ICELANDAIR GROUP CLASSIC 2007 [draw]

ICELANDAIR GROUP CLASSIC 2007

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

When Ingolfur Arnason became the first settler in Iceland a few years back, actually quite a few as this was the year 874AD, he apparently termed Reykjavik ‘Smoky Bay’. He may have been referring to the wispy volcano plumes but he could also have been thinking ahead to the Icelandair Group quarter finals when some WISPA girls were really smoking!

This did mean that others were on the receiving end though. Second seed Isabelle Stoehr was one. Tenille Swartz was not showing much interest in playing short, but a great deal of dedication in running down the variety of shots of Stoehr. Keeping her shape and a low error rate eventually took the 20 year old South African to a two game lead despite the increasingly frenetic encouragement of the other French players.

As the third game unfolded it did appear that the tide may be turning as Stoehr stepped on the gas and began to dominate rallies. Having won that one she was carried on the surge in the fourth until the she was in sight of levelling when a wobble occurred. A couple of feathered drops later she was back on level terms against an opponent who had probably run herself out.

It certainly seemed that way when Stoehr opened up a 4/0 lead in the decider. Then her pace subsided while the Swartz sails began to billow again. The hour mark was well behind her, but she was chasing down, causing errors and generally harrying as she had earlier.

Three times Stoehr gave away strokes as she hit the ball in her own general direction. With only one hand-out Swartz climbed from 1/8 to 8/4. Then she gave away her first match ball with a tired punt only to find herself at 8/7 when the French girl regrouped. Then one of the longest straight rallies saw an eventual tinned drop offering up another match ball to the South African, which this time she took with a backhand clinger that Stoehr couldn't scrape away. 72 minutes with an edge of the seat ending.

While still looking shell shocked, the loser was able to analyse the match. “I shouldn't have lost the second. I was still feeling a bit flat and she controlled well’ said Stoehr.

‘I got a bit more rhythm and did better, but during the fifth it went again. She fought really well and I couldn't find a way to get points. I thought she would be tired and give up but she didn't’, she added.     
      
Swartz was ebullient. Starting with a reference to their British Open clash which she had lost in four she explained, ‘I played her a week ago. It gave me an idea of what I needed to do to beat her. I knew it would be hard but I had a game plan.

When I went two up I knew I mustn't let up as she would come hard at me. She has a really good attacking game which should beat me but I had to work really hard and not give her stuff in the air.

When I was down in the fifth I did start panicking a bit but then I thought that I had got this far so I wasn't ever going to give up.

Thank goodness I got here’, she ended; this because of the initial problems in getting hold of a visa to enter the country.
      
The top seed Jaclyn Hawkes fared much better and eased through despite the game effort of Orla Noom, who didn't recover from dropping the early games this time.

Dominique Lloyd-Walter tends not to be explosive, but her steady play featuring few errors has a tendency to induce a little impatience and teases out a few injudicious stabs at winners. This was very much the format of her all English quarter final against Kirsty McPhee. A straight game win and the bonus of no problem with her ankle which had swollen after a fall on the eve of the Dunlop British Open and caused her withdrawal.

‘I was a bit worried as I didn't tape it this morning, but although it stiffened a little I massaged it and taped it for this match and it was fine’ the third string told the media.   

Hawkes next for her.

After a long wait while Stoehr and Swartz were battling, fourth seed Sarah Kippax took out French number two Camille Serme to complete that country's evening of misery. Kippax was operating efficiently while her opponent was tentative in the early stages. But even when Serme started to get more into her stride and took a 6/1 lead in the third, Kippax kept asking questions, forcing Serme to retreat into a more negative mode. This proved costly as Kippax was able to catch and pass her.

The English player will now meet a surely tired Swartz.

For the losers, a trip to the famous Blue Lagoon where they will be able to bathe in the enervating hot ground water that well up in the middle of a lava field. For the winners, some practice and preparation for their semi finals. For the Icelandic squash enthusiasts, another evening of competition to savour. 

Quarter Finals   Thursday 27 September
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) (1) beat Orla Noom (Ned) (6)  9/4 9/2 9/3 (35m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) (3) beat Kirsty McPhee (Eng) (8) 9/6 9/1 9/2 (35m)
Sarah Kippax (Eng) (4) beat Camille Serme (Fra) 9/5 9/6 9/7 (38m)  
Tenille Swartz (Rsa) (5) beat Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) (2) 9/7 9/7 1/9 6/9 9/7 (72m)