I felt like the pressure was off. Normally I feel as though I need to win to prove something but for this match I felt relaxed as I was preparing. I was going to try and play abit different to normal. Whatever I normally do doesn't work so I wanted to try something else. I made a great start and won the 1st 2 games 11-7, 11-8. I was dominating and playing my shots and not being scared to. Unfortunately I lost my length abit in the 3rd and 4th and just lacked the discipline i'd had I lost the next 2 games 4-11, 8-11. The 5th game was just about me believing I could do it. I went out to enjoy it and play the way I wanted to. I played well and was abit lucky that Alison hit the tin a few times. I won the 5th 11-3. Really pleased to be in my 1st semi of the Hong Kong Open.
Saturday is Semi final day. I was playing Nicol in the semi and she'd been playing really well all week. We were playing at the Plaza Hollywood mall where a glass court had been erected. I was really pleased to have made the 'mall' stage which was been shown live on TV. I was feeling alittle nervous as it was a new experience but when I got on court the nerves went. I played ok for the 1st and 2nd game. It was abit patchy. The 3rd was better and I had gameball and lost it 12-10. Disappointed not to take the 3rd but all together a good tournament.
We flew home that night after the semi as that's when my flight was booked for. I was pleased with the week and it shows the better you do in the tournament the less time you have to do things where you are.....that doesn't matter as much when your winning though!!!
Check out the pictures from Hong Kong in the gallery!