Atkinson Wins Again
by Edel Costigan in Dublin © 2004

Final . Vanessa Akinson outplays Jenny Tranfield.
[main draw/results]

Photo Right (© 2004 Irish Squash) : Vanessa Atkinson wins her second consecutive Irish Open title over Jenny Tranfield 3/0.

April 18 - The Nivea Body Irish Women's Squash Open drew to a close today in the Fitzwilliam Lawn and Tennis Club Dublin. With the spectators still at an emotional high, after exciting earlier round five game matches, it was going to be a challenge for today's finals to match up in excitement. But a full house was on hand to see the skillful and focused Vanessa Atkinson to attempt to close out a highly successful week for her. They were not disappointed. Despite starting slowly, Vanessa Atkinson took off like a rocket and showed decisively why she belongs in the top echelon of the sport.

Game 1 - 14 minutes
Before a large audience Vanessa Atkinson and Jenny Tranfield took to the court.
The highly favored Atkinson started off tentatively, making numerous unforced errors and allowing the overachieving Tranfield to dominate and dictate play.

Tranfield took full advantage of this opportunity and ran to an 8-0 lead. At 0-8 , though, Atkinson kicked into another gear, showing that she has achieved a mental maturity to equal her always formidable physical game. Vanessa remarkably ran off the next 10 points to take the first game. It was her suddenly appearing perfect length which began drawing errors from Tranfield, and off of the loose shots, Atkinson hit winners from all areas of the court.

It was Atkinson's comeback game 10-8 in 14 minutes, and she was fully in charge of the momentum.

VANESSA'S MOMENTUM
After that roaring rally, it was an almost impossible task for Tranfield to regain the initiative. Atkinson carried on where she left off in the first controlling the game and dictating play. She alternated between beautiful touch on her cross
court drops that seem to die when they came off the wall not giving
Tranfield any chance and driving length. Tranfield fought gallantly and
stayed in the rallies but had now taken on the role of retriever rather
than dictator, a role she had enjoyed briefly in the first game. Atkinson won the second 9-1 in fourteen minutes.

Atkinson continued in the same mode in game three. At 6-3 after a sparkling hard fought rally Atkinson went up 7-3 .

The crowd was charged up and wanted more and cheered Tranfield on as she regained service 3-7 but Atkinson defied the crowd and Tranfield as she ran out 9/3 winner.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY
Atkinson now travels back to her base in Holland and then immediately must turn around and travel on to the lucrative super 8 series in Qatar next week.

Final Round Results, Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin Ireland, Sunday Apr 18
[ Draw/results]

[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NL) def [8] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 10-8 9-1 9-3