CAMPION AND JOYCE ROLL

From Kim Tunney in Las Vegas 5/12/2000, 11PM © 2000 Squashtalk

Las Vegas Squash Time

Las Vegas and squash. Hardly seems a likely combination. Yet in 1946 when "Bugsy" Siegel, founded Las Vegas by building the 105-room Flamingo Hotel in the middle of a hot, dry desert, he installed squash courts (in addition to a 40-horse stable, golf course, trapshooting range and championship swimming pool.) Unfortunately, "Bugsy" ran with a tough crowd and caught a sniper's bullet the following year. But his legacy survived and squash remains as part of the recreational landscape.

The Sport Club Las Vegas, the city's premier fitness club and host to the $19,000 Bright Lights Las Vegas Open continues in "Bugsy's" tradition. The club boasts four squash courts, 9,000 square feet of fitness equipment, indoor track and outdoor tennis courts. Double rows of 24 palm trees line the drive approaching the club. Their WISPA tournament, now in its third year, highlights the talents of both 'bright' new players as well as veterans.

Close Call for Bailey

In the first quarterfinal match this evening, 1999 World Open Champion Cassie C Campion, coached by her husband David, took four games to close out raising star and fellow English compatriot Tania Bailey 9-5, 7-9, 9-2, 9-7.

"It was a tough match," explained Campion, the current World No. 1. "These courts are narrow (20', converted racquetball) and the rallies tend to be longer. I lost my length in the second game and she played a few good rallies." Bailey, an up and coming player, "beat Leilani (Joyce) a couple of months ago and she's playing well." Joyce upset Campion in last year's event to win.

Campion advances to face Natalie Granger in the semis. "Natalie's had a day-off so it's going to be tough tomorrow. With the courts being so hot and so narrow, the rallies are going to be longer. I'm looking forward to it."

Sad time for Macree

Grainger, seeded fourth, received a walk over this evening against Rebecca Macree. Macree flew home to be with her mother who is suffering from leukemia. Tournament Director Amy Milanek received a call from Macree's sister at 2:00 A.M. saying that her mother's health had taken a turn for the worst since deciding to stop chemotherapy treatments. Macree, who is 90% deaf, is extremely close to her mother who serves as coach and manager to Rebecca. All her fellow WISPA friend wish her only the best on this Mother's Day weekend.

Brind and the Sun

Linda Charman and a sunburned Stephanie Brind played an up-tempo third match of the evening. Brind found her way to the quarter-finals by beating Latasha Khan last night in the first round despite suffering from sunstroke. At match ball she got dizzy and couldn't see, but still managed to beat USA's number one player in four.

Charman, twisting and turning Brind around the tee tonight, punished Brind's loose balls into the middle with deep, powerful cross-courts. Brind did not make it easy for Charman who threw her racquet twice in anger. She countered with several exceptional backhand volley boasts catching the nick and finding Charman flatfooted at the tee. Brind lost, however, 10-8, 10-8, and 10-9.

"I couldn't close out the games," Brind said after the match. "I need to believe that I can beat the top players. I'm getting better at the mental side. I used to be really nervous playing them, but now I'm trying to concentrate on being patient instead of finishing the rally by making some silly shot into the tin."

The 21-year-old Brind plans on taking a break after the next tournament in San Francisco and start in again with fitness training to increase her strength and power at Potters Bar in Hartfordshire, England where she trains with coach Paul Carter.

Macfie Falls

The crowd of 70 or so players and fans clearly recognized the mismatched playing levels with Macfie facing World No. 2 Joyce. Macfie, who won the U19 British Junior Open in 1987, arrived at the quarters after upsetting Vanessa Atkinson last night. "Vanessa played terribly last night," admitted Macfie. "Very up and down." Atkinson recently called off her engagement to Australian PSA player Billy Haddrell.

Joyce handily beat Macfie 9-2, 9-2, 9-2. "I'm pretty pissed off. I could have done a lot better. I hoped to get more points against her," explained the 31-year old pro from the Edinburgh Sports Club. "I got hacking with her. I went to her pace and the ball is so bouncy from the heat it makes the rallies longer."

The ever-cautious Joyce however commented "Senga is a tricky player so I took nothing for granted. She has upset the top players before so in no way did I underestimate her." Joyce has her eye on winning again this year, "but I'm going to take it one point at a time."

RESULTS:
Women's Bright Lights Las Vegas Squash Open, Las Vegas, USA

Quarter-final round:
Campion bt Bailey 9-5, 7-9, 9-2, 9-7
Grainger bt Macree, def (personal emergency)
Charman bt Brind 10-8, 10-8, and 10-9
Joyce bt Macfie 9-2, 9-2, 9-2

1st round:
[1] Cassie Campion (ENG) bt [Q] Melanie Jans (CAN) 9-1 9-3 9-2
[8] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [Q] Ellen Petersen (DEN) 9-0 9-1 9-1
[4] Natalie Grainger (ENG) bt [Q] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 8-10 9-2 9-4 9-6
[7] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt Shabana Khan (USA) 9-5 10-8 9-5 |
[5] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 9-0 9-5 8-10 8-10 9-6
[3] Linda Charman (ENG) bt Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-0 9-3 9-6
[Q] Senga Macfie (SCO) bt [6] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-7 7-9 3-9 9-5 9-6
[2] Leilani Joyce (NZL) bt Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 9-3 7-9 9-7 9-6

Interested in watching and learning from the best? Great women's squash videos have just been made available: The Eye Group has produced the complete Women's British Open Final in a well filmed, well produced, and interesting contest. Jean Delierre has made available a video of the 1992 Women's World Open final between legendary Susan Devoy and (at the time) up coming Michelle Martin. Devoy won the match and retired that same day.