WORLD SQUASH NEWS

CHALONER & GEAVES SCORE ENGLISH GREEK OPEN DOUBLE.

The WSF focused on the Greek Open as an entree to introducing squash to some members of the Olympic committee. Nonetheless, the highest ranked players entered was Martin Heath, the men #5 ranked player, who lost in the finals; and Fiona Geaves, WISPA # 11. The men's side yielded an exciting five game final, played with hand-out scoring to 9.

The result of the most high-profile Greek Open Squash Championships ever staged was a double triumph for England as Lincolnshire's world No. 23 Mark Chaloner and Gloucestershire's world No. 11 Fiona Geaves won the men's and women's titles, respectively, at the Athens Tennis Club.

Hertfordshire-based Chaloner, 26, was seeded No. 2 behind Scotland's world No. 5 Martin Heath, and reached the final after beating compatriot Eric McAlpine, an unexpected semi-finalist following the withdrawal of London-based Greek Paul Gregory, the former world No. 11. Heath, 26, from Oban, also reached the final without conceding a game, beating New Zealand No. 1 Glen Wilson 9/7 9/4 9/6 in the semi-finals. The final was a close-fought affair, with Chaloner edging ahead 10/8 3/9 9/3 3/9 9/3 to score his first international tournament victory since February 1995.

As in the men's draw, Greek interest in the women's event ended in the quarter-finals. Favourite Fiona Geaves, 31, from Gloucester, overcame fourth-seeded Cypriot Vaso Karasava in straight games to reach the anticipated final against compatriot Jane Martin - the world No. 12 from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who dismissed USA's Ivy Pochoda in the other semi-final. Geaves defeated Martin 9/7 7/9 9/2 9/6 in the final to win her first international title since May last year.

Pakistan's record 10-times British Open champion Jahangir Khan and fellow World Squash Federation Vice President Mike Corby hosted a special reception during the event in the 2004 Olympic Games city. Guests included representatives of the 'Athens Organising Committee for the 2004 Games', the 'Hellenic National Olympic Committee, and the 'Hellenic Tennis Federation'.

RESULTS: Greek Open Squash Championships, Athens, Greece

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Martin Heath (SCO) bt Petros Tzamaloukas (GRE) 9/2 9/4 9/7
Glen Wilson (NZL) bt Fabian Kalaitzis (GRE) w/o
Eric McAlpine (ENG) bt M Ioannou (CYP) 9/1 9/0 9/1
[2] Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt N Moustrofis (GRE) 9/6 9/6 9/0

Semi-finals:
[1] Martin Heath (SCO) bt Glen Wilson (NZL) 9/7 9/4 9/6
[2] Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt Eric McAlpine (ENG) 9/5 9/6 9/0

FINAL:
[2] Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt [1] Martin Heath (SCO) 10/8 3/9 9/3 3/9 9/3

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt Litsa Christopoulou (GRE) 9/1 9/0 9/2
[4] Vaso Karasava (CYP) bt Maria Deligiannaki (GRE) 9/0 9/3 9/1
[3] Ivy Pochoda (USA) bt Zeta Tzamalouka (GRE) 9/3 9/2 9/1
[2] Jane Martin (ENG) bt Annita Kangalou (GRE) 9/0 9/7 9/3

Semi-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [4] Vaso Karasava (CYP) 9/2 9/5 9/1
[2] Jane Martin (ENG) bt [3] Ivy Pochoda (USA) 9/7 9/0 9/7

FINAL:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [2] Jane Martin (ENG) 9/7 7/9 9/2 9/6

Issued on behalf of PSA by Howard Harding

For further information: Howard Harding Email: HowHard@aol.com

26, April 1999