JOSHNA TO CLASH WITH ANNIE
The leading Indian contender kept her date with Annie Au but not before being put through the grinder by the gritty Tesni Evans at the packed Otters Club courts this evening. A packed gallery meant that hundreds of keen spectators including a large number of juniors had to watch the gripping action on a super large screen by the ocean in front of the impressive swimming pool at the club. (2) Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt (6) Tesni Evans (WAL) 3-1: 11-6, 15-13, 9-11, 11-8 (73 mins) Joshna settled better winning the first readily before Tesni played herself back into the game with some much better length. At 7-7 they played a brutal rally which could well have been over forty strokes. Tesni had two game balls in the second but couldn't convert. Joshna kept finding something extra, first to level and then to take the second with a very tight length. At 0-2 Tesni was in no mood to yield as she battled a combative Joshna and a loud and appreciative crowd that was being treated to some superb squash. She inched her way back steadily and had ' grit' written all over her manner . At 8-7 she pressed harder, and had two game balls to reduce the deficit before Joshna played a tight drop to make it 9-10. A contentious no-let for Joshna meant the Welsh woman was back in business. They were evenly matched all through the fourth with the Indian finding a way to stay marginally ahead. The raucous crowd was going into raptures each time Joshna inched one point closer to her spot in the final. A couple of lets ensued before Tesni couldn't reach one at match ball and the decibel levels went through the roof. A fine win for Joshana who will play Annie for the title. (1) Annie Au (HKG) bt (3) Delia Arnold (MAS) 3-1: 11-13, 11-8, 13-11, 11-3 | 50 mins Delia raced out of the blocks to open a 7-1 lead before Annie found her rhythm to level at 9. Delia managed to string together a couple of crucial points to get ahead. There was very little to choose between them as the precision of Annie's drops were neutralising the fine all court play of Delia. Annie took the second. Delia responded admirably to lead 9-6 and then 10-9 but Annie kept fighting and a superb volley ended the third. In the fourth it was all Annie as a seemingly dejected Delia helped her to close it out. A solid performance by the top seed in an extremely entertaining encounter.
