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Chestnut Hill Classic 2023 |
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Chestnut Hill Classic 2023
Women's Draw
02 - 06 Mar
Philadelphia, USA, $51,250k |
ROUND TWO
03 Mar |
QUARTERS
04 Mar |
SEMIS
05 Mar |
FINAL
06 Mar |
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1] Nele Gilis (BEL)
4-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (40m)
Nardine Garas (EGY) |
Nele Gilis
9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (44m)
Tsz-Wing Tong |
Nele Gilis
11-9, 6-11, 14-12, 11-9 (73m)
Olivia Clyne |
Olivia Clyne
11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (55m)
Olivia Fiechter |
[9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 11-6 (43m)
[6] Lucy Turmel (ENG) |
[5] Rachel Arnold (MAS)
11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (26m)
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) |
Rachel Arnold
14-12, 11-4, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7 (50m)
Olivia Clyne |
[3] Olivia Clyne (USA)
11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 (46m)
[9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) |
[4] Mélissa Alves (FRA)
11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 (35m)
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) |
Mélissa Alves
11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (41m)
Jana Shiha |
Mélissa Alves
7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 16-14 (50m)
Olivia Fiechter |
[7] Jana Shiha (EGY)
14-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2 (41m)
[9/16] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) |
[8] Hana Moataz (EGY)
10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)
[9/16] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) |
Hana Moataz
9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2 (45m)
Olivia Fiechter |
[9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
11-6, 11-2, 11-2 (22m)
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) |
[1] Nele Gilis (BEL) bye
Nardine Garas (EGY) bt [9/16] Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 11-1, 7-11, 11-3,
11-4 (27m)
[9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4
(41m)
[6] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bye
[5] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bye
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
(27m)
[9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 11-9, 11-9, 12-10
(27m)
[3] Olivia Clyne (USA) bye
[4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bye
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt [9/16] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 13-11, 11-8, 7-11,
11-0 (34m)
[9/16] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 11-2, 11-6, 8-11,
9-11, 11-8 (45m)
[7] Jana Shiha (EGY) bye
[8] Hana Moataz (EGY) bye
[9/16] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt [WC] Allie Stoddard (USA) 11-3, 11-2,
11-4 (21m)
[9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) bt [WC] Hannah Craig (IRL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (21m)
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) bye |
Final
Fiechter Defeats Clyne In All-American Final To Claim
Chestnut Hill Classic Title
USA No.2 Olivia Fiechter has claimed her second World Tour title after
beating teammate Olivia Clyne in four games at her home club – the
Philadelphia Cricket Club – to lift the Chestnut Hill Classic 2023
Presented By Springside Chestnut Academy.
Fiechter and Clyne were facing each other for the fourth time in as many
tournaments last night. Clyne had come out on top in two of the three
recent encounters and was looking to make it a hat trick of wins to
claim her first title since 2019. Fiechter was determined to level the
recent head-to-head scores as she looked to claim a second World Tour
title but this time in front of many friends and family, at her home
club in Philadelphia.
With both players knowing each others games so well, the rallies were
unsurprisingly close throughout, with both players determined to not
give an inch away. Fiechter started strongly in the first game and
earned herself a two point lead at 7-5 and never surrendered that
advantage as she went on to take the game 11-8 and draw first blood in
the final.
Clyne responded however and after the score reached 6-6, the World No.14
won five of the next six points to take the game 11-7 and draw level.
The next two games followed very similar patterns as close and hard
fought rallies controlled the early stages of each game. The score
reached 7-7 in both the third and fourth games but it was the higher
ranked Fiechter who managed to play the big points better and ran
through to take the third game 11-7 to lead 2-1 and then produce a
similar run in the fourth game to win 11-8 and claim her second World
Tour title and a fifth PSA title of her career.
“I can’t believe it. It almost feels too good to be true!” said Fiechter
after her win.
“It was just such a battle from the very first point to the very last –
I really had to earn every single rally. Liv [Clyne] has been playing
some great squash so I went into the match ready to mentally and
physically leave it all out there.
“To win one of my biggest titles on the courts where I learned the game,
in front of my family, friends and community, I just don’t think it gets
any better… this will without a doubt be a night that I cherish forever.
Moments like this don’t happen without an incredible support system
around you so thank you Graeme, Peter, Danny, Moose, Beng Hee,
Francisco, Mark, and Brigitte for all you do to help me be the best
version of myself through the highs and the lows. And thank you Abir, US
Squash, and Head for your unconditional support. I’m so grateful to
Rich, PCC and everyone who made this event possible and I really hope I
get the chance to return next year to defend the title!
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Semi Finals
Fiechter & Clyne Set Up All American Final In Chestnut
Hill Classic
Olivia Clyne
USA duo Olivia Clyne and Olivia Fiechter will meet for the fourth time
in four consecutive tournaments as they will face off for the Chestnut
Hill Classic Presented by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy title. The
pair both came through four game encounters to beat European duo Nele
Gilis and Melissa Alves.
Home favourite Fiechter was up first as she recovered from a game down
to beat France’s Melissa Alves. A strong start for the World No.20 was
negated by Fiechter as she stepped up her quality and reversed the score
to lead 2-1, winning the second and third games 11-2, 11-6. Alves saved
three match balls in the fourth game and earned a game ball for herself
to force a fifth game. The USA No.2 battled back however to take the
next three points and seal the game 16-14 to move into her fifth World
Tour final.
It’s never easy playing a good friend but I’m over the moon to be
through to the finals… Melissa always battles so hard out there and
never gives in so I was really pleased to find a way to close it out in
the 4th.
“It’s been so special to compete and battle it out in front of so many
friends and family on my home courts. I came here this week to win the
event so I’m really happy I’ve given myself the opportunity to do that
tomorrow night!” said Fiechter after her win.
Olivia Clyne was aiming to reach her third final in four tournaments as
she took on top seed Nele Gilis in the second semi-final. The game was
close throughout with a clash of styles entertaining the Philadelphia
crowd. Gilis’ attritional play against Clyne’s attacking game made for
close rallies as the score reached 1-1. Gilis earned the first game ball
of the third game at 10-9 but it was Clyne who was able to stay strong
and close the game out 14-12.
Clyne built on the third game win by running out to a 4-0 lead in the
following game. This lead was quickly clawed back by the Belgian No.1 as
she won the next five points to lead 5-4. Clyne recovered however and
held three match balls at 10-7, despite Gilis getting back to within one
points, Clyne took the game 11-9 to seal the victory and give herself
another chance at claiming her first World Tour title.
“Wow! I’m so pleased to find myself in another final tomorrow,” said
Clyne.
“Tonight was absolutely brutal but in the best way, these are the kind
of matches that you play and truly feel like you are a better player
than when you started. I’m looking forward to getting back out there
tomorrow!”
The final will begin at 18:00 (GMT-5) and will be streamed on the
Philadelphia Cricket Club YouTube channel.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Quarter Finals
USA’s Fiechter & Clyne Survive Scares To Reach
Chestnut Hill Classic Semis
Olivia Clyne
USA No.2 and 3 Olivia Fiechter and Olivia Clyne came through five-game
encounters on day three of the Chestnut Hill Classic Presented by
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 2023 as they overcame tough tests from
Egypt’s Hana Moataz and Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold to join European duo
Nele Gilis and Melissa Alves in the semi-finals.
No.2 seed Fiechter is competing in front of many familiar faces this
week as she looks to make the home advantage count at her home club, the
Philadelphia Cricket Club. After losing a tight opening game 11-9 to
Egypt’s Hana Moataz, Fiechter responded strongly to settle her game and
take the following two games 11-1, 11-4 and move ahead in the contest.
Another hard fought game took place in game four as Moataz battled back
and again stole the game 11-9. Fiechter was not to be dined however and
kept her composure well to seal the fifth game 11-2 and move into the
semi-finals.
Fiechter’s USA teammate Olivia Clyne has been in fantastic form of late
and showed that once again as she moved into her fourth successive World
Tour semi-final with a win over Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold. Clyne didn’t
have things all her own way however as after earning a 2-0 lead, let the
Malaysian back in the match, which Arnold took full advantage of. Arnold
forced a fifth game by wining 11-7, 11-8 in the third and fourth games
but Clyne recovered her composure to seal the fifth game 11-7 and move
into the final four.
There were also wins for European duo Nele Gilis and Melissa Alves, who
will make their way through to the semi-finals. Gilis was up against
surprise quarter finalist Tsz-Wing Tong, who defeated No.6 seed Lucy
Turmel in the previous round. Tong captured a tight first game 11-9 to
throw some doubt into the contest, but the experience of the Belgian
shone through as she produced a business like performance to win the
next three games and set up a semi-final clash with Olivia Clyne.
Alves faced up and coming Egyptian Jana Shiha in her quarter final match
and managed to squeeze past the 21-year-old in four games. The match was
close throughout and after Shiha clawed a game back to trail 2-1, the
match could have gone either way. Alves stayed strong however and
battled hard in a tough fourth game to take it 11-8 and earn a
semi-final spot against the well supported Olivia Fiechter.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Round 2
Tsz-Wing Tong Gatecrashes Chestnut Hill Quarter Finals
In Philadelphia
Tsz-Wing Tong
Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong produced the only upset on day two of the
Chestnut Hill Classic presented by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy as
she defeated England’s No.6 seed Lucy Turmel in four games to advance to
her first World Tour quarter final.
Tong secured a confident 2-0 lead after winning the opening two games
11-9, 11-7 and placed one foot in the final eight. But Turmel responded
to take the third game emphatically 11-3 and breathe more life in the
contest. The Hong Kong No.3 regained her composure however and remained
calm to return to winning ways and close the game out 11-6 and move into
the next round.
Tong’s quarter final opponent will be the event’s No.1 seed Nele Gilis,
who scored a win over Egypt’s Nadine Garas to move into the final eight.
Garas came out the blocks confidently and took game one 11-4 to shock
the No.1 seed, but Gilis wasn’t phased as she returned to her solid
brand of squash to storm through the following three games and secure
the win.
In-form Olivia Clyne didn’t have things all her own way against
England’s Lucy Beecroft as she needed four games and 46 minutes to
defeat the World No.46. With the scores level at 1-1, the USA No.3
stepped up the court and heaped the pressure onto Beecroft, which was
ultimately too much to handle. Clyne took the third game 11-6, then the
fourth game 11-9 to close out the match and reach her fourth World Tour
quarter final in a row. She will now face Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold, who
defeated Salma Eltayeb in straight games.
There were also three more four game victories as Melissa Alves, Jana
Shiha and Hana Moataz all booked their places in the final eight after
beating Kenzy Ayman, Nicole Bunyan and Millie Tomlinson. No.8 seed
Moataz will now play local favourite and No.2 seed Olivia Fiechter for a
place in the semi-finals after the American wasted no time beating Hong
Kong’s Ka Yi Lee 3-0 in just 22 minutes.
“I’m really happy with my performance tonight and to get through in
three,” said Fiechter.
“Ka Yi Lee can be so dangerous and the last time we played it was quite
tight so I knew I had be ready from the get go.
“I knew there would be a great crowd but wow, were my expectations
surpassed! It’s a tricky situation playing in front of family and
friends on your home courts. On one hand, it’s the best environment an
athlete could ask for. But on the other hand, it’s easy to put a bit
more pressure on yourself to perform well and make everyone proud. At
the end of the day though, the pressure to perform well is always there
so I just tried to use the atmosphere to my advantage and feed off of
their energy and I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow night!”
The Chestnut Hill Classic presented by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
continues with the quarter finals on Saturday evening.
Action from the tournament will be streamed on the Philadelphia Cricket
Club YouTube channel throughout the week. You can also keep up to date
with live scores from the event here.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Round 1
Egyptian Trio Cause Upsets To Reach Chestnut
Hill Classic Second Round
Salma Eltayeb
Egypt’s Nardine Garas, Salma Eltayeb and Kenzy Ayman all downed
higher-ranked opposition to reach the second round of the Chestnut Hill
Classic presented by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Eltayeb took on compatriot Nour Aboulmakarim, with the pair meeting for
the first time on Tour. 18-year-old Eltayeb currently sits 19 places
below her compatriot in the World Rankings, but she was by far the
better player in this contest at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
She needed just 27 minutes to get the job done, winning 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
to secure her second round spot. Eltayeb will now face Malaysia’s Rachel
Arnold, the tournament’s No.5 seed, in the last 16 of the Bronze level
competition.
Kenzy Ayman took on Canadian No.2 Danielle Letourneau in her opening
match on Thursday evening. The first game went to a tie-break, with the
Egyptian eventually coming out the victor 13-11. She then doubled her
advantage in the contest but the Canadian fought back to win the third
game. However, Ayman was in scintillating form in the fourth, not
allowing Letourneau to get on the board in an 11-0 win, as she claimed
victory.
“Yeah it was a good match. We played against each other two years ago.
She is never easy [to play] but I managed my game plan well at the end
and pulled it off, [so] now I’m focusing on the next one,” Ayman said
after her win.
The third Egyptian to secure a surprise win on the opening day was
Nardine Garas. The 19-year-old defeated Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica in a
four-game contest, regrouping after losing the second game of their
match. She then went on to drop just seven points over the next two
games, as she booked her second round spot, where she will now face top
seed Nele Gilis on Friday.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong and Ka Yi Lee both advanced, while
Canada’s Nicole Bunyan coming through a tough five-game battle against
German No.1 Saskia Beinhard. The English duo of Millie Tomlinson and
Lucy Beecroft were the other two women to win on the opening day in
Philadelphia.
The Chestnut Hill Classic presented by Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
continues with the second round on Friday afternoon. The seeded players
come into the draw for the PSA World Tour Bronze level competition.
Action from the tournament will be streamed on the Philadelphia Cricket
Club YouTube channel throughout the week. You can also keep up to date
with live scores from the event here.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Preview
Belgium’s Gilis Tops Draw For Inaugural Chestnut Hill
Classic
World No.11 Nele Gilis has been announced as the top seed for the
inaugural Chestnut Hill Classic presented by Springside Chestnut Hill
Academy, PSA World Tour Bronze event which will take place from March
2-6, 2023 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, United States.
The Belgian No.1 started the season in great form as she captured three
titles in the second half of 2022 at the Open de France, Australian Open
and Malaysian Open and reached a career-high ranking of World No.9 in
December 2022. Gilis will play the winner of Nardine Garas or Ineta
Mackevica in round two after receiving a first-round bye.
Recent DAC Pro Squash Classic winner Olivia Fiechter is the No.2 seed
for the event and will be hoping to lift her second title of the season.
Fiechter, who is actually currently ranked higher than Gilis due to her
win in Detroit, has reached at least the semi-finals in four of her last
five events on the PSA World Tour. In round two, she will take on either
Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee or wildcard Hannah Craig.
Fiechter’s USA teammate Olivia Clyne is another who has been in good
form of late and she occupies the No.3 seeding position. The World No.16
put together a great run at the Cleveland Classic as she reached the
title decider.
France’s Melissa Alves completes the top four seeding places and will be
looking to mount a strong challenge to capture her second title of the
season after winning the Monte Carlo Classic in December. After
receiving a round-one bye, the French No.1 will play either Egypt’s
Kenzy Ayman or Canada’s Danielle Letourneau in her opening match.
The draw also includes the likes of World No.27 Rachel Arnold, World
No.34 Lucy Turmel, World No.35 Jana Shiha and World No.38 Hana Moataz,
while Allie Stoddard is the other tournament wildcard, along with Craig.
You can keep up with all the live scores from the event here and for
further updates on the Chestnut Hill Classic presented by Springside
Chestnut Hill Academy, visit the PSA World Tour website or follow the
PSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
2023: Draw
[1] Nele Gilis (BEL) [bye]
Nardine Garas (EGY) v [9/16] Ineta Mackevica (LAT)
[9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v Grace Gear (ENG)
[6] Lucy Turmel (ENG) [bye]
[5] Rachel Arnold (MAS) [bye]
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
[9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) v Nadia Pfister (SUI)
[3] Olivia Clyne (USA) [bye]
[4] Melissa Alves (FRA) [bye]
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v [9/16] Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
[9/16] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v Saskia Beinhard (GER)
[7] Jana Shiha (EGY)) [bye]
[8] Hana Moataz (EGY) [bye]
[WC] Allie Stoddard (USA) v [9/16] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[9/16] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) v [WC] Hannah Craig (IRL)
[2] Olivia Fiechter (USA) [bye]
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
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