ICELANDAIR GROUP CLASSIC 2007 [draw]

 

WISPA players try out thermal waters at the Blue Lagoon prior to the semis. photo:©2007 WISPA

ICELANDAIR GROUP CLASSIC 2007

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - The inaugural Women's Icelandair Group Classic, the first ever WISPA Premiere Series event, will climax in an all-English final after Dominique Lloyd-Walter and Sarah Kippax overcame their semi-final opponents in contrasting styles at Veggsport Squash Club in the Iceland capital Reykjavik.

INTERLUDE
For a modern nation Iceland appears to have serious plumbing problems. The ground leaks. Volcano lava emerges through carelessly unrepaired cracks in the earth. So do hot torrents of water.

It was to one of these that the WISPA group competing in the first Icelandair Group Classic went after morning practice. The Blue Lagoon is a pool of 40c water that has welled up from some 5,000ft under the country; arriving laden with silica, salt and other elements, making it very beneficial for the mind, body, and especially skin (so the promotion says).

So there you are, in the middle of a lunar landscape frolicking around in the waters, expecting to emerge looking ten years younger, feeling relaxed etc. Maybe a pipedream, but a really enjoyable surreal experience and definitely beneficial for aching squash joints.

After this it was back to the Veggsport Club for the Icelandair Group Classic semi finals in the first WISPA Premiere Series event, a collaboration between WISPA and Icelandic squash.

Top seed Jaclyn Hawkes had made serene progress to the last four, but she and opponent Dominique Lloyd-Walter have close playing history. They have met twice, both this year, with spoils shared. Lloyd-Walter had won in March at the Burning River Classic in USA, while Kiwi Hawkes levelled in the Irish Open semis a month later, winning 3/1/.

REMATCH
In their third clash this year, third seed Dominique Lloyd-Walter faced New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes, the top seed. Hawkes sped to a 2/0 lead, but the 26-year-old from Harrow fought back to clinch an impressive upset 3-9, 3-9, 9-0, 9-6, 9-4 after 89 minutes.

"Even in the fifth, I didn't think I had a chance," said a delighted Lloyd-Walter afterwards. "I hadn't trained for a week because of my ankle and I wasn't confident at all. It was only at 7/4 in the decider that I began to believe I might win."

Now in her third WISPA World Tour final - though her first for more than two years - Lloyd-Walter will face Sarah Kippax, the 24-year-old from Chester who is celebrating her sixth final.

The fourth seed faced surprise opponent Tenille Swartz, the fifth seed from South Africa who defeated second seed Sharon Wee in a major first round upset.

Kippax took the first two games and soon reached match-ball at 8-4 in the third. But the gritty 20-year-old from Parys bravely fought back to move to 9/8 in a single hand to claim an unlikely game-ball.

Kippax regained the advantage and, after 47 minutes, secured her 9-5, 10-8, 10-9 victory.

"I thought I played pretty well, trying to keep the pace up as I thought she may be a little bit tired from her match yesterday," said Kippax.

Rising star Swartz was not too downhearted: "My legs felt quite heavy and Sarah is such a physical player and I couldn't keep up. She took me short and I struggled a bit. But I'm happy as my squash was good and coming to Iceland was a great experience."

Semi-finals:
[3] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt [1] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 3-9, 3-9, 9-0, 9-6, 9-4 (89m)
[4] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [5] Tenille Swartz (RSA) 9-5, 10-8, 10-9 (47m)

WISPA players try out thermal waters at the Blue Lagoon prior to the semis. photo:©2007 WISPA