England'sEmma
Beddoescelebrated the
tenth - and biggest -WSA
World Toursquash title of her career when she beat Egypt'sKanzy
Emad El-Defrawyin
tonight's final of theWomen's
Emerson RC Pro SeriesinSt
Louis, USA.
The top seed arrived in Missouri in fine form, having
defeated compatriotLaura
Massaro, the world No.3, for the first time at last week'sWindy
City Openin Chicago
en-route to her firstWSA
World Seriesquarter-final
for more than three years.
Beddoes blasted through theWSA
Challenger 15field atThe
St Louis Racquet Clubto reach the final without dropping a game,
downing DaneLine Hansen,
the third seed, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 in the semi-finals.
Eighth seed El-Defrawy caused a couple of mighty upsets
to reach the final against expectation. The 20-year-old from Cairo beat
Japan's No.4 seedMisaki
Kobayashiin the
quarter-finals, then survived a mammoth five-game semi-final battle with
second-seeded IndianJoshana
Chinappato make the
seventh Tour final of her career.
The young Egyptian, ranked 50 in the world, took an early
9-3 lead in the final - but the experienced world No.16 Beddoes
(pictured above, right, with El-Defrawy) fought back to draw level. But
after 20 minutes, it was El-Defrawy who drew first blood, taking a 13-11
lead after converting her second game-ball.
The opening game clearly took its toll on underdog El-Defrawy
as the favourite extended the rallies to good effect to take the second
game.
The Egyptian mounted a comeback in the third, keeping the
game level until seven-all, at which point it was clear that fatigue was
a factor as Beddoes moved ahead to take the game - before running away
in a one-sided fourth to win the title 11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2.
"I'm really happy to get my biggest tournament win to
date - it was a tough final,"conceded
the 29-year-old from Leeds after her 58-minute triumph.
"Kanzy was obviously feeling the effects of yesterday's
semi final but she is a tough competitor and fought with all the energy
she had."