Australian Squash Open 2010: Madeline Perry Enthroned Champion
As controversial as the 2010 Australian Squash Open Women’s singles final was, Madeline Perry did Ireland proud by authentically clinching the title.
Perry played the first round of the championship at the Woden Squash courts in Canberra. The sportswoman was faced by Australia’s Zoe Petrovansky in the qualifying match. Petrovansky however, failed to come up to par as Perry thrashed the professional 11-2, 11-2 and 11-3 in the first round of the tournament.
As the athlete proceeded to the second round of the tournament, she came up against Hong Kong’s Annie Au. Madeline took the first game of the match, eleven points to eight. She further went on to win the second set eleven points to six. Much to everyone’s surprise, the fallen professional, Au rose in the third set only to win it, eleven points to seven.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before Perry showed her opponent what she was all about. The fourth and final set was taken by the Irishwoman. Annie was defeated four points to eleven in the final set of the match.
A place was secured in the quarter-finals for the professional, upon making it past the first two rounds of the championship. The athlete played the 2010 Australian Squash Open quarterfinals at the National Convention Center in Canberra. Madeline played an all British quarter-final against England’s Laura Massaro.
Dismally, Perry lost the first set of the match two points to eleven against Massaro. The player however, managed to keep her cool and made a brilliant come back, in the second set. Massaro lost the second set 6 points to eleven.
Boosted, the Irishwoman took the third set of the match eleven points to five, followed by a twelve point to ten win, against the Britt.
Eliminating Massaro, Perry moved forward and opposed England’s top seed, Jenny Duncalf in the semi-finals of the Women’s singles category.
Furthermore, the semi-final consisting of the two Britt’s took off on the 14th of August 2010. Duncalf defeated Perry in the first set of the match. The Irishwoman lost seven points to eleven against Jenny.
Known to make comebacks exactly when required, Perry turned the tables on Duncalf as she won the second set 11 points to 7.
The sportswoman went on to win the remaining two sets against the Britt only to cruise through to the Women’s singles final. Duncalf lost the third set six points to eleven and the fourth set five points to eleven.
Upon defeating the World no. 2, Perry stated that she played the best squash in her career so far, in the semi-final. The never ending British reign brought England’s Alison Waters together with Perry; in the 2010 Australian Open Women’s final.
Perry started off by winning the first set of the match. Waters lost five points to eleven. The second set was also taken by Madeline as she defeated the Britt, twelve points to ten.
It was however, all downhill for the Irishwoman as Waters came out victorious in the third and fourth set. Madeline was defeated six points to eleven in the third set and four points to eleven, in the fourth set.
Nevertheless, the deciding fifth, and final set was taken 13-11 by Perry. The 79 minute match was brought to an end as the sportswoman took the game point.
According to England’s Waters, it wasn’t until the third set that the athlete was physically and mentally present in the game. She however, admitted that she was responsible for mixing up in between.
The controversial ‘No let’ ball caused Waters to fling her racquet in utter dismay as Perry threw hers up in the air in festivity. Doctors weren’t sure of whether Perry would ever be able to play squash again, as she was severely injured after getting mugged in Italy back in 2007. The sportswoman however, made a remarkable comeback only to be the first ever Irish woman to win an Australian Squash Open title.
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