Wolverhampton Open
I arrived in Wolverhampton the day of the first round (thurs). Having won the tournament last year it was good to be back.I played qualifier Celia Allamargot from France first round and played well. I won 3-0 in 23mins 9-0, 9-1, 9-3.
The quarter-finals on Friday were all in the evening. I practiced in the morning and then went back to the hotel. I went down to the club for 5pm and the match was at 6pm against another french player Camille Sterme. I won 3-0 in 39mins 9-1, 9-4, 9-0. After the matches was Italian night at the club so I stayed for that and then went back to the hotel.
Saturday morning was semi-finals day. I pacticed in the morning and then had lunch and then went back to the hotel. My match was at 7pm against Orla Noom who had knocked out 4 seed Trica Chuah and 7 seed Joshna Chinappa. I knew she was playing well so I was prepared. I won 3-0 in 54mins, 9-1, 10-8, 9-0. However 10mins of this was due to Orla cutting her hand badly in the first game and had to go off and tape it up.
So Sunday and through to the final and my seeded position. Pleased to beable to have ago at defending my title. The final is at 6.30pm so just resting before then.
The match came round and I did a good warm up and Madeline and I went on at 6.40pm. I made a fantastic start in the first and played really well. Stuck to my game plan well. I won fairly easily 9-3. The second was tight in the beginning until 3-3, I put a few good rallies together and pulled away to take the second game 9-3. In the 3rd I felt abit of pressure to win the match and I didn't play as well. I stopped attacking and lost my focus. Madeline played well and she won it 9-4. The last was close until 4-4 when Madeline went off to tape a blister up on her finger, when she came back on I pulled away to 8-4. I lost my first matchball and we had a couple of really long rallies, both of which I lost before I won the next ralley to get my 2nd matchball. I managed to play a good ralley and Madeline got a no let which was abit lucky for me and I won the 4th 9-6 to take the match 3-1 in 70mins.
Really pleased to have defended my title. I thought I played well and now look forward to playing in the British Open on Friday.