POSITIVE POINTS, POSITIVE PLAY ON TOUR (PRO UPDATE MARCH 2011)

Words by Damian Burgess 8.3.2011

Here is a brief report on how our Welsh pro’s are doing on the professional Tour, we currently have Peter Creed playing full time on the men’s PSA Tour as well as BSPA appearances from Will John and David Haley, on the Women’s WISPA Tour we have Deon Saffery and Tesni Evans.

PETER CREED (March PSA Ranking 122)

After a great performance in his match in the British National Championships against Chris Simpson Peter was in good form. Peter played out in Turkey in February in the first PSA Tour Competition in the country the Avrupa Konutlari International, Peter was not seeded for the event and was given a tough draw against number 2 seed Joe Lee of England. Peter was 1 – 0 down before turning it around to go 2 – 1 in front, it was also 8 – 8 in the fourth and some tight squash was played by both players. Peter eventually lost the fourth 11 – 8 and the match went to a fifth and final game, both players again played some great squash, Peter eventually had match ball at 10 – 8 but some patient yet attacking play from Joe Lee saved him the match balls. 10 – 10 and over an hour on court, player to win by two points. Joe Lee eventually won 12 – 10 but Peter gave him a scare in a great effort.

Peter is next in action in the Wimbledon Cup, a BSPA event in London, England from March 25^th – 29^th, Good Luck to Peter.

TESNI EVANS (March WISPA Ranking 123)

Tesni is still 18 and so is competing in Junior competitions as well as senior tour competitions, in mid February Tesni was in France for the French Junior Open in Lille; she was back in France in March this time for the $5K WISPA Event near Nantes. Tesni had to qualify for the event and would have to play two matches on the same day to make the first round. Tesni played Belen Etchourchery of Argentina in the first qualifying match winning 3 – 0, then Chloe Mesic of France in her second; also winning that match 3 – 0. Tesni was now in the first round and was unlucky to draw number 1 seed and World number 56 Lauren Selby, Tesni would have to recover from her two matches to be ready for the early afternoon match the following day.

Tesni came out of the blocks against Lauren winning the first two games, then Lauren fought back using her experience to level at 2 – 2, a tight fifth game and Tesni had rattled Lauren. Lauren was questioning decisions and pick ups, Tesni blocked this out well and concentrated on the squash in hand, eventually winning the game 12 – 10 and the match 3 – 2. A great result, Tesni then had the task of trying to beat the number 7 seed Siyoli Waters of South Affrica in the second round, Tesni lost 3 – 0, 8 – 11, 9 – 11, 9 – 11 in a tight match. Tesni said after the event “I was more than pleased with how i played in the Vendee Open. Played two qualifying games then had Lauren Selby, tight fifth game, edgy and I just dug it out 12-10 great game! Then lost 3-0 in quarters, she was strong and played great shots and crucial times at end of each game.”

Tesni now has the Welsh Junior Open in Cardiff mid March and then the German Junior Open at the end of March, good luck to Tesni.

DEON SAFFERY (March WISPA Ranking 85)

After Deon’s success in the US and the Delaware Open and reaching the Quarter Finals of the British National Championships in Manchester in February she has climbed over 20 places to World number 85, Deon is now preparing for the Wimbledon Cup in London England.

Also competing in the Wimbledon Cup at the end of March is Peter Creed and David Haley, we wish them all the best, keep checking the Squash Wales facebook page for updates on how they get on. Good luck to all the players.

Words by Damian Burgess, Press Officer Squash Wales

Check out the gallery for pictures of the players on Tour https://picasaweb.google.com/orangesquash2010