Charman Wins 12th WISPA Title
March 8, 2004 © 2004 by Howard Harding

With the world's top players not in action in Washington DC, it was a golden opportunity for English rivals Linda Charman and Rebecca Macree to hoist the inaugural Washington Squash Summit Trophy. Macree started fast, but was overtaken by Charman who collected her twelfth WISPA win.

England's Linda Charman secured her second WISPA World Tour title of the year when she beat compatriot Rebecca Macree in the final of the inaugural Women's KWC CPA Washington Squash Summit in Washington DC, USA. The match was physical from the outset, and featured 63 appeals on interference.

The cat-like Macree, the second seed from London, controlled the first game with airtight backhand drives and razor sharp drops into the nick. Favourite Charman, the world No7 from Eastbourne in Sussex, was clearly off rhythm and unable to assert herself on the T. After a number of appeals, the referee established control by issuing a conduct warning, first to Macree at 7-2 for unnecessary physical contact, and then after the next rally to Charman for dissent on a let.

In game two, Charman found her stride and began to volley after losing the first three rallies. Macree's length evaporated and in two hands Charman had levelled the score to one game all.

The third game turned even more physical, with both players regularly blocking each other. Again Macree controlled the initial rallies, but at 5-3 she began to tire from having to retrieve Charman's deft cross court lobs and punishing drives. Charman sensed her opponent's fatigue and sprinted to win the next six rallies and take the game.

In the final game, Macree returned to the court early while Charman was receiving encouragement from her corner. The appeals continued to occur, with six lets in six hands. Charman punched through doggedly to 8-1, but Macree dug in and saved three match balls before tinning the fourth to give Charman a 3-9 9-2 9-5 9-2 victory in 62 minutes.

The success takes Charman, the WISPA Chairman, to a haul of 12 WISPA titles - six of which were gained in the USA - from 24 final appearances.

RESULTS: Women's KWC CPA Washington Summit, Washington DC, USA

Final:
[1] Linda Charman (ENG) bt [2] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 3-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-2 (62m)

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