Wolverhampton Nov 2006
Day 1 - 1st Round.
I travelled down from home thinking it was strange to be going to a WISPA competition in England, but when I arrived it all seemed normal and I felt like I was in a tournament. I had draw Vicky Hynes(Lancaster) who qualified. I got to Wolverhampton at about 3.30pm and had a light hit with Vicky (Botwright) and played at 7pm. I played quite well and won 9/1 9/3 9/2. Tomorrow I play Jacklyn Hawkes from New Zealand who beat Aisling Blake 3-0.
Day 2 - Quarter Finals.
Having thought it was too far to travel home I ended up staying in a hotel last night and so up for breakfast and practise this morning. My match tonight against Jacklyn is at 7pm so just relaxing until then. My match was on time so we started at 7pm. I didn't play great and in the first game I was 7-3 down. I wasn't getting a good length and was making a few too many mistakes. I tried to cut these out and ended up playing abit better at the end of the first game to win 9-7. In the second again I went down, hitting far too many cross courts. However, this time I couldn't make my way back and lost the game 9-5. In the third I managed to play straighter and with more depth. I won that one abit easier 9-4. The match was very broken up by lots of lets and strokes... the marker I felt was giving points very easy and because of this we both asked for more than we probably should have done. However, the decisions were consistent both ways and after a long 4th game I managed to win it 9-6. Having only beat Jacklyn 3-2 in India in July I was glad to get off with the win and in 4 games. Now I play Shelley Kitchen tomorrow who beat Emma Beddoes from qualifying 3-0.
Day 3 - Semi-Finals.
Today is a similar day to yesterday. Same sort of pattern... up for breakfast and practise. Then lunch and some time chilling out before the match at 7pm. My match against Shelley was going to be tough considering there is only 2 places in the rankings between us (my ranking currently at 13 and her's 15). I had lost to Shelley in back to back tournaments in the U.S in April but having beat her in National league for the first time last Tuesday I was feeling quite good. I made a good start in the match. The first game was long but I managed to stay ahead a took the first game 9-6. The second was closer at the beginning but I lost abit of my concentration and started to go short too early. Shelley's pace is very high and if you let her hit hard she can be hard to get on top of. She took the game 9-4. I felt after the 2nd I just needed to get abit of controlled aggression, I was abit flat in my movement and when I upped this the control around the middle came with several volley short winners. I took that game 9-2. I wanted to go on for the 4th game and finish it. I played well again and went 5-1 up fairly quickly. Shelley then hit 3 or 4 errors on the trot and that took me to matchball. She then put up abit of a fight at 8-2 down but I was feeling good having got to matchball so quickly. After 4 matchballs (I think) and several lets I took the game and match 9-4. I'm really pleased to be in my first WISPA final since the Irish Open in April and I play Vicky Botwright who beat Laura Hill in 45mins 9-0, 10-8, 9-3.
Day 4 - Finals Day!!!
I'm feeling quite good today after my match yesterday. Not tired or stiff which is always good. The match today is a 6.30pm and so it's again killing time before practise and then lunch!!!
Vicky and I went on just after schedule. I made a good start in the match. It was a long 1st game but I thought I played well and stuck to my game plan well. The next two games were slightly different in that Vicky upped her game, cut out errors and played better. From my point of view I lost my length alittle and didn't volley enough. After losing both of them I got myself more fired up realising that if I didn't I was going to lose 3-1. I played well in the 4th and 5th games I took the middle alot more and had more belief going short. Vicky hit a few errors again towards the end but on the whole I thought I played well to take the match 9-5 3-9 4-9 9-6 9-4. I am really, really pleased to have won my second WISPA title and be the 1st Wolverhampton Open Champion.