Laura Massaro became the first player to successfully defend the women’s title for eight years when she beat Londoner Alison Waters 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4 at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
Waters, a former world No3, was making a comeback after Achilles surgery and was returning to competitive action for the first time since the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
Massaro took the opening two games and led 7-4 in the third. But Waters rediscovered her former form to come back to take the game before the 28-year-old from Preston took control in the fourth to close out the match after 53 minutes.
Massaro said, “The national title is huge for all British players - there are some big names on that trophy. To be able to win it last year was special, so to do it again is fantastic.
“I was disappointed not to defend my title in Cleveland (USA) last month, so it is good to defend this one.
“Ali was such a good player before she got that terrible injury. To get back to this level, after what she’s been through last year, is incredible.”
Waters was understandably disappointed, “I’ve got mixed feelings - I’d like to have won, of course. I haven’t played a match like that for so long. I didn’t think I played badly at all. But she’s improved so much since I’ve been away.
“But if you’d told me at the start of the week that I’d be in the final, I would have bitten your leg off!”
More info: nationalsquashchamps.net
Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Photo credit: SquashPics.com
