Photos also by Kim Tunney: top, Michelle Martin from Australia, bottom, Leilani Joyce from New Zealand
October 22, 1999
Michelle Martin's quest to regain the Women's World Title, eluding her since 1996, continued today at the Seattle Athletic Club overlooking Elliott Bay. The absent Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who won the event in her last three outings and remains sidelined recovering from knee surgery, only facilitates Martin's pursuit of victory. Acknowledging Fitz-Gerald's nonattendance and reminding competitors that she has won this title before (in '93,' 94, '95), Martin confirmed, "None of the girls here have won one (the World Open). They want to win their first one. I want to win this one."
Blood, sweat and tears were left behind in the quarterfinal battle.
In the first game of the evening, down 1-6, Linda Charman took an upper cut to her lower mouth. Opponent Natalie Grainger's racquet served as the weapon of choice. Grainger responded to a loose mid-court ball from Charman. "I was up-court. She thought I'd go short and I didn't. She was way too close and her face got in the way of my follow through," explained Grainger. Charman, charged with crowding and given a penalty stroke, invoked the self-inflicted injury rule which went into effect until the blood flow stopped. Returning to court down 1-7, she went on to lose 9/1, 9/1, 9/1.
When asked if the blow had taken the wind out of her sails, a frustrated, black and blue-mouthed Charman responded, "Put it this way. Last week I beat her (at the Carol Weymuller event in New York) and this week I got three points!"
Sloppy squash followed smash-mouth squash in the 78 minute, let-ridden, five game match between Martin and Carol Owens (Australia, No. 10). Down 4-7 in the first game, Martin, frustrated by the calls, opened the court door and got into heavy argument with the referees. Canadians Gerry Poulton (referee) with his sidekick Rod Symington (marker) left no formal record of the number of lets they called, but post-match, Martin stated for the record that the pair, "interfered with the outcome of the game."
"I had a lot of errors. They should have penalized me. Either I'm not clearing or she's (Owens) not making every effort." Martin also took issue with the number of down balls called up. Not situated above the court door, as is often customary at world level events where television cabling is not required, Poulton and Symington sat many rows back centered on risers amongst the spectators. This afforded them with a low sight line.
"There were so many balls down," continued Martin. "I'm not calling mine down if she's not calling hers down," referencing a point in the first game when a short ball of Owen's appeared down but was not marked by Symington. Martin's coach and older brother Rodney, a former PSA champion, blasted the situation as "pathetic refereeing."
Owen shed a few locker room tears over her defeat. After the close match, she lamented being up the first two games and then loosing the last three. "I was also up 2-0 in Cairo. It might have been 3-0. Michelle's #1 and tough to beat." Unlike Martin who wants to win this tournament, the 28 year-old from Auckland says, "I want to win a big tournament. But I don't know when it will be."
A minor skirmish ensued between English players Cassie Campion (No. 5) and Suzanne Horner (No. 6). In twenty-four minutes, Campion ousted Horner in the evening's shortest match 9/4, 9/0, 9/1. Cassie described her win as a "straight forward, reasonably comfortable match." She enjoys playing on this glass court installed at the Seattle Athletic Club. "It's one of the nicest courts because you don't loose the ball. It's lively and you can get a good short shot in." Campion moves into the semi-final round without dropping a game, more rested due to the quick win against Horner.
However disappointed in the loss, going into the match, Joyce realized that "it's going to be a tough, tough match. She's on form. She wants to get to the finals as much as I want to get to the finals. I'll have to take it point by point."
Unseeded 1997 World Junior Champion Tania Bailey (England, No. 23) forced 25 year old Leilani Joyce (New Zealand, No 3) to sweat it out in her first appearance at a World's quarter final round. Clearly not intimidated by Joyce or the moment, Bailey, the youngest player to make it to the quarters, looked comfortable under the pressure. Saving three match balls in the first game, she lost to Joyce 9/2, 9/4, 9/4. "Leilani was too tough, too strong for me."
A poised and contained Joyce, gave "all credit to Tania. She's always improving. I had to work for every single point. She made me work so hard. Tania could have topple me."
The youngest contender may also be the wisest. When asked to comment about the work of Poulton and Symington this evening, Bailey explained why she keeps her mouth shut. "Arguing with the referees makes me loose my concentration." The 20-year-old is well focused and after this showing, her ranking should jump to number 12 from 23.
Martin and Grainger advance in the top half of the draw with Campion squaring off against Joyce in the bottom half tomorrow night.
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However disappointed in the loss, going into the match, Joyce realized that "it's going to be a tough, tough match. She's on form. She wants to get to the finals as much as I want to get to the finals. I'll have to take it point by point."